In this article we will delve into Emma Seligman, a topic of great relevance and interest today. Along these lines we will explore different aspects related to Emma Seligman, with the aim of offering a deep and complete understanding of it. From its origins to its impact on today's society, to its evolution over time, we will analyze every facet of Emma Seligman to provide our readers with an enriching and constantly evolving perspective. Through a detailed and multidisciplinary approach, we aim to offer a holistic vision that allows us to fully understand the importance and significance of Emma Seligman in the present context.
While at NYU, she made short films including Lonewoods, Void, and her senior thesis film, Shiva Baby. During this time, Seligman also interned at a variety of production studios. She also served on the Toronto International Film Festival's select youth committee, where she helped program films for the festival.
Her thesis film, Shiva Baby, was selected for 2018 South by Southwest film festival. At the encouragement of the short film's star, Rachel Sennott, whom she befriended during the audition process, Seligman began developing it into a feature, where Sennott would reprise her lead role. The feature-length version of Shiva Baby was set to premiere at 2020 South by Southwest, but the premiere was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film eventually premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.
Shiva Baby was met with critical acclaim. Kristy Puchko of The Playlist wrote, "It's astounding this is Seligman's first film, how masterfully she orchestrates the tension and comedy," and Dana Piccoli for Queer Media Matters praised that "while Seligman is still a relative newcomer to the film world, she handles Shiva Baby like an experienced pro." In 2022, the film won the John Cassavetes Award from Film Independent, at the time designated for productions with budgets of $500,000 or less.
Seligman reunited with Rachel Sennott for her second feature film, Bottoms, a teen sex comedy in which two high school lesbians start a fight club in order to attract their cheerleader crushes. Seligman had the idea for the film while still at NYU, and began working on it with Sennott there. Bottoms was scored by English singer-songwriter Charli XCX. To promote Bottoms, Seligman appeared on the cover of New York Magazine with the films' stars Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri. The film headlined the SXSW film festival on March 11, 2023. Aisha Harris of NPR praised the film writing, "Sennott and Seligman strike both a sweet and an abrasive tone that's tricky to pull off, though they do so quite handily." Seligman's inspiration for the film came from high-school comedies such as Bring It On, Mean Girls, and Grease.
Seligman's work often focuses on sexual themes, particularly women's relationship to sex. Regarding this choice, she has stated:
Women decode sexual messaging from a young age, from eight years old to twenty-two years old. They have to process what sex means, what it can do for them, what it should do for them, what they're supposed to do for it. Technology, for example with porn or dating sites, has made the sexual messaging more confusing, and I'm interested in how women figure it out.
She has stated that her filmmaking process as a very collaborative experience, and enjoys being able to discuss her work with her actors.
Personal life
Seligman uses both "she/her" and "they/them" pronouns. She formerly identified as bisexual, but as of 2023 considers herself "just gay." Seligman briefly moved to Los Angeles in 2021, but resides in Bushwick as of 2023.
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