“P XSJ S….. (Please refer to your newspaper for complete puzzle.)
TODAY’S CLUE: J = S
ANSWER: “I WAS A FIFTH GRADER HANGING AROUND IN THE HORROR SECTION AT THE LOCAL VIDEO STORE, OBSESSIVELY RENTING AND … DREAMING.” — FILMMAKER JANE SCHOENBRUN
JANE SCHOENBRUN
BORN FEBRUARY 5, 1987 • AGE 39 • AMERICAN FILMMAKER, WRITER & DIRECTOR
🎥 A CHILDHOOD FILLED WITH SCREENS
Jane Schoenbrun was born in New York City and raised in Ardsley, New York. Fascinated by horror films and television from an early age, they even worked at a local movie theater while growing up.
🎓 LEARNING THE ART OF STORYTELLING
Schoenbrun graduated from Boston University in 2009 with a degree in film. Before becoming widely known as a director, they worked on independent productions and explored experimental approaches to storytelling.
💻 WHEN THE INTERNET GETS CREEPY
Schoenbrun wrote and directed We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021. The psychological horror film follows a lonely teenager who participates in a mysterious online challenge, blurring the boundary between the internet and reality.
📺 A TELEVISION SHOW WITH A SECRET
Their 2024 film I Saw the TV Glow follows two teenagers drawn together by a mysterious late-night television series called The Pink Opaque. Starring Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine, the film uses supernatural imagery to explore identity, isolation, and self-discovery.
🌈 THE MAGIC OF LATE-NIGHT TELEVISION
Schoenbrun has cited television favorites such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The X-Files as influences on their work. Their films often combine nostalgic entertainment with unsettling stories about growing up and finding one’s place in the world.
🌟 ANOTHER TRIP INTO THE UNUSUAL
Schoenbrun continued exploring horror with Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (2026), a film centered on a fictional slasher-movie franchise. Their distinctive blend of psychological tension, popular culture, and experimental storytelling has made them a notable voice in independent cinema.
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