Women Behind the Scenes Spotlight: Nicole Kassell

Today’s Women Behind the Scenes spotlight is shone on film and television director Nicole Kassell.

Nicole was born in Philadelphia and received her degree from the Tisch School of the Arts and New York University. While a student there, she made three short films, one of which was screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2002.

Two years later, she was the screenplay writer and director on the acclaimed film The Woodsman, adapted from the Steven Fechter play, that starred Kevin Bacon and his real-life wife Kyra Sedgwick, which competed at Sundance, the Toronto International Film Festival and also at the Cannes Film Festival. Unfortunately, it took another 7 years before Nicole got the opportunity to direct another feature film, the Kate Hudson flick A Little Bit of Heaven, which was lambasted by critics and only grossed $15,000.

As Nicole shared with Vanity Fair, that movie’s lackluster results landed her in “jail…deep, deep dark jail.” She further shared that it was “through my work in television that I’ve kind of clawed my way out.”

Among the TV shows she has directed since 2006, include Cold Case, The Closer, Suits, The Killing, Better Call Saul, The Following, Rectify, American Crime, The Leftovers, The Americans, Claws, Westworld and Castle Rock.

It is her latest work as an executive producer and director on the new HBO series Watchmen, based on the acclaimed graphic novel, that is turning heads by critics. The next new episode of Watchmen will air on Sunday, November 3 at 9/8c.

Nicole has guest lectured at NYU, mentored from the Cinereach foundation and serves on the Eastern Director’s Council of the Directors Guild of America. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.