Shane Carruth
Shane Carruth (born 1972) is an American filmmaker, known for science-fiction features in which he has filled numerous jobs, including producer, director, screenwriter, composer, and actor. These include his prize-winning debut Primer (2004) and Upstream Color (2013). In reference to Carruth's unusual filmmaking technique, director Steven Soderbergh described him as "the illegitimate offspring of David Lynch and James Cameron."
Shane Carruth

Jonathan Crow (Official website) · Shane Carruth · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Name
- Shane Carruth
- Born
- 1972
- Birthplace
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S.
- Education
- Stephen F.
- Occupation
- * Filmmaker
- Nationality
- United States
- Honours
- Alfred P. Sloan Prize · Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Award
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Shane Carruth (born 1972) is an American filmmaker, known for science-fiction features in which he has filled numerous jobs, including producer, director, screenwriter, composer, and actor. These include his prize-winning debut Primer (2004) and Upstream Color (2013). In reference to Carruth's unusual filmmaking technique, director Steven Soderbergh described him as "the illegitimate offspring of David Lynch and James Cameron."
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Shane Carruth. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q3481357 · wikipedia · Shane Carruth
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Shane Carruth • Born — 1972 • Birthplace — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S. • Education — Stephen F. Austin State University • Years Active — 2004–present • Occupation — * Filmmaker • actor • composer • Partner — Amy Seimetz (2011–2018)
Early life
Early life
Carruth was born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 1972. He attended Stephen F. Austin State University as a mathematics major. Before becoming a filmmaker, he worked as a developer of flight-simulation software.
Primer
Primer
For his independent film Primer, Carruth wrote, directed, produced, and performed one of the two main roles; he also composed the score. The film was honored at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival with the Grand Jury Prize and the Alfred P. Sloan Award. Carruth, a former software engineer with an undergraduate degree in mathematics, used his technical knowledge extensively on the project.
Upstream Color
Upstream Color
On January 21, 2013, Carruth premiered his film Upstream Color at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition category. Carruth, Johnny Marshall, and Pete Horner won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Sound Design for the film. Keith Kimbell wrote that it was the "most anticipated (and most difficult to describe) film in competition", and "most critics couldn't stop talking about it". The film was released via VHX on April 5, 2013. Some of Carruth's music from Upstream Color was featured in the 2016 documentary Tickled.
Unrealized work
Unrealized work
In 2009, David Sullivan, one of the leads in Primer, tweeted that "Shane Carruth's next project, A Topiary, is in the early stages of pre-production". Filmmaker Rian Johnson tweeted that it would feature a "mind-blowing sci-fi script." In 2010, several news sources reported that A Topiary was in the works and that the script had been written. There was already a website for the movie which, according to Carruth in an interview to io9, "The website for now is just a place mark as financing has yet to be completed. I'm cautiously optimistic that this can happen soon and couldn't be happier with the filmmakers that have committed to the project so far." However, the film (which Entertainment Weekly described as "a sci-fi epic about a group of kids who build a giant, animal-like creature") stalled, and in early 2013, Carruth told EW that it was "the thing I basically wasted my whole life on." Carruth no longer pursues the project; some VFX test footage of the film is visible in Upstream Color in a scene when a character is examining the video for technical flaws. In 2014, Carruth announced a new film, The Modern Ocean, based on international shipping and the lives of those involved. On August 12, 2015, it was reported that the film was in pre-production, and its ensemble cast was announced in November 2015; it would include Jeff Goldblum, Anne Hathaway, Keanu Reeves, Tom Holland, Daniel Radcliffe, Chloë Grace Moretz, Asa Butterfield, and Abraham Attah. In an interview in 2018, Carruth noted that the film is "not gonna happen anytime soon". Irrfan Khan was also scheduled to star as the lead captain of the ship, before his death on April 29, 2020. On June 17, 2020, Carruth posted the entire script for The Modern Ocean on Twitter, along with some of the original score. In 2019, in an interview Carruth claimed he was working on "a massive thing" and would leave the film industry once that project concludes.
Consulting
Consulting
Carruth was rumored to have consulted on time-travel sequences for filmmaker Rian Johnson's Looper, though it was later revealed that those sequences were deemed too expensive to shoot.
Acting
Acting
In 2018, Carruth starred in the psychological thriller The Dead Center about a hospital psychiatrist whose own sanity is pushed to the edge when a frightened amnesiac patient insists that he has died and brought something terrible back from the other side.
