The late indie directors closest friends and collaborators mourn the loss of a beloved experimental artist.
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Some wrote their own tributes, others shared them during phone conversations.
Her partner, the comedian and then MTV star Kevin Seal, was in them too.
She was a luminous stage actress in her 20s not something a lot of people know about.
Lynn was also in a four-woman performance group called Denise.
Its hard to imagine what the audience thought of us.
Lynn was always laughing, always totally game.
Everyone will talk about her laugh and it was really all that.
She had the fiercest emotional intelligence.
It was like that to talk to her, too.
She wanted to hear your truest feelings and express hers.
We lived on opposite coasts, so when we spoke she always went straight to the big stuff.
Straight to the big stuff.
I dont know what my life would look like had I not stumbled upon the same path as Lynn.
We were creative collaborators for over ten years, but she was also a friend.
I would sayYour Sisters Sister, which probably is my favorite.
Emily Blunt (actor,Your Sisters Sister):It was a tiny movie.
It was a two-week shoot.
It was a very limited crew, probably ten of us.
Theres no cobbling it together.
Its how she crafts it after youve done your work like true, true human intimacy and awkwardness.
Truly what it is to feel those things in a moment.
[Lynn] whispered something to Rose.
I didnt know what she had said but I found out later: Really embarrass her in this scene.
you gotta really embarrass your sister in front of Mark.
And I was like, Oh my God.
I honestly started hysterically laughing.
This is like the beauty of Lynn.
My vein was popping out of my forehead.
I was so mortified.
Ive never had an experience like that.
you could only get that working with Lynn.
When you were on her set, you werent on a different level than her.
Everyone was on the same level.
When you were with Lynn Shelton,you are cool.
You are one of the cool kids.
You feel like the smartest person in the room because thats how she made you feel.
Its funny because everyone says that about her.
Theres not one person who thinks differently.
Its incredible how much impact she had on every person down to craft service.
She was always just so collaborative with everyone.
Josh Pais (actor,Touchy Feely):It wassocollaborative.
And years later, she cast me in a CBS pilot, as her career had moved more mainstream.
But with her it was just the same.
There was just better craft service.
I love being able to come into these worlds and play.
Isnt it fun that we get to do this for a job?
She knew that and she embodied that.
She wasnt just phoning it in.
She was fully, passionately bringing her spirit to [these shows].
The great director of new plays is not someone whos obsessed with putting their own stamp on it.
I remember being on set and the sound of Lynn callingAction!It wasquitestrong.
You wouldnt have expected it because shes sort of delicate as a person.
I think its like a team spirit.
Thats the ideal thing.
Beautiful work came out of that.
Alison Brie (actor,GLOW,Mad Men):Ive always admired Lynn as a filmmaker.
I first met her about ten years ago when she directed an episode ofMad Men.
High on the prospect of indie filmmaking, I drunkenly pitched her a movie idea at some Sundance after-party.
She couldnt have been more gracious, laughing generously, and thankfully never bringing it up to me again.
Everyone on the crew loved her.
She made everyone feel singular and special.
It made me feel singular and special.
She would glow recounting such compliments.
Nahnatchka Khan (creator and showrunner,Fresh Off the Boat):She was fun.
You could hear her laugh.
She had that super distinct laugh.
She had these foods that she would make.
She would make them in the morning, like chia-seed spread?
I dont know what, I truly dont know!
She was one of a kind.
I mean, there is no other person like her.
Even if someones like,Give me a Lynn Shelton jot down.
There is no … you know, theres Lynn Shelton.
Lynn had a magnificent voice deep and resonant, soulful and harmonious.
It was spiritual for her, I suspect.
No director ever took that time.
She would never ask an actor to do something she wasnt willing to do herself.
There was no line between director/actor or work/friendship.
We would go on to be close friends and collaborators.
Again, I dont really know where the line is.
We sold a show to Hulu together and then went on to do the filmSword of Trust.
She was so terrified to act, because Lynn does nothing without bringing her whole heart to it.
She was wholly herself and when she loved you, she made sure you knew it every single day.
It was at the Independent Spirit Awards and we were both nominated.
I didnt know she was even there.
I didnt know she was going to be there.
I said,Where are you?
Where are you?Everything was so hectic.
Im just thinking now Im so glad I went and found her and gave her a big hug.
I wish I could have given her an even bigger hug.
She recently was appalled that I didnt have, like, a proper nighttime skin-care routine.
I talked to her almost every single day.
We sent each other video messages.
But you know, she was still giving me advice up to the last minute.
And she was still there, being the best friend that she could be to me.
I just thought what a gift that we all had her until the very, very end.
We just really got every ounce of her that we could, you know?
