Tanya Wexler
Wexler in 2011
Born (1970-08-06) August 6, 1970
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materYale University
Columbia University (MFA)
OccupationFilm director
Years active1998–present
Children4
Parent
RelativesDaryl Hannah (half-sister)
Page Hannah (half-sister)
Haskell Wexler (uncle)

Tanya Wexler (born August 6, 1970) is an American film director. Wexler has been working in the film industry since 1998, when her first film Finding North (1998), was released. Wexler is most known for her 2011 feature film Hysteria. Wexler is known for exploring women's issues in her films and including complex female characters. Wexler has also been involved in advocating for women in the film industry, and advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Early life

Wexler was born on August 6, 1970 in Chicago, Illinois.[1] Wexler is the daughter of Chicago real estate developer Jerrold Wexler,[2] and his second wife, Susan Jeanne (née Metzger).[3] She is the niece of cinematographer Haskell Wexler. Her mother has two other daughters, Daryl Hannah and Page Hannah, as well as a son, Donald, from a previous marriage.[4] Wexler's father is Jewish, whereas her mother is Catholic.[5] Wexler worked as a child actor from a young age.[6]

She attended Yale University ('92) where she studied psychology[7] and was roommates with actress Bellamy Young.[8] Wexler also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University ('95).

Career

Wexler has been active in the film industry for over two decades (1998-present). Throughout her career, Wexler has been involved in both film and television directing and producing. Originally Wexler wanted to be an actress.[9] Wexler decided to be a director when she was more interested in the pre-production and production processes, rather than acting which has little involvement in the two previously mentioned processes.[10] Wexler has directed five feature films: Finding North (1998), Relative Evil (2001), Hysteria (2011), Buffaloed (2019), and Jolt (2021).[11][12][13] Wexler also directed portions of the following TV Series: The Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce (2017), The Arrangement (2018), and Partner Track (2022).[14] Wexler is involved in producing the upcoming Amazon Prime Movie, Tough Love.[15] Wexler has been nominated for, and won awards for her work in film and television directing. Wexler's most popular film is Hysteria (2011).

Hysteria (2011)

Wexler's 2011 feature film, Hysteria, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hugh Dancy, is a satirical romcom about the man who created the vibrator (Joseph Mortimer Granville) and the experience of being a women in Victorian England.[16] The vibrator was invented in 1883, by Granville as a replacement for genital massages used to treat hysteria.[17] In the Victorian age, vibrators were branded as a medical tool.[18] Wexler has said that the point of this film is to empower women to take charge of their own happiness. In 2011, this film was nominated for "Best Film" at Verzaubert International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.[19]

Personal life

Wexler met her wife, Amy Zimmerman, during her time at Yale University.[20] Wexler and Zimmerman married on May 19, 2004, in Massachusetts, the first U.S. state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[21] Wexler has four children: a son named Jerrold (born 1999) and three daughters named Ella (born 2000), Ruby (born 2003), and Violet (born 2006) with her former wife, Amy Zimmerman.[22] Wexler and Zimmerman each birthed two of their children.[23] As a young couple, Zimmerman did not expect to have children, as it was not very normalized for gay couples to have children at the time.[24] Wexler was the first to propose the idea of having children, and Zimmerman accepted.[25] Wexler now lives in New York City with her family and their dog, Snoopy.[26]

Filmography

Title Year Role Type Reference
Finding North 1998 Director Film [27]
Relative Evil 2001 Director Film [28]
Hysteria 2011 Director Film [29]
Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce 2017 Director TV Series [30]
The Arrangment 2018 Director TV Series [31]
Buffaloed 2019 Director Film [32]
Jolt 2021 Director Film [33]
Partner Track 2022 Director TV Series [34]
Tough Love Upcoming Producer TV Movie [35]

