l Seasons and a Muse

 Photo by Mark Yanni

ABOUT the ARTIST

Jeanne Marie Spicuzza is the founder and CEO of Seasons & a Muse, Inc. An award-winning producer and performance artist, and an award-nominated actress and writer, Jeanne Marie is also motion picture director, model, philosopher, activist, watercolor painter and illustrator, composer and Master Herbalist.

Jeanne Marie appears on television and radio like Lifetime, BBC and NPR, in films such as "The Scarapist," at festivals and venues Ladyfest, Lollapalooza, Bristol International Poetry Festival, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Green Mill, Pabst Theatre, House of Blues, Comedy Store, Knitting Factory and others, and for schools like Occidental College, Art Center College of Design, Chapman University, Santa Monica College and Thousand Oaks High School. Her films have screened at Landmark Theatres, Weyauwega International Film Festival, LA Femme International Film Festival, Portobello Film Festival London, Raleigh Studios, Wisconsin Film Festival and Women in the Directors' Chair. Jeanne Marie is listed in several Who's Who publications, including Who's Who of Emerging Leaders and Who's Who in the World, as well as Novels and Stories: Webster's Quotations, Facts and Phrases by Icon Group International, and has received awards, placings and nominations with The Pushcart Prize, Shepherd Express, Fade-In Magazine, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Vatican Division of Arts and Culture and others. She has served as external consultant for clients and organizations like Wiseau Studio and Toyota Motor Corporation. Jeanne Marie was nominated 'Woman of the Year' in 1998 through the National Organization for Women and was selected for inclusion on Wall of Tolerance at The Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. Segments from her screenplay "Breath of God" are on permanent exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum.

Jeanne Marie earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in philosophy and psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with Master of Arts Degree eligibility. She is the creator of WomannessTM Skin Care. Jeanne Marie is published in Shepherd Express, Poetry Motel, Poets Against War, Quill and Parchment, Poetic Diversity, Blue Fifth Review, The Nervous Breakdown, A Gathering of Tribes and others. Her paintings and illustrations appear in David Barnett Gallery, Children's Theatre School, Blue Fifth Review and more. Her films are distributed worldwide. Jeanne Marie's collection of poetry, beautiful terrible & true, in its second printing, poetry travelogue, My Italia, and children's book For Beautiful Children Like You, are available through Libri Publishers. Her self-titled CD, nominated for the Golden Headset Award, is available through Inoculation Records. It was beaten out, by a mere three votes, by James Earl Jones Reads the New Testament!

Jeanne Marie shares a deep affinity with medieval visionary, composer and abbess Hildegard von Bingen. She is dedicated to the production of the motion picture project "Breath of God," based on the life of this amazing historical woman! Her premiere feature film "The Scarapist" is in release. "Night Rain" and "Making Angels" are slated to follow. Her debut novel bears the latter title. A mother and grandmother, Jeanne Marie works in Los Angeles with her symmista, BoDeans and Violent Femmes drummer Guy Hoffman. She dreams of settling down in Sicily and travels whenever she can.

Web Site


Films

Screenwriter, producer, actress and director of feature film project "NIGHT RAIN." Currently completed.

Screenwriter, executive producer, actress and co-director of the award-winning motion picture "THE SCARAPIST." Currently On Demand.

Screenwriter, producer and actress of feature film project "MAKING ANGELS" with ensemble cast. Currently in development.

Screenwriter, producer and actress of feature film project "BREATH OF GOD," based on the life of German visionary, composer and abbess Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179). Received high honors from the Vatican, Division of Arts and Culture, June 2000, was a semifinalist in the Academy of Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowships, August 2000. Audio segments on permanent exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. Currently in development.

Screenwriter, producer, actress, director and editor of the award winning "MAKING ANGELS: Screen Test," short film with Tommy Wiseau. Completed.

Screenwriter, executive producer and actress of "FIELD DAY," high definition short film with domestic and foreign distribution.

Writer, co-producer and self for "WOMAN/WOMEN," "NAKED," and "LABORS." Domestic distribution.

View additional credits at IMDb.com.

Film Festivals

Martha's Vineyard Film Society Women in Film Festival, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Swedish International Film Festival, Arvika, Sweden.

Wallachia International Film Festival, Bucharest, Romania.

Vesuvius International Film Fest, Campania, Italy.

Fullshot Cine Mag Fest, online.

Fourth Dimension Independent Film Festival, Bali, Indonesia.

Athens International Monthly Art Film Film Festival, Athens, Greece.

Beyond the Curve International Film Festival, Paris France.

Vancouver Independent Film Festival, Vancouver, Canada.

