Taylor Swift Has Signed On With Searchlight Pictures To Write And Direct Her First Feature-Length Film
Just a year after making her sure-to-be Oscar-nominated directorial debut with the 15-minute short film, All Too Well, which doubles as a music video for her two-time smash hit song of the same name, Variety reports that Taylor Swift is gearing up to wade into deeper water by directing a feature-length film of her own original script for Searchlight Pictures. Variety also reports that Taylor will be sharing her insights and wisdom as a director with fellow auteurs such as James Cameron, Ryan Coogler, and Francis Ford Coppola as part of their Directors on Directors series, featuring “conversations between directors of the biggest films of the year.” Safe to say that at this point in Taylor’s remarkable career, it’s not hyperbole to call her one of the world’s most talented, gifted, and virtuosic storytellers of her or any other generation when it comes to shameless self-promotion. Simply put — she’s the best to ever do it.
Now, I hear you – “But can she direct? Is she actually any good? Has she ‘done the work’ to earn her spot on the dais rubbing elbows (and wigs) with such titans of cinema as Tyler Perry?” The simple answer is, “I’m sorry, were you talking? I thought I heard a voice?” The more complex answer is “only time and merch sales on TaylorSwift.com will tell.” Variety reports:
Taylor Swift will be making her feature directorial debut with Searchlight Pictures. The singer, songwriter and director has written an original script, which will be produced by the Oscar-winning studio behind “Nomadland” and “The Shape of Water.” Other key details, like a plot and casting, are being kept under wraps until a later date, but landing the project from one of the world’s most successful musicians is a coup.
“Taylor is a once in a generation artist and storyteller. It is a genuine joy and privilege to collaborate with her as she embarks on this exciting and new creative journey,” said Searchlight presidents David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield.
Swift recently became the only solo artist ever to be honored with two best direction awards at the MTV VMAs for her work on “All Too Well: The Short Film” and “The Man.” Swift is an 11-time Grammy winner and the only female artist to win album of the year on three different occasions. In October, Swift released “Midnights,” her 10th studio album.
The 14-minute production of “All Too Well: The Short Film,” which Swift wrote and directed, screened at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. Swift has also acted on screen, appearing in “Valentine’s Day,” “Cats” and, this year, in David O. Russell’s “Amsterdam.” The latter two films were notorious bombs, but Swift only had small roles in them.
In other words, NOT HER FAULT. To date, David O. Russell, Tom Hooper (Cats), or Gary Marshall (Valentine’s Day) have received exactly ZERO MTV movie award nominations, let alone wins. Although to be fair, Taylor and her VD scene partner Taylor Lautner were nominated for Best Kiss, but Gary gave all the credit to Taylor. MTV News reports (2010):
“Taylor [Swift] was quite good in the movie and Taylor Lautner too,” he told MTV News about the kiss in the movie[/article], which is out on DVD and Blu-Ray this Tuesday. “Taylor Swift is quite competitive. I said, ‘You know there’s a prize for best kiss? … So we might as well try for it.’ And Taylor Lautner kind of hid at the craft-service place. He didn’t want to get involved. Anyway, he went along with it. We did one in the movie, which was pretty good, but then we did a whole shot of a best kiss that was pretty good.”
Sadly, Taylor(2) lost that award to Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson for The Twilight Saga: Full Moon. But considering Taylor’s unparalleled drive and ambition, I’m sure she’ll use the anguish of defeat to inform her directorial work moving forward. Hopefully, The Banshees of Inisherin director Martin McDonagh will ask her about it when they kick off Variety’s Directors on Directors series, premiering “on Monday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. PT on Variety.com and Variety social media channels.” Follow TaylorSwift.com for updates, and while you’re there, don’t forget to “Click a room, the starry midnight sky, or the snow-covered trees to shop all new holiday collections!” As Taylor always says but has only recently gotten copyrighted, now is the time for … Action!(™)
Pic: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images