Awards and Nominations

Throughout her career, Wexler’s work has been recognized by various awards and nominations. In 2003, Wexler’s film Relative Evil (2001), won “Best Feature” at Washington DC Independent Film Festival.[36] In 1998, Wexler’s film Finding North (1998), was nominated for “Best Film” at Verzaubert-International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.[37] In 2011, Wexler’s Film Hysteria (2011), was nominated for the Golden Marc’Aurelio Award at the Rome Film Festival.[38]

Activism

Wexler has often been involved in activism throughout her adulthood. Wexler has been involved in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and advocating for more female inclusion in the male dominated film industry. Wexler has spoken out about how the amount of women that are given directorial roles in the film industry is not anywhere near the amount of men who are given those opportunities.[39] Wexler has stated that she hopes room is made "at the table," for everyone.[40] As a member of the community, Wexler has advocated for the LGBTQ+ community’s rights for a long time. For example, Wexler has served on the board of directors for the Gay and Lesbian Aliance Against Defimation (GLAAD).[41]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  2. ↑ Chicago Tribune: "Filmmaker and Lincoln Park native Tanya Wexler on her romantic comedy 'Hysteria'" by Nina Metz May 24, 2012
  3. ↑ Crain's Chicago Business: "HEIR-SPLITTING" By Betsy Wangensteen March 24, 1997
  4. ↑ Lambert, Bruce (November 12, 1992). "Jerrold Wexler, 68; Chicago Developer Who Built Empire". The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  5. ↑ "'Hysteria' and the invention of the vibrator [VIDEO]". May 16, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Interview with Tanya Wexler, Film Director on 1/20/16 | The Social Justice Project". blog.lrei.org. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Director Tanya Wexler on 'Hysteria'". May 11, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  8. ↑ Wexler, Tanya. "Nice shout out to @MixedCo @BellamyYoung #yale #roomie #SheCanEffingSing". Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Interview with Tanya Wexler, Film Director on 1/20/16 | The Social Justice Project". blog.lrei.org. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Interview with Tanya Wexler, Film Director on 1/20/16 | The Social Justice Project". blog.lrei.org. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  11. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (July 22, 2019). "'Jolt': Bobby Cannavale, Jai Courtney, Laverne Cox & Stanley Tucci Join Kate Beckinsale Action-Comedy; Shoot Under Way In London". Deadline. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  12. ↑ Kroll, Justin (July 23, 2018). "Zoey Deutch to Star in Indie Drama 'Buffaloed'". Variety. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  13. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (July 23, 2018). "Zoey Deutch To Star In & Produce Debt Collector Dramedy 'Buffaloed'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  16. ↑ "The buzz around hysteria: behind the scenes with lesbian director Tanya Wexler. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Vibrators, the New Women and One Naughty Queen: Film Review of 'Hysteria' – Journal of Victorian Culture Online". October 3, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Preview unavailable - ProQuest". www.proquest.com. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Tanya Wexler - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  20. ↑ Usborne, David (October 24, 2003). "Gay Parents - Cover Story - November 3, 2003 - Nymag". New York Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Opening Up Marriage in Mass".
  22. ↑ "Tanya Wexler-IMDB". IMDb.
  23. ↑ "The buzz around hysteria: behind the scenes with lesbian director Tanya Wexler. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  24. ↑ Usborne, David (October 24, 2003). "Gay Parents - Cover Story - November 3, 2003 - Nymag". New York Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  25. ↑ Usborne, David (October 24, 2003). "Gay Parents - Cover Story - November 3, 2003 - Nymag". New York Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  26. ↑ "The buzz around hysteria: behind the scenes with lesbian director Tanya Wexler. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Tanya Wexler | Director, Producer, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Tanya Wexler - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Tanya Wexler - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Tanya Wexler - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Interview with Tanya Wexler, Film Director on 1/20/16 | The Social Justice Project". blog.lrei.org. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Interview with Tanya Wexler, Film Director on 1/20/16 | The Social Justice Project". blog.lrei.org. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  41. ↑ "The buzz around hysteria: behind the scenes with lesbian director Tanya Wexler. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
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