Lena Dunham's Memoir 'Famesick' Chronicles the Cost of Moving from Indie Film to TV
In her memoir titled "Famesick," Lena Dunham recounts her transition from independent cinema to the HBO series "Girls." Following the success of her 2010 film "Tiny Furniture," which earned the Grand Jury Prize at South by Southwest, she attracted significant attention in the industry. Introduced to agent Peter Benedek by her mother, Laurie Simmons, Dunham had meetings in Los Angeles. She quickly pitched "Girls" to HBO, crafting the pilot in a single night, which led to a deal. The pilot received a green light in September, with filming taking place at Silvercup Studios in Queens, featuring actors like Allison Williams and Adam Driver. Throughout the first season, Dunham encountered creative challenges and health problems. The series concluded after six seasons, and her upcoming film, "Good Sex," starring Natalie Portman, is on the horizon.
Key facts
- Lena Dunham's memoir "Famesick" details her experiences making the HBO series "Girls."
- "Tiny Furniture" won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 South by Southwest film festival.
- Dunham's mother, Laurie Simmons, helped her find agent Peter Benedek at United Talent Agency.
- Dunham pitched the idea for "Girls" spontaneously during a meeting at HBO.
- HBO offered Dunham a deal to write the pilot the day after she submitted the idea.
- The pilot was shot in November at Silvercup Studios in Queens.
- The cast included Allison Williams, Adam Driver, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet, and Andrew Rannells.
- Dunham gained fifteen pounds in a month after supervisor Jenni Konner told her she was too thin.
- Cinematographer Jody Lee Lipes stopped speaking to Dunham during the first season due to creative conflicts.
- "Girls" ran for six seasons and became a cultural touchstone of the 2010s.
- Dunham's next film, "Good Sex," stars Natalie Portman.
Entities
Artists
- Lena Dunham
- Laurie Simmons
- Peter Benedek
- Jenni Konner
- Allison Williams
- Adam Driver
- Jemima Kirke
- Zosia Mamet
- Andrew Rannells
- Judd Apatow
- Jody Lee Lipes
- Greta Gerwig
- Josh Safdie
- Benny Safdie
- Natalie Portman
Institutions
- HBO
- United Talent Agency
- South by Southwest
- Silvercup Studios
Locations
- Tribeca
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Queens
- United States