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DIRECTOR, JEN McGOWANBiography
After graduating, Jen made the move from acting to directing with her award-winning short film She Never, which she also wrote. During this period, Jen worked in production with some of New York's top producers at companies such as RSA/Black Dog, A Band Apart, Killer Films and Propaganda. She was fortunate to work on many independent features including the Oscar winning Boys Don't Cry. After the reception of her first film, she was hired to direct a promo for the National AIDS Marathon on location in San Francisco, a project she is very proud of. In 2002 Jen gained a place to study in the MFA directing program at the University of Southern California. In 2004 Jen directed her first music video, Chelsea Hotel, for artist Karen Ramos, and began production on her graduate thesis film, Confessions of a Late Bloomer. Jen was honored with a grant from The Caucus Foundation for her work on Late Bloomer and well as a scholarship from Women in Film recognizing outstanding young female filmmakers. Confessions of a Late Bloomer began its festival run at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival and is still screening at festivals worldwide. Some honors for the film include: Best Editing, Creative Excellence, Best Short Film, Best of the Fest and Best Student Film. Jen is eager to start production on her next project, her debut feature film The Missing Children's Club. Collaborating with her producer, Philip Lott, she is also actively developing the feature films Buccaneer's Cove, La Maison du Pepe (The Grandfather's House) and Fine on Friday. Director StatementWhen I first began searching for the story I wanted to tell for this project I was looking for a small, lyrical piece that could be done on a shoestring budget. I knew I wanted to collaborate with a writer so I searched through piles upon piles of scripts. But I didn't find anything that I really connected to. And then I read Confessions of a Late Bloomer. With eleven locations, child actors, tons of extras and a script that demanded to be shot on 35mm, this was definitely not what I was searching for in terms of production. But, I fell in love with the lead character and his story and, as much as I tried to move on, I knew I had to be the one to bring this wonderful little film to life. However, it was quite a risk because the funds available for the production did not grow to meet this project's demands. Instead, my amazing cast and crew rose to meet them. Donny Lowenstein is the type of character that drives me to make movies. He's a beautiful loner who just doesn't yet realize his greatness. He's tossed around in a bright, slick world full of beautiful people that he desperately wants to be a part of but has absolutely no good idea of how to make it happen. All the while he moves forward with every ounce of himself, sincerely, his determination ever strengthened. His is a story that everyone can relate to on some level, one that everyone involved in the production responded to in a personal way. To me Donny Lowenstein's story is fun, vibrant and larger than life. Donny Lowestein brought a smile to my face and I'm glad to have been able to help him do the same for his larger audiences. I'm thrilled to see audiences enjoy the film at festivals. All the while, eager to start production on my debut feature film The Missing Children's Club, a magical coming of age story about a terminally ill boy and his best friend who embark on one final adventure. |
Jen McGowan, born in Washington DC and raised in Fairfax, VA, began her career as a filmmaker in 1997 when she received her BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. There, she trained as an actor at the Atlantic Theater Company and studied with such renowned artists as David Mamet, William H. Macy & Sam Shepard.
