Jessica M. Thompson
Jessica M. Thompson is an Australian-born film and television writer, director, editor and producer, who currently resides in Los Angeles.[1]
Early life and education
Thompson grew up in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, Australia, and is of Maltese-descent. She studied at three drama schools, including the Sydney Theatre Company.[2][3] Thompson attended the University of Technology Sydney and received a B.A. in Media Arts and Production.[4]
Career
Thompson worked as a film editor in Sydney, Australia before moving to New York City in 2010, where she founded Stedfast Productions.[2] Thompson edited Cheryl Furjanic’s documentary, Back on Board: Greg Louganis, which premiered on HBO in August 2015[5] and was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2016.[6] Thompson has also worked as a film editor with Academy Award-nominated filmmakers, Liz Garbus, and Edet Belzberg.[7]
Thompson made her feature writing and directorial debut with The Light of the Moon (2017), starring Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David, and Conrad Ricamora. It had its world premiere at the South by Southwest film festival (SXSW)[8] in March 2017, where it won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature Film.[9] Leslie Felperin from The Hollywood Reporter called the film "honest and complex" and stated that "Thompson clearly has a knack with actors, coaxing sharp, believable performances from all involved".[10] Andrew Barker from Variety called the film "harrowingly effective" and "sensitive without ever being sanctimonious, brutally frank without ever lapsing into exploitation".[11]
The Light of the Moon had a limited North American theatrical release in November 2017.[12] Amazon Prime Video acquired the streaming rights to the film through their Film Festival Stars program. The film was critically well-received and heralds a 97% score on review-aggregator Rotten Tomatoes[13].
Thompson is the lead director on See-Saw Films' ten-part television series The End (2020), starring Frances O'Connor and Dame Harriet Walter.[14] It is to be released by Sky Atlantic in February 2020.[15]
Thompson is represented by CAA (Creative Artists Agency) and Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment.[16][17]
Personal life
In 2010, Thompson moved from Sydney, Australia to Brooklyn, New York, where she lived in the neighborhood of Williamsburg[18] for eight years.
Filmography
Films
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | Hike | Writer/Director/Producer/Editor | Short film |
2008 | Percepio | Writer/Director | Short film |
2012 | Three | Writer/Director/Producer/Editor | Short film |
2012 | 419 | Associate Producer | Feature narrative film |
2012 | Love, Marilyn | Associate Editor | Feature documentary film |
2013 | Across the Pond | Writer/Director/Producer/Editor | Short film |
2013 | The Abominable Crime | Additional Editor | Feature documentary film |
2014 | Watchers of the Sky | Additional Editor | Feature documentary film |
2014 | Back on Board: Greg Louganis | Editor | Feature documentary film |
2017 | The Light of the Moon | Writer/Director/Producer/Editor | Feature narrative film |
2019 | The End | Director | Television series |
References
- "Jessica Thompson". Big Vision Empty Wallet. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- Palmer, Colby. "Cinefemme: The Art and Soul of Filmmaking". Cinefemme. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
- Allen, Joseph (11 March 2017). "SXSW 2017 Women Directors: Jessica M. Thompson— "The Light of the Moon"". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
- "UTS Alumni selected to premiere work at SXSW Film Festival in the USA | UTS News Room". newsroom.uts.edu.au. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- "'Back on Board: Greg Louganis': Outfest Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES THE NOMINEES FOR THE 37th ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS | The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". emmyonline.com. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- Nieporent, Ben. "eFilmCritic - SxSW 2017 Interview: THE LIGHT OF THE MOON director Jessica M. Thompson". www.efilmcritic.com. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
- "The Light of The Moon". SXSW 2017 Schedule. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- Evans, Greg (18 March 2017). "SXSW Audiences Give Top Honors To 'Light Of The Moon', 'Baby Driver', 'Dealt'". Deadline. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- Felperin, Leslie. "'The Light of the Moon': Film Review | SXSW 2017". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- Barker, Andrew (13 March 2017). "SXSW Film Review: 'The Light of the Moon'". Variety. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- "SXSW Winner 'The Light of the Moon' Picked Up by Imagination Worldwide (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
- The Light of the Moon (2017), retrieved 15 January 2020
- Barraclough, Leo; Barraclough, Leo (26 September 2018). "Sky, Foxtel Order 'The End,' Starring Harriet Walter, Frances O'Connor". Variety. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- "What to watch on Sky in 2020". Metro. 29 December 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- Desk, TV News. "Imagination Worldwide Acquires Distribution Rights for SXSW Winner, 'THE LIGHT OF THE MOON'". Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- "Jessica M. Thompson - IMDbPro". pro-labs.imdb.com. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- "Eye For Film: Tropfest: New York - Part Two". www.eyeforfilm.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2017.