Shannon Murphywants to change the conversation around death.
Im always inspired by writing that feels tonally unusual and incredibly hard to execute, Murphy tells Deadline.
This nuance is very complicated from a craft perspective and thats what excites me.
(L-R) Jenny Slate and Michelle Williams in ‘Dying for Sex’, and director Shannon MurphySarah Shatz/FX/Getty
She has always lived life as though its her last day its quite extraordinary.
The beginnings of her career saw her direct in the theatre space for almost a decade.
I realized cinema can be as playful as theatre felt to me, she says.
(L-R) Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate in ‘Dying for Sex’Sarah Shatz/FX
She worked with producer Imogen Banks in Australia who gave her her first TV gig directing Aussie comedy-dramaOffspring.
That film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 and earned an eight-minute standing ovation at the festival.
Williams is famed for her dramatic performances, while Slate is perhaps more known for her comedic performances.
WithDying for Sex, both actors had to have equal weight in both areas.
I think she really proved that in this work.
I know Im creating a fictional version, but I did want to find out sometimes.
But I knew we would have to extend to get the right shot.
It was a real theatre show.
Its quite hard to speak like an auteur in television.
But it did feel like so much of my passion was infused into it, she says.
Shes currently in the early stages of her next feature, which is presently under wraps.
I just love that about Molly.
