The musical Waitress is a modern success, a smash hit that has people around the world singing along to its soundtrack. Fans of the musical might not realize that it was based on a hit 2007 indie film written and directed by Adrienne Shelly. Sadly, Shelly never saw her own film's success. Shelly wrote and directed three original feature films and was director Hal Hartley's muse early in her career. She had big plans for more, but her life was cut tragically short when she was murdered. Hear about her inspiring life, amazing films, and the legacy she has left behind.
This episode initially aired on Grab Bag Collab as part of their network. Thank you to Daisy Eagan, Amanda Rossman, and Amber Hunt for their help on this. Thank you to Brock Alter for his art. Directora is researched, written, recorded, and edited by Stephanie Weber.
Click here to learn more about the Adrienne Shelly Foundation.
SOURCES:
Horton, Adrian. “The Life and Death of Filmmaker Adrienne Shelly.” The Guardian. December 1, 2021.
Ostoy, Andy. Adrienne (2021).
Special features on the DVD’s for Sudden Manhattan and Waitress. Director’s Commentary on Sudden Manhattan.
Zimmer, Vanessa. “Who Was…Adrienne Shelly?”. Sundance.com. November 11, 2022.