Life and Career
Chopra was born in Waltham, Massachusetts. A few months after her graduation from Brandeis, she and a partner opened The Cafe Mozart, a European-style coffee house near Harvard Square at 47 Mt Auburn Street, eventually turning it into a music club (Club 47) where everyone from Joan Baez to Bob Dylan performed. The Club was the subject of 2012 film, "For the Love of the Music," shown at the Boston International Film Festival. Chopra's own film career began with documentary film making in 1972 and gained much recognition by feminist film scholars with her autobiographical documentary Joyce at 34 (1974). The film stars Chopra and examines the affect her pregnancy had on her film making career. The documentary received the American Film Festival Blue Ribbon award. The film is considered an important film for feminist film scholars as the film explores the issues surrounding women when pursing the creation of a family while also creating a professional career.
Chopra transitioned into fiction film making around the mid-1980s after meeting and working with Tom Cole (writer). One of their first collaborations was a PBS American Playhouse production, Medal of Honor Rag in 1982.
Her first narrative feature length film Smooth Talk (1985) won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director and Grand Jury Prize at the 1985 Sundance Film Festival. The film is an adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates' 1966 short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, and was adapted by Tom Cole.
Her second feature length film The Lemon Sisters was made in conjunction with the producer and star, Diane Keaton. The film explores the long-term female friendships between Eloise (Diane Keaton), Franki (Carol Kane) and Nola (Kathryn Grody).
Since The Lemon Sisters, Chopra has turned to directing television, ranging from television dramas to made-for-TV movies.
Her most recent work is Gramercy Stories. A 52 minute documentary about a residence in Manhattan that is providing a safe home for gay and transgender youth who have experienced violence at home and on the streets. Gramercy Trailer
In addition to directing her own films, Chopra is part of BYKids, a non-profit organization pairing master filmmakers with youth (ages 8–21) from around the world to create short documentaries that educate Americans about globally relevant issues. Her most recent mentee, 16 year old Jayshree Janu Kharpade of India has created the film Fire in Our Hearts (2012) which has just been selected for the 2012 India International Film Festival of Tampa Bay.
Read more about this topic: Joyce Chopra
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