Episode 165 - Desperately Celebrating Director Susan Seidelman & Her Iconic Career - Part 1
Hollywood ObsessedShow Notes
Trailblazing director, producer, & writer Susan Seidelman, best known for directing Madonna in her breakout role in “Desperately Seeking Susan,” joins Tony Miros for a lively conversation celebrating the film’s 40th anniversary. They revisit the slightly magical New York City that helped shape the movie’s unforgettable vibe & recall the surreal experience of watching an unknown young singer suddenly become a global superstar almost overnight. From the iconic music to the unexpected twists behind the scenes, Susan reveals how a series of serendipitous moments helped create a true cultural classic.
Susan also pulls back the curtain on what a director really does, describing the role as much like a conductor guiding an orchestra. She shares insight into the creative journey from pre-production planning & rehearsals to the intricate editing process that ultimately brings a film to life. Along the way, she reflects on collaborations with remarkable talent and explains why the ever-evolving creative process continues to inspire her more than four decades into her career.
The conversation also explores how Hollywood has changed since Susan’s indie breakthrough “Smithereens,” from the traditional studio system to today’s streaming-driven landscape. She discusses the evolution of TV storytelling, including her role in shaping the visual style of “Sex and the City,” and opens up about writing her candid memoir “Desperately Seeking Something.” Filled with behind-the-scenes stories, career reflections, and “pinch-me” moments—including her unforgettable trip to Cannes—the episode offers a fun, insightful look at one of independent film’s most influential voices.
SUSAN SEIDELMAN Susan Seidelman is an acclaimed filmmaker whose work helped define the spirit of American independent cinema in the 1980s and beyond. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Film Program, she first gained international recognition when her debut feature “Smithereens” became the first American independent film accepted into the Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. The film went on to win major festival honors and is now preserved in the prestigious Criterion Collection.
Her breakthrough hit “Desperately Seeking Susan” (1985), starring Madonna & Rosanna Arquette, was both a critical and commercial success, premiering at Cannes, earning a César nomination for Best Foreign Film, and later being named among the BBC’s 100 greatest films of all time. The movie also helped launch the careers of Aidan Quinn, Laurie Metcalf, and John Turturro. Seidelman went on to direct a wide range of notable projects including “Making Mr. Right” starring John Malkovich; “Cookie,” written by Nora Ephron and starring Peter Falk, Dianne Wiest, and Jerry Lewis; “She-Devil,” featuring Meryl Streep in her first comedic screen role; “Gaudi Afternoon;” and “The Dutch Master,” which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Live Action Short Film.
Seidelman also directed the pilot & early episodes of HBO’s groundbreaking series “Sex and the City,” helping shape the look and tone of the cultural phenomenon, and earned two Emmy noms for the Showtime film “A Cooler Climate” starring Sally Field & Judy Davis. Her later films include “Boynton Beach Club,” “Musical Chairs,” and “The Hot Flashes,” starring Brooke Shields, Wanda Sykes, and Eric Roberts. She recently published her memoir, “Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir About Movies, Mothers, and Material Girls,” a candid & engaging reflection on her trailblazing four-decade career.
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