Annette Haywood-Carter

Annette Haywood-Carter began her directing career with THE FOOT SHOOTING PARTY starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Financed by TOUCHSTONE PICTURES, the film screened to a standing-room-only crowd at Sony Studio’s and PREMIER magazine featured Annette in an article, “talent to keep an eye on.”   Prior to directing, Annette worked as a script supervisor on major studio films where she earned the respect of Academy Award winning producers, directors and actors who helped her break into directing.   Spielberg saw THE FOOT SHOOTING PARTY and offered Annette an episode of SEAQUEST to direct. Lead actor, Roy Scheider asked her to return for another episode. Word spread and Annette was offered her first feature film, FOXFIRE, where she pulled Angelina Jolie out of auditions for a minor role and offered her the lead, a performance many credit as launching Jolie’s career.   Rysher Entertainment was eager for Annette to direct another film and, off a pitch, hired her to write LOVE IS STRANGE. The company sold the script to LIFETIME with Annette attached to direct.  Annette cast Ron Silver, Kate Nelligan and Julie Harris and the movie won a rave review from HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.   In addition to directing, Annette worked as a writer-for-hire. Her credits include a television miniseries for CBS, a book adaptation for Disney, movie scripts based on producer concepts and script-doctoring screenplays green-lit for production.   Annette relocated to New York City and launched a development company.  She directed SAVANNAH, starring the late Sam Shepard, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jim Caviezel and Bradley Whitford.  She spent a month in Berlin on HOMELAND shadowing director Alex Graves and producer-director Lesli Glatter.  Annette returned to California where she started a new company, Santa Monica based ARCH PICTURES.  She is in development on her next feature film and is writing a limited series, for hire, that she’s attached to direct.