Mullen on set in 2020


April Mullen (/ˈmʊlən/) is a Canadian director, actress, and producer.

Career

In 2012, Mullen became the first woman to direct a live action, fully stereoscopic 3D feature film, Dead Before Dawn (2012).[1] In 2015, she directed the neo-noir grindhouse feature film 88 (2015).[2]

Mullen was sought out for comment when the study, Women in View on Screen, concluded Canadian women mostly get to sit in the director's chair on small film and television projects, while men get the big-budget projects.[3]

Mullen has also commented on the perspective that women bring to filmmaking behind the lens: "Women have this vulnerability and connection to a depth of emotions that I can see and feel in certain moments of truth in the films we create. To me, the female gaze is transparency – the veil between audience and filmmaker is thin, and that allows people in more."[4][5] She is also sought out for her perspective on the "female gaze" in movies.[6][7]

In 2016, Mullen directed Below Her Mouth in 2016, which was an official selection at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.[8][4][9][10][11] She was one of several honorees of the Birks Diamond Tribute celebrating Canadian women in film during the 2016 festival.[12][13] The Globe and Mail profiled her "female gaze" on the film.[6][7] Following the 2016 festival, she signed with Verve.[14]

In 2017, Mullen directed the action feature film Badsville.[15] In 2020, she directed the thriller feature film Wander.[16][17] In 2023, she directed the sci-fi film Simulant.[18]

Personal life

She grew up in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and now lives in Los Angeles.[19]

Accolades

Mullen was added to the Niagara Falls Arts and Culture Wall of Fame in 2016.[8][20]

Filmography

Year Role Actor Director Producer Screenwriter notes
2000 The Ladies Man[21] Young Love Movie
2003 1-800-Missing[22] Cara Crenshaw Television
2004 72 Hours: True Crime Rachel Emery Television
2004 Cavedweller Dede Movie
2004 Suburban Madness Jesse James TV film
2005 Rose Vanisha TV film
2005 A History of Violence[23] youth at diner Movie
2007 Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of the Tosser[24] Holly Brewer Yes Yes Yes Movie
2009 Howie Do It Actress TV series, 8 episodes
2010 GravyTrain[25] Miss Uma Booma Yes Yes Movie
2011 Scare Tactics Actress Television
2011 Papillon[26] The Nun Television
2012 Good God Kathy Duncan TV series, 10 episodes
2012 Dead Before Dawn Becky Fords Yes Yes Movie
2013 Making of Dead Before Dawn 3D Yes short form documentary
2015 88 Lemmy Yes Yes Movie
Farhope Tower[27] Zoe Movie
2016 Aftermath[28] Television
2016 Real Detective[29] TV documentary
2016-2017 Killjoys[30] Television
2016 Below Her Mouth Movie
2017 Badsville
2017 Bellevue Television
Wynonna Earp
2018 Imposters
Legends of Tomorrow
Lethal Weapon
2018-2019 The Rookie
2019 Ransom Television, 1 episode
2020 Wander[31] Movie
2023 Simulant[32] Movie

See also

References

  1. ^ "U.S. dawn for Canuck indie 'Dead'". Variety.
  2. ^ LACEY, LIAM; Doiron, April Mullen, Tim (8 May 2015). "Director April Mullen jumps into neo-noir grindhouse with 88". Retrieved 12 August 2017.((cite news)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Female Directors Face Closed Doors in Canada, Study Finds". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b "How Being Called a 'Female Filmmaker' Helped Me Understand the Future of Cinema". Talkhouse. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  5. ^ "How Being Called a 'Female Filmmaker' Helped Me Understand the Future of Cinema". Talkhouse. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  6. ^ a b HOUPT, SIMON (9 September 2016). "Below Her Mouth brings the female gaze to sex scenes". Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Director April Mullen on how 'Below Her Mouth' is all about the female gaze – AfterEllen". AfterEllen. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  8. ^ a b "April Mullen: The Woman Director – I AM MARIE". I AM MARIE. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Review: 'Below Her Mouth' is an Exhilarating, Erotic Tour de Force". The Film Stage. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Women in Film Talk TIFF 2016". Filler Magazine. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Controversy is familiar ground at TIFF: Howell | Toronto Star". Toronto Star. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  12. ^ "April Mullen chats about her TIFF films". Breakfast Television Toronto. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  13. ^ "Telefilm Canada and Birks pay tribute to 12 Canadian women in film at the 2016 Birks Diamond Tribute during TIFF – Telefilm Canada". Telefilm Canada. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  14. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (20 September 2016). "'Below Her Mouth' Helmer April Mullen Signs With Verve – Toronto". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Interview: April Mullen on Violence, Motivation, and Creating BADSVILLE". ScreenAnarchy. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  16. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (11 April 2019). "Aaron Eckhart To Star In Conspiracy Thriller 'Wander'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  17. ^ Geier, Thom (12 September 2020). "Aaron Eckhart and Tommy Lee Jones' 'Wander' Lands at Saban Films". TheWrap. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  18. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (2 December 2021). "'Hello Stranger': Jordana Brewster & Sam Worthington Join Luke Grimes In Sci-Fi-Thriller". Deadline. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  19. ^ "HOME". aprilmullen.com. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  20. ^ nurun.com. "Seven names added to wall of fame". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  21. ^ "The Ladies Man". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  22. ^ "Missing : disparus sans laisser de traces dimanche 2 juillet 2017 11h45". cinetelerevue.be. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  23. ^ "April Mullen". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  24. ^ "Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of the Tosser Tim Doiron & April Mullen". Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  25. ^ "Gravytrain: Don't feel bad about missing this one | Toronto Star". Toronto Star. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  26. ^ "Papillon". dailymotion.com. 2011.
  27. ^ "Film Review: Farhope Tower (2015) | HNN". horrornews.net. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  28. ^ "April Mullen: A Quadruple Threat | Today Magazine". Today Magazine. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  29. ^ "Crashdown.com " Brendan Fehr Leading " Brendan Guest Stars in "Real Detective" – February 18". crashdown.com. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  30. ^ "Killjoys: New plans, old foes and one hells of a heist". TV, eh?. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  31. ^ "Wander". Deadline. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  32. ^ O'Rourke, Ryan (22 February 2022). "'Hello Stranger': Simu Liu Joins Sam Worthington and Robbie Amell in Sci-Fi Thriller". Collider. Retrieved 30 December 2022.

External links

Films directed by April Mullen
Categories