NYWIFT Blog

In this new blog series, we spotlight some of the newest members to join the New York Women in Film & Television community: all of them creators, innovators, and changemakers working to build a better and brighter media landscape. 

By Kristin Reiber Harris

Welcome, new NWYIFT member Robin Noonan-Price from Annandale, Virginia! I am especially happy to introduce Robin because we both have a long overlapping history as members of NYWIFT sister organization Women in Film & Video DC and as producers of educational media for kids. Robin is no rank-and-file member, she was WIFV-DC president from 2018 – 2020. We’re thrilled to have her join the WIFT community in New York.

NYWIFT Member and former WIFV-DC President Robin Noonan-Price

Robin, what is your current position?

I work as a producer/director of digital media for Fairfax County Public Schools. 

Can you give us a brief overview of your career in media? 

I earned my MA degree in Film and Video production from the American University (AU) in DC. I started my career working in all aspects of television: sales and production at a small station in Atlanta, GA. I then took a job as a commercial copywriter/producer at Jones Intercable in Augusta, GA before my husband (a JAG officer) was transferred to Germany where we lived for three years. After we came back to the US, I was a mom of a baby girl.

After the birth of my second daughter, I started to freelance as a wedding videographer and by the time my third daughter was born, I started my own video production company, which worked out great for a few years. When my daughters started elementary school, I began to freelance for our school system creating educational media content. I was hired full time in 2000 and I’ve been there ever since. However, my first love has always film production.

I’ve had the privilege to work with some amazing local DC/Maryland/Virginia WIFV members on at least a dozen short films over the course of the past six years. I am hoping to produce two feature films in 2023.

What were the first influences in your life that led you to becoming a producer? Specifically, an educational producer?  

Interestingly enough, my uncle was a television producer in LA. He executive produced this silly little show called Dallas. I honestly didn’t understand exactly what he did as a producer. I was really interested in photography and writing. After I graduated from college, I moved to DC to be with my friends because I had no idea what I wanted to do. I worked for two different associations and I knew that was not where I wanted to be. So I figured I would pursue my creative ambitions and I applied to AU.

I still didn’t know what a producer did, but I really loved the creative process and the collaboration. I knew LA was not going to be the place for me and doing something educational seemed to make sense. One of my biggest influences as an educational producer is a colleague of mine, Sandra Brennan. She has amazing insight, writing skills and ideas. I’ve learned so much from her over the years.

Describe your favorite project as a producer.

My most favorite project that I’ve worked at FCPS (Fairfax County Public Schools) has been a live-streamed distance learning program called Meet the Author. Pre-Covid, we would have children’s authors from K-12 come into our studio and talk about their books and writing process. Sandra created this program. Students from across the country can call in and ask the authors questions. Since the pandemic, we’ve had to be in a virtual space, with our host in our studio and the students and guest author on Zoom. It still works. We’ve had some very well-known authors on our program over the years: Lemony Snicket, John Grisham, Sharon Creech, Jason Reynolds, Chelsea Clinton. It’s been amazing!

(Here is a link to Chelsea Clinton’s Meet the Author session.)

What attracted you to NYWIFT and how might the organization serve you? 

As a member of the WIFV-DC community, I was attracted to join NYWIFT because I wanted to enter a short film that I directed into a film competition they were hosting, but you needed to be a member. When I realized that I could become a Dual member*, I thought, why not?

What kind of contributions would you like to make to NYWIFT?

Since we are in close proximity to NYC, I am hoping to hire some female filmmakers to work on some of the film projects that I will be producing in the future. Right now, we have a short film that will be shot in the DC area in August and we would like to hire a female DP. But, overall, I would like to contribute to NYWIFT the way I’ve contributed to WIFV-DC, by being a mentor to young women coming up the ranks and by assisting current women in their media careers.

What do you see moving forward for the future of women as media makers?

I served on the WIFV-DC board and then for two years as the WIFV-DC president. I can’t say enough about how important it is for us to support and elevate women in all aspects of media production. I think the future for women as media makers looks bright, but we still have a long way to go. We have many more women coming up as producers, directors, DPs, writers. It’s exciting to see.

Director Robin Nooon-Price enjoys a fun moment with young actors on set.

What else would you like us to know about you?

One of the projects outside of my 9-to-5 job that I am especially proud of is a short film that I directed called, Tell Me About Orange. It is a sweet coming of age story about a blind teen boy whose best gal friend decides that she has a crush on him. But in his world, love truly is blind and he has a crush on someone that he has never seen, only heard.

This short has been selected into about a dozen film festivals including The Bentonville Film Festival, The LA International Women’s Film Festival and recently our first international festival, Madonie, in Sicily.

(Watch the trailer!)

*Members of sister WIFTI organizations can apply for Dual Membership with NYWIFT and pay a reduced membership rate.

Not a NYWIFT member yet? Become a part of the movement today as we advocate for inclusion, equality, diversity, and safe working environments in media. Membership gives you access to our professional development opportunities and introduces you to a supportive network of peers to make meaningful connections. 

Now through June 30, 2022, take advantage of our Spring Community Building discount! 

Learn more at www.nywift.org/join.