Director Biography - Juliet Landau

Juliet has always been passionate about storytelling, as an actress, writer, in her prior profession as a ballerina and now as a director.

Acting highlights include her role as “Drusilla” on Joss Whedon’s BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER & spin-off ANGEL, co-starring in Tim Burton’s ED WOOD as “Loretta King,” starring opposite Whoopi Goldberg in THEODORE REX and recurring as “Rita Tedesco” on Amazon Prime’s #1 show, BOSCH and as Cordelia on TNT's CLAWS.

Landau’s 1st directorial effort was the short subject, TAKE FLIGHT, which explored Gary Oldman’s creative process. Her 2nd venture was the short doc, DREAM OUT LOUD, which featured interviews with Guillermo del Toro, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rian Johnson. Next up, she directed a number of music videos including “Hero” for GODHEAD. All projects were produced with her husband Deverill Weekes under the Miss Juliet Productions banner.

A PLACE AMONG THE DEAD is Juliet's feature film directorial debut. She chose to make the movie searingly personal, to invite the viewer to do the same. As they say… “the more personal, the more universal.” All great work provokes conversation. This is the stuff Juliet is after: connection. communication and exploration.

She stars in the venture, which includes what she likes to call, “cameos on steroids” -much larger roles than traditional cameos: Gary Oldman, Ron Perlman, Robert Patrick, Lance Henriksen, Joss Whedon & Anne Rice, appearing for the first time in a movie.

Also in the works is THE UNDEAD SERIES - The only series ever to gather the who’s who, of the genre together in one place.

Every one of the talented artists in A PLACE AMONG THE DEAD came back to participate in THE UNDEAD SERIES, as did Tim Burton, Willem Dafoe and many other notables.

Other acting work includes starring in over 20 other features, guest starring frequently on TV, extensive voiceover work and many leading roles in the theater. Juliet has written a number of comic books. She is now penning the companion coffee table book to THE UNDEAD SERIES called BOOK OF THE UNDEAD.

Landau is a member of BAFTA, Women In Film, The Alliance Of Women Directors, Film Independent & a 3X Sundance Collab alum.

 Director Statement

A PLACE AMONG THE DEAD uses genre to explore the repercussions of growing up under the sway of narcissism and psychological abuse.

We chose to make my feature directorial debut searingly personal to invite the viewer to do the same. As they say… the more personal, the more universal.

My husband and I crafted this entirely scripted movie, using a meld of fact, fiction and the fantastical.

I play an alter-ego version of myself, as do the following actors who have what I like to call “cameos on steroids” because they are much larger than traditional cameos: Gary Oldman, Ron Perlman, Robert Patrick, Lance Henriksen and Anne Rice, appearing for the first time ever in a film.

In doing this meld, I shine a light on my life, with the hopes that the spectator opens the floodgates to become the participant.

I set out to make a genre-bending, entertaining, art film AND to give voice to what has affected many, to open up a dialogue, which is EXACTLY what has been happening at our Worldwide Screening Events hosted by Modern Films. (Other Modern releases include Werner Herzog’s newest film & Viggo Mortensen’s directorial debut.)

EVERYONE deals with narcissism. It is THE issue of our time: whether it be a spouse, partner, ex-partner, boss, co-worker, friend, family member(s), or our world leaders, we’ve been striking an artery, not just a nerve!

Each audience zoom has lasted 4 hours! Attached is the profound feedback, which has been pouring in. 🙂

Along with cast, panelists from our Q & A’s include:
*Dr Ramani (Psychologist, author, Premiere expert on Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Abuse)
*Sylvia Lancaster (Received an OBE for reducing hate crime and teaching empathy)
*Dr. Catherine Barrett (Forensic Psychologist, Professor of Psychology at USC)
*Tanya Gaum (Co-founder of the Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Alliance)
*Amy Marlow-MaCoy (Licensed Counselor, author of The Gaslighting Recovery Workbook)
*Juliette Watt (Tedx Alum)
*Ivy Kagan Bierman (Partner at Loeb & Loeb, Co-founder & President of Greenlight Women, Ent Attorney of the Year by the BH Bar Assoc, Recipient of Humanitarian Award from the Venice Family Clinic.)
*Olajumoke Osode (Worked at the UN for 13 years. Strategist Coach & Consultant who specializes in navigating Toxic & Abusive Work settings with High Conflict/Antagonistic Personalities)
*Wendy Blanco (LCSW, Director of Counseling Services and Trauma Recovery Peace Over Violence)
*Pallavi Dhawan (The Director of Domestic Violence Policy at the Los Angeles DA’s office)

I adopted to use the vampire genre, partly cause it’s an ever-enduring cultural / global phenomenon, partly due to my role on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and spin-off show ANGEL, but mostly to lull the viewer into a sense of safety, to explore unsafe and radical ideas.

If I had seen a movie like this when I was 18, it would have changed the course and journey of my life.

When I asked Gary why he came on board he said, “Your exploration of malignant narcissism and evil is necessary and timely. The construction and ideas are new, edgy, controversial and revolutionary… It excites me.”

Hopefully A PLACE AMONG THE DEAD will excite you!