Personal life
Personal life
In 2019, when asked about his religious beliefs, he stated that he was raised Christian, but fell away from it, before later saying that he still prays from time to time and finds some comfort from the Bible.
Legal issues
Legal issues
From 2011 to 2018, Carruth was in a relationship with Amy Seimetz. The couple became engaged in 2013. Seimetz obtained temporary restraining orders against Carruth in 2018 and a permanent restraining order in 2020, citing years of domestic and emotional abuse and harassment. Carruth has denied these allegations. On January 13, 2022, Carruth was arrested at the home of another ex-girlfriend on allegations of domestic assault and vandalism. He was released four days later on a $50,000 bond. Variety reported that the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office would not file felony charges.
Filmography
Filmography
• Year — Title — Director — Producer — Writer — Composer — Editor — Actor — Notes • 2004 — 'Primer' — Also production designer, sound designer and casting director • 2013 — Upstream Color — Also cinematographer and camera operator • 2018 — The Dead Center
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Director — Composer — Notes • 2016 — The Girlfriend Experience — 13 episodes • 2017 — Breakthrough — Episode "Predicting the Future"
Acting roles
Acting roles
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2004 — 'Primer' — Aaron • 2013 — Upstream Color — Jeff • 2014 — Everything & Everything & Everything — Morgan — Short film • 2015 — We'll Find Something — Steve — Short film • Memory Box — The Man — Short film • 2016 — The Girlfriend Experience — Sam — TV series (1 episode) • Swiss Army Man — Coroner — Cameo • 2018 — The Dead Center — Daniel Forrester • 2020 — Tales from the Loop — Cole — TV series (2 episodes)
Other credits
Other credits
• Year — Title — Role • 2016 — The Divergent Series: Allegiant — Consultant • 2017 — A Ghost Story — Additional editor • 2020 — The Wanting Mare — Carruth was removed as executive producer after allegations of domestic violence surfaced.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Shane Carruth”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q3481357: Shane Carruth
Unverified · Wikidata
Awards and nominations
• Year — Award — Category — Film — Result • 2004 — Sundance Film Festival — Grand Jury Prize — Primer • Alfred P. Sloan Prize • Nantucket Film Festival — Best Writer/Director • Gotham Awards — Best Feature • Sitges Film Festival — Best Film • 2005 — London International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film — Best Feature • Independent Spirit Awards — Best Feature • Best Director • Best First Screenplay • Best Actor in a Debut Performance (David Sullivan) • Fantasporto — International Fantasy Film Award • 2013 — Sundance Film Festival — U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Sound Design — Upstream Color • Grand Jury Prize – Dramatic • Sitges Film Festival — Best Directorial Revelation • Best Motion Picture • Los Angeles Film Critics Association — Best Editing — Second place • Independent Spirit Awards — Best Director • Best Editing • Gotham Awards — Best Film • Best Actress (Amy Seimetz) • Camerimage — Best Cinematography Debut • Chicago Film Critics Association — Best Editing • Dublin Film Critics' Circle — Best Director • Village Voice Film Poll — Best Film • Best Director • SXSW Film Festival — Festival Favorites • 2014 — Australian Film Critics Association — Best International Film (English Language) • Central Ohio Film Critics Association — Best Picture • Best Cinematography • Chlotrudis Award — Best Cinematography • Lost Weekend — Best Visuals • Georgia Film Critics Association — Breakthrough (Amy Seimetz) • Best Picture • Best Original Score • Best Director • Best Actress (Amy Seimetz) • Best Original Screenplay • Best Cinematography • London Film Critics' Circle — Technical Achievement of the Year (Johnny Marshall)

Filmmaker Shane Carruth during an interview in 2013
CAMP BELL PRODUCTIONS
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Murray, Rebecca. Interview with Shane Carruth. About.com. New York Times. October 22, 2004.
- 2.Moring, Mark. A Primer on Filmmaking. Christianity Today. October 22, 2004.
- 3.Maerz, Melissa. A Mysterious Director Returns, in Living Color. Entertainment Weekly. 1253. 50. April 5, 2013.
- 4.New Math: A Conversation with Shane Carruth.
- 5.Upstream Color – Movie Trailers – iTunes. trailers.apple.com.
