Gillian Robespierre is a writer and director you should know.
Born and raised in NYC, Gillian graduated from the School of Visual Arts’ Film & Video Program.
In 2009, Gillian co-wrote and directed the short film Obvious Child about a woman (played by Jenny Slate) who goes through a breakup, an unplanned pregnancy, and a no-regrets abortion.
She later expanded the short into a feature film of the same name which premiered at Sundance in 2014. It’s a smart, charming rom-com that cleverly subverts the implicit pro-life messaging of decades of Hollywood films — while still remaining deeply funny and heart-warming.
Landline, Gillian’s second feature, was released in 2017 and also stars Jenny Slate along with Edie Falco, John Turturro, and Jay Duplass. It’s a divorce comedy set in mid-90s New York City and plays with convention again by having a family grow together rather than apart.
In addition to films, Gillian has been directing episodes of some of today’s most acclaimed comedies including Casual, Shrill, Crashing, and Silicon Valley.
Gillian is expert at weaving highly comedic scenes together with powerful emotional moments that feel grounded and authentic. Keep an eye out for her name in the credits of your favorite shows.
More Good Work by Gillian:
- Trailer – Obvious Child (2014)
“An immature, newly unemployed comic must navigate the murky waters of adulthood after her fling with a graduate student results in an unplanned pregnancy.” Streaming now on Netflix. - Trailer – Landline (2017)
“A teenager living with her sister and parents in Manhattan during the 1990s discovers that her father is having an affair.” Streaming on Amazon Prime Video. - Five Questions with Gillian Robespierre – Filmmaker Magazine
In this interview at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, Gillian talks about her film Landline, creative collaboration, and turning down studio projects.
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