About
Hello! My name is Rebecca Shoptaw and I’m the writer and director behind a number of award-winning short films, along with the critically-acclaimed web series Middlemarch: The Series.
My work has been featured in The New Yorker, Le Monde, and i-D magazine, and screened at festivals internationally such as BFI Flare, NewFest, and the Pilot Light TV Festival.
I have a whole lot of new films coming out soon which you can see early via the Film Club, and my full portfolio of films and series is available to watch on this site.
Watch
Ghost Light
June 2025
A minimalist thriller.
Girl, Sweetvoiced
June 2019
A short film in fragments, starring Georgie Henley (The Chronicles of Narnia) and Antoinette Belle.
Margot
January 2024
A dreamy short film shot on Super 8mm film, adapted from a 1910 short story by Stefan Zweig.
Read
What makes a good set?
June 11, 2025
“I’ve noticed in my years on set that there are actually a few simple, practical things you can do to turn just about any set into one of these mythical ‘good sets.’”
In defense of doing it all yourself
May 7, 2025
“I think it’s not only an excellent way to learn how to make films — or to try out filmmaking risk-free if you’re curious about it but don’t know where to start — but also a fantastic way to make fun, affordable films that can take you far.”
Reflections on “Middlemarch: The Series,” eight years later
March 15, 2025
“This, for low-budget filmmakers, was basically revolutionary. Suddenly, young filmmakers, college students and even high schoolers who would have had a hard time getting together the funds, crew, and filmmaking know-how to make one “professional” short film were turning out whole 30- 40-, 70-episode web series, which were not only often quite good — but which lots of people actually watched and loved.”
Would you like to keep up with my work?