Joyce Chopra
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
"Chopra's narrative style, which draws authentic, seductive performances from Dern and (Treat) Williams, is not show and tell but observe and discover. It is the style of a director in no hurry to prove she can do everything at once". ("Time" Magazine, March 24, 1986)
Biography
Former documentary filmmaker who made a polished and powerful dramatic feature debut with "Smooth Talk" (1985), a disturbing tale about a teenage girl's sexual awakening and intense mother-daughter conflict which boasted a fine central performance by Laura Dern. Though replaced by James Bridges on her next picture, "Bright Lights, Big City" (1988), Chopra recovered with the ensemble piece, "The Lemon Sisters" (1989), starring Diane Keaton, Carol Kane and Kathryn Grody, about childhood friends from Atlantic City trying to make it as singers.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Editing (Feature Film)
Film Production - Main (Feature Film)
Director (Special)
Producer (Special)
Director (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1982
Produced "Medal of Honor Rag" for TV's American Playhouse from Tom Cole's stage play
1985
Fiction feature directing debut, "Smooth Talk"
1987
Began directing "Bright Lights, Big City" in the spring but replaced by James Bridges; with Chopra went other "Smooth Talk" collaborators: cinematographer Jim Glennon (replaced by Gordon Willis) and writer Tom Cole, whose script was replaced by an adaptation by the novel's author, Jay McInerney
1989
Directed "The Lemon Sisters", co-starring Diane Keaton, Carol Kane and Kathryn Grody
1991
Returned to TV to direct the based-on-fact "Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story" (CBS)
1992
Helmed another based-on-fact tale of romance and murder, "The Danger of Love" (CBS), based on the story of Carolyn Warmus who murdered her lover's wife
1993
Directed episodes of the CBS drama series "Angel Falls"
1994
Helmed "The Corpse Had a Familiar Face", a CBS TV-movie based on the experiences of MIAMI HERALD reporter Edna Buchanan (played by Elizabeth Montgomery)
1995
Reteamed with Montgomery for "Deadline For Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan" (CBS)
1997
Guided Blair Brown in the based-on-fact "Convictions" (Lifetime), about a woman who became a campaigner for victims' rights after the murder of her son
1999
Directed the A&E thriller "Murder in a Small Town", starring Gene Wilder
1999
Helmed the CBS TV-movie "Replacing Dad"
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
"Chopra's narrative style, which draws authentic, seductive performances from Dern and (Treat) Williams, is not show and tell but observe and discover. It is the style of a director in no hurry to prove she can do everything at once". ("Time" Magazine, March 24, 1986)