Toronto International Women Film Festival, Toronto, Canada.

Austin International Art Festival, Austin, Texas.

London International Monthly Film Festival, London, U.K.

Trailer Film Festival, Los Angeles, California.

Berlinale International Film Festival - European Film Market (EFM), Berlin, Germany.

Weyauwega International Film Festival, Weyauwega, Wisconsin.

LA Femme International Film Festival, Beverly Hills, California.

Portobello Film Festival, London, U.K.

Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, Wisconsin.

Women in the Directors Chair, Chicago, Illinois.

Live Performances

Acting and poetry performances, The Poetry Brothel, various, ongoing since 2010.

Featured performances, Sparring With Beatnik Ghosts, various, ongoing since 2009.

Portrayal of Sarah Palin, reading the feminist prose of Valerie Solanas, Wildness, 2008.

Voice and character of the Fortune-Telling 2007 Toyota Yaris, Dew Action Sports Tour, 2006.

Featured performances at Beyond Baroque, House of Blues, Comedy Store, Knitting Factory, Viva Gallery, Rapp Saloon, Ladyfest London and European Tour, Santa Monica College, Thousand Oaks High School, Ladyfest Glasgow, Mae West Fest, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, the Green Mill, Santa Cruz Poetry Festival, Austin International Poetry Festival, Lollapalooza, the Pabst Theatre and others. Cities include Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, San Diego, Bristol, London, Sheffield, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Leuven, London, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Frederick, MD, Portland, OR, Seattle, Bisbee, AZ, New York City and others.

One-woman shows "NAKED" and "Images of Women."

Promotions

Live performances and interviews on Music4Life, W4CY, WSUM, ROR FM Italia, KUCI, Irvine; BBC, England; WHAD, National Public Radio; WMSE; Lightforce TV, NBC, and MATA.

Featured artist appearing in The Nervous Breakdown, February 5, 2011; On Milwaukee, February 24, 2009, February 1, 2005, April 29, 2003, April 24, 2003, March 11, 2003; Santa Monica Mirror, Vol. 3, Issue 39; Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel, December 1998; Veronica Magazine, Issue #3, Music Connection, Volume XXVI, No. 13, Shepherd Express, September 27, 2001, and September 25, 1997; Audio World, April 2001; PL News, September 2000; Renaissance Magazine, April 1998, The Italian Times, Vo, 30, No. 9, Vol. 19, No. 9, Angles: Magazine of Women in Film and Video, Volume 3, Numbers 3 & 4.

Products

Creator of "Night Rain" luxury perfume oil, January 2020.

Creator of WomannessTM Skin Care, the glamourously pure skin care line, Full Moon Pharm, May 2013.

Author of For Beautiful Children Like You, children's book, activity book, poetry, Libri Publishers, Los Angeles, May 2010.

Author of My Italia, humor, travel, poems and writings, Libri Publishers, Los Angeles, December 2008.

Author of beautiful terrible & true, a collection of poems and writings, Libri Publishers, Los Angeles, September 2000. Second edition, February 2005.

Executive producer, screenwriter and actress of "Field Day", motion picture/DVD, Seasons & a Muse Productions, October 2004.

Producer and artist of self-tiled CD, Inoculation Records, February 2001.

Awards & Nominations

Winner, Wallachia International Film Festival, 2021.

Winner, Fullshot Cine Mag Fest, 2021.

Winner, Fourth Dimension Independent Film Festival, 2021.

Winner, New York Independent Cinema Awards, 2021.

Winner, Athens International Monthly Art Film Film Festival.

Finalist, Beyond the Curve International Film Festival, 2021.

Finalist, Vancouver Independent Film Festival.

Finalist, Austin International Art Festival, 2021.

Winner, London International Monthly Film Festival, 2021.

Finalist, Trailer Film Festival, 2020.

Winner, The One-Reeler Award, 2019.

Nominee, The Pushcart Prize, 2017-2019.

Nominee, Los Angeles Business Journal Women's Summit, 2016-2019.

Nominee, Best of the Net, Sundress Publications, 2018.

Winner, Spectrum 10: Top Ten L.A. Poets of 2017.

Winner, Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017.

Winner, Best Picture, VDKUF Award, February 2016.

Semifinalist, Fade In Screen Test Competition, October 2002.

Best Performance by an International Performer, Farrago Zoo Award nominee, 2001 - 2002.

Best Self-Help/Inspirational Audio, Golden Headset Award nominee, 2001.

Semifinalist, Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 2000.

High Honors, Vatican Division of Arts and Culture, 2000.

Best Performance Artist of the Year, Shepherd Express Weekly, 1998.

Woman of the Year Nominee, National Organization of Women, 1998.

