By Tammy Reese
NYWIFT Member Hayley Davis is a DGA Training Program Graduate and filmmaker from Atlanta, GA now living in Brooklyn, NY. She’s worked on shorts, television, and feature films with the goal in mind to create an efficient and positive environment on set and is looking to continue that philosophy as an A.D. in New York City.
Hayley recently worked on the highly anticipated series, The Walking Dead: Dead City as Trainee Assistant. The Walking Dead: Dead City is a new series set in The Walking Dead Universe, starring Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, The Walking Dead: Dead City follows the popular Maggie and Negan characters traveling into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan long ago cut off from the mainland. The crumbling city is filled with the dead and denizens who have made New York City their own world full of anarchy, danger, beauty, and terror.
The Walking Dead: Dead City is set to screen at the Tribeca Festival on June 13th, 2023 (OKX Theater at BMCC TPAC) at 8:00 PM and on AMC Networks on June 18th. Davis is one of 15 NYWIFT members with projects premiering at Tribeca 2023.
NYWIFT Member Hayley Davis
How was your experience working on The Walking Dead: Dead City?
I learned a lot of invaluable lessons on this job that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my career. The ability to step into this franchise as a longtime fan… I feel incredibly lucky.
I grew up in Atlanta and actually left for film school the same year that the first season of The Walking Dead aired. Horror is very big in my family, and we’ve definitely been there on the couch all those Sunday nights.
Years later, I’ve gotten a chance to see how a show like this can pull through an overnight, and how long it takes to completely transform a person, and how much planning goes into our stunt work. It was great.
Hayley Davis on set
How did your role as Trainee Assistant come about?
I was working in Atlanta as a Set PA, and found out about the DGA Training Program in NYC. I spent a year working on sets and learning from my ADs to serve my goal of getting into this program. I moved to NYC and worked for two years moving from different shows to get as much experience in as many different sets as possible. This program has given me the opportunity to become a great AD and then some!
Hayley Davis enjoying a quiet moment with one of the walking dead…
Who were some of your favorite people to work with on set and why?
My department was pretty fantastic. Our show was very location-based, had huge stunt pieces, and incredible makeup effects that meant we had to work to keep everyone safe, and keep our schedule tight.
I will also never forget the experience of getting to work with Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Morgan & Eli Jorne. They were some of the kindest, most hands-on people I’ve met in this business and their passion for this show really carried us on longer days.
It’s hard to pinpoint any single person. Our crew, every department was made up of incredibly hardworking individuals who were very much the human part of this machine.
Hayley Davis on set
Why did you become a NYWIFT member and what do you enjoy most about the organization?
One of the things that drew me to the AD Dept originally was how little diversity there was, in a position that encounters everyone on set. I came into this business with no connections but a philosophy of ‘share your knowledge, pass it forward, and use that to help lift those around you.’
NYWIFT, I have found, is a wonderful way to connect with others in the business who feel the same. I find having many different perspectives from people with various backgrounds can lead to some incredible results.
Still from The Walking Dead: Dead City (Photo Courtesy of Tribeca Festival)
What else are you currently working on?
I just wrapped Life and Beth Season 2, and as of January I am officially available for hire as an AD in NYC!
What is a piece of advice you would have for an aspiring Trainee Assistant?
Always lead with kindness, and be patient with people… and printers.
Connect with Hayley Davis on Instagram at @hayleymarieisin.
Tammy Reese
Tammy Reese is CEO of Visionary Minds PR & Media, and a New York award winning Actress, Writer, and Journalist.
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Rudaba Zehra Nasir
Welcome to NYWIFT, Rudaba Zehra Nasir! Rudaba is a Pakistani-American, conservatory-trained actress, writer, and singer as well as a humanitarian and life coach based in Manhattan. She is currently producing her solo show Halal-ish which is about her journey from Pakistan to America to find love. On screen, she has starred in award-winning films The Foreign Patriot and The Train I’m On, and was a series regular in Kabhi Na Kabhi (Someday) on Hum TV. Her New York theater credits include sold-out, Off-Off Broadway shows such as Novecento (Paradise Factory Theater), Arsinoe IV (Chain Theatre), Talk of the Town (The Players), and Measure For Measure (Resident Acting Company). Rudