Susan Emshwiller, a multifaceted creative individual, was born and raised in Levittown, N.Y., the daughter of writer Carol Emshwiller and sci-fi illustrator, avant-garde filmmaker Ed Emshwiller.
She pursued her passion for the arts by earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and printmaking from Syracuse University and later a Master of Fine Arts degree in film from the California Institute of the Arts.
Throughout her career, Emshwiller has worked as a set decorator on numerous film and television projects, collaborating with renowned directors such as David Mamet, Michael Apted, and Robert Altman. Her impressive portfolio includes work on films like The Player, Short Cuts, Kansas City, and Cookie's Fortune, in which she also made a featured appearance.
In addition to her work in film, Emshwiller is a talented playwright, having written and directed several plays, including the critically acclaimed and award-winning "Brush Strokes," which was inspired by the works of Edward Hopper. Her play "Dominoes" is published by the Dramatists Play Service, and "Defrosting Popsicles" is published by Playscripts Inc.
Emshwiller has also ventured into screenwriting, co-writing the Academy Award-winning film Pollock, directed by and starring Ed Harris. Her feature film, In the Land of Milk and Money, a wild social satire, received widespread critical acclaim and won awards at festivals in the US and internationally.
Beyond her work in film and theater, Emshwiller has written and directed short films, commercials, and music videos. She has also honed her skills as a script doctor and has taught screen and playwriting at the MET Theatre in Hollywood.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Emshwiller has published several short stories and has recently completed her first novel, "Exclamation Point."