Winner of poetry slams, various, including Bristol International Poetry Festival, Nuyorican Poets Cafe and Milwaukee Grand Slams.

Accomplishments

Invited to serve on the Board of Advisors, University of California Santa Barbara, Women's Business Initiative, arts and entertainment in motion picture.

Selected for permanent exhibition, Brooklyn Museum.

Selected for inclusion on the Wall of Tolerance by the National Campaign for Tolerance, Morris Dees and Rosa Parks, founding chairs.

Founder and president of Seasons & a Muse Productions, LLC, The Scarapist, LLC, and Hilde Productions, LLC.

Listed in several Marquis Who's Who editions, including Who's Who in the World.

Founder and CEO of Seasons & a Muse, Inc., publishing, arts and film production corporation.

Published in The Shepherd Express, PoeticDiversity, Poetry Motel, Quill & Parchment and others.

Volunteer at St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Shade Tree Family Center, Sojourner Truth House and others.

Contributor to Catholic Relief Services.

Celebrity spokeswoman for WomannessTM Skin Care, Jamma Foundation and Green I.T.

Real Butter Donor, Wisconsin Film Festival.

Training & Education

The Marjorie Ballentine Studio, Marjorie Ballentine, Master Class.

Grok Acting Studio, Sean Rose, Master Class.

Secret Rose Theatre, Master Class with Alan Langdon.

Ball State University, Richard L. Edwards, Ph.D., "Into the Darkness: Investigating Film Noir."

CEO Space, Graduate 1210, Berny Dorhmann, founder.

Santa Monica Dance Studio, Beginning - Intermediate Ballet and Private Coaching, Yana Makarova, instructor.

Ivana Chubbuck Studios, Advanced Acting, Chris Holder, instructor.

The Groundlings School, Basic, Mitch Silpa, instructor.

Actors' Studio, Diane Salinger, Master Class.

AIA Actor's Studio, Master Class with Jason Alexander.

AIA Actor's Studio, Linda Phillips-Palo, C.S.A., The Artists Way.

Bobby Chance Studios, Bobby Chance, Advanced Acting.

Margie Haber Studios, Courtney Burr, Cold Reading Workshops.

Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, Master Class with Timothy West.

Master of Philosophy and Herbalism.

University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin, Bachelor of Arts Degree, philosophy and psychology.

Articles & Interviews

Broadway World, October 12, 2021; By: A.A. Cristi.

MV Times, October 5, 2021; By: Brooks Robards.

Fullshot Cine Mag, September 3, 2021; By: Staff Writers.

Broadway World, June 24, 2021; By: A.A. Cristi.

Shepherd Express, April 20, 2020; By: David Luhrssen.

Medium, July 15, 2018; By: Rachel Dunbar, Ph.D.

The Native Society, April 9, 2018; By: Staff Writers.

Healthy Hildegard, November 1, 2017; By: Staff Writers.

The Nervous Breakdown, August 28, 2017; By: Jeanne Spicuzza.

Broadway World, March 20, 2017; By: Movies News Desk.

The Crazy Mind, March 1, 2017; By: Staff Writers.

Screen Anarchy, January 24, 2017; By: Deborah Gilels.

On Milwaukee, September 16, 2016; By: Molly Snyder.

Dread Central, March 17, 2016; By: Debi Moore.

Forth Magazine, November 24, 2015; By: Justin Kern.

Shepherd Express, October 19, 2015; By: David Luhrssen.

Indiewire, September 29, 2015; By: Freja Dam and Laura Nicholson.

On Milwaukee, September 4, 2015; By: Molly Snyder.

Shepherd Express, December 12, 2014; By: David Luhrssen.

The Nervous Breakdown, February 5, 2011; By: Jeanne Spicuzza.

Poetic Diversity, August 2009, Vol. 7 No. 2; By: Theresa Antonia.

On Milwaukee, February 24, 2009; By: Bobby Tanzilo.

The Argonaut, January 15, 2009; By Adam Pockross.

On Milwaukee, February 1, 2005; By: OMC Staff Writers.

The Bay Viewer, June 10, 2004; By: Nan Bialek.

On Milwaukee, April, 12, 2004; By: Bobby Tanzilo.

On Milwaukee, April 29, 2003; By: Bobby Tanzilo.

Music Connection, June 24, 2002, Vol. 26, Iss. 13, pg. 28; By: Tom Kidd.

Veronica Magazine, Vol. 1, Iss. 3; By: Staff Writers.

Shepherd Express, September 27, 2001; By: Jennifer Maher.

Santa Monica Mirror, Vol. 3, Iss. 39; By: Staff Writers

Audio World, March 2001; By Bennet Pomerantz.