- 6.2013 Sundance Film Festival Announces Feature Film Awards. sundance.org. January 26, 2013.
- 7.Kimbell, Keith. 2013 Sundance Film Festival Recap. Metacritic. January 28, 2013.
- 8.Sullivan, David. Shane Carruth's next project, A Topiary, is in the early stages of pre-production. Let's hope that I can be a part of that one too!. 1768428519. May 12, 2009.
- 9.to all who asked: Shane is alive and well and has a mind-blowing sci-fi script. Let's all pray to the movie-gods that he gets it made soon. 4041976216. September 16, 2009.
- 10.A Topiary. www.atopiary.com. March 11, 2010.
- 11.Anders, Charlie Jane. More details about Shane Carruth's next mind-bending film!. io9.gizmodo.com. June 22, 2010.
- 12.UPSTREAM COLOR w/ Shane Carruth of PRIMER (B-Movies Interview. YouTube. April 11, 2013.
- 13.Wise, Damon. Shane Carruth Interview: Upstream Color. Empire Magazine. January 5, 2014.
- 14.Nguyen, Clinton. We Talked to Shane Carruth About the Human Drama Behind 'The Modern Ocean'. Motherboard. Vice Media. August 12, 2015.
- 15.Borys Kit, Pamela. Anne Hathaway, Keanu Reeves, Daniel Radcliffe to Star in 'The Modern Ocean'. The Hollywood Reporter. November 3, 2015.
- 16.Nordine, Michael. Shane Carruth on Why He Won't Direct a Superhero Movie and Acting in 'The Dead Center'. IndieWire. October 1, 2018.
- 17.Raup, Jordan. Shane Carruth Shares Full Script & Concept Trailer for The Modern Ocean. June 17, 2020.
- 18.[link] That's the script for The Modern Ocean. I kept it quiet for a long time because.I don't like scripts because they are not movies and movies are not film and I just didn't want to be embarrassed. But now I think it might be fun. It's all good, now. 1273102851938627599. June 17, 2020.
- 19.Shane Carruth on The Dead Center – and why he's quitting film for good. The HotCorn. October 10, 2019.
- 20.Pape, Stefan. EXCLUSIVE – Shane Carruth on The Dead Center and why he's quitting film for good. The Hot Corn. October 10, 2019.
- 21.Bettinger, Brendan. PRIMER Director Shane Carruth Working on the Time Travel Effects in Rian Johnson's LOOPER. Collider. January 18, 2011.
- 22.Raftery, Brian. Buckle Your Brainpan: The Primer Director Is Back With a New Film. Wired.com. April 17, 2013.
- 23.Shane Carruth on The Dead Center – and why he's quitting film for good. The HotCorn. October 10, 2019.
- 24.Amy Seimetz Accuses Ex Shane Carruth of Strangling, Threatening Her. The Wrap. July 28, 2020.
- 25.Erbland, Kate. Sundance: Amy Seimetz Explains the Most Feminist Decision She Made When Crafting 'The Girlfriend Experience'. IndieWire. January 26, 2016.
- 26.Kohn, Eric. Amy Seimetz Conquers Hollywood By Saying No to Marvel and Yes to 'Pet Sematary'. IndieWire. April 13, 2019.
- 27.Maddaus, Gene. 'Upstream Color' Director Shane Carruth Accused of Abusing Ex-Girlfriend. Variety. July 27, 2020.
- 28.Fernández, Alexia. Alien: Covenant and Pet Sematary 's Amy Seimetz Accuses Director Ex of Mental, Physical Abuse. PEOPLE.com. July 28, 2020.
- 29.Brody, Richard. "She Dies Tomorrow," Reviewed: An Apocalyptic Drama of Emotional Crises. The New Yorker. August 7, 2020.
- 30.Maddaus, Gene. Shane Carruth, 'Primer' and 'Upstream Color' Director, Arrested on Domestic Violence Allegations. Variety. January 19, 2022.
- 31.Feldberg, Isaac. Nine Film Festival Favorites That Deserve a Home | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert. rogerebert.com. August 24, 2020.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedauthority record
Unverified
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,408 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Shandi MitchellPerson
- Shane AckerPerson
- Shane BlackPerson
- Shane BriantPerson
- Shane ConnorPerson
- Shane DrakePerson
- Shane JacobsonPerson
- Shane KippelPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Shane Carruth?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.