PL News, September 2000; By: Brandon Backhaus.

Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel, December 18, 1998; By: Nick Carter.

Renaissance Magazine, Vol. 3, Iss. 2; By: Mistress Isa.

The Daily News of Wisconsin, May 4, 1998; By: Staff Writers.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 26, 1998; By: Emily Bell.

The Italian Times, March 1998; By: Staff Writers.

Angles: Magazine of Women in Film and Video, Vol. 3, Is. 3 & 4; By: Alfrieda Abbe.

Shepherd Express, September 25, 1997; By: Scott Sloan.

The Daily Journal, June 6, 1997; By: Staff Writers.

Press Releases

New Woman-Owned Streaming Platform With Old Hollywood Appeal

73 Years Later the Black Dahlia Honored with New Indie Film

73 Years Later the Black Dahlia Honored with Luxury Perfume

Tommy Wiseau gives good therapy to Jeanne Marie Spicuzza in "Making Angels: Screen Test"

"Night Rain" teaser and first footage released

Award-winning indie thriller "The Scarapist"TM now available on Video on Demand on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and more

"Night Rain" Campaign going strong on Indiegogo

"Night Rain" campaign launches

"The Scarapist"TM is "in" following critics' award at Berlinale

"The Scarapist"TM wins best picture at Berlinale

"The Scarapist"TM follows up theatrical run, screens at European Film Market

WomannessTM Skin Care by Jeanne Marie Spicuzza Launches!

'For Beautiful Children Like You' By Jeanne Marie Spicuzza On Sale In May

'My Italia' By Jeanne Marie Spicuzza Hits The Shelves In December

Jeanne Marie Spicuzza Joins "The Dinner Party"

Wall of Tolerance Honors Poet and Actor Jeanne Marie Spicuzza

Poet Jeanne Marie Spicuzza Expresses Wit, Hope & Wisdom in 'Beautiful Terrible & True'

"Field Day" Releases in Controversial Times

"Field Day" Premieres in Hollywood

"FIELD DAY" available in autumn 2004

DAVID LYNCH AGREES WITH THE VATICAN

Press Quotes

"[In 'The Scarapist,'] Spicuzza and fellow Milwaukeean R. Michael Gull (playing one of Ilsa's henchmen) give the most fully rounded performances."

– David Luhrssen, Shepherd Express, December 12, 2014

"Spicuzza reminds you, of who you are."

– Theresa Antonia, Poetic Diversity, August 2009

" ... outstanding!"

Viva News, Summer 2009

"Seasons & a Muse... film production corporation, founded by artist/filmmaker Jeanne Marie Spicuzza... carries a slate of projects, including the much-anticipated feature film BREATH OF GOD, the story of... Hildegard von Bingen. David Lynch, Protozoa Pictures, Vincent Ward and the Vatican endorse the project, over 12 years in development."

Filmmaker Magazine, January 2004

"Spicuzza herself should serve as inspiration to a new generation of women. Fearless and focused, dynamic and driven, she appears to know exactly what she wants to do and she's got the energy to do it."

– Bobby Tanzilo, On Milwaukee, April 29, 2003

"Spicuzza is to be commended for her attempts to speak for women in the past-- mythical and actual-- in a voice that is both of these things."

– Jennifer Maher, Shepherd Express, September 2001

"Performance artist Jeanne Spicuzza... has captured my mind and my ears with her bravado. Her reparatory of vocal characters flows off the map. Her words are creative, well thought out and will astonish both male and female alike."

– Bennet Pomerantz, Audio World, April 2001

"A 'Sicilian Spitfire'"

– Stephanie Renee, CCP Ink Spot News, December 2000

"Jeanne [shows] her dynamism by changing accents and performance styles, from existential longings to fly to street wise expectant mother... A superb poet and performer. Keep your ears wide for news of this woman warrior, she is on the rise!"

– Brandon Bacchus, PL News, October 2000

"Jeanne Spicuzza reads poetry, plays music and gets involved in just about all ends of the performing arts. She's a great talent."

– Dave Luhrssen, Shepherd Express, January 1999

"[Jeanne Marie Spicuzza] fuses enough fragments of dance, vocals, poetry and dramatic visuals to make a Laurie Anderson show seem understated. But the bits consistently use humor and focus to keep the production out of the ether."

– Nick Carter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 1998

"Her spoken word performances often blend off-the-wall humor with smart sub-references... The line of definition gets fuzzier when categorizing performance poetry, performance art and stand-up comedy in meter. Spicuzza has a stake in all of the above."

– Scott Sloan, Shepherd Express, September 1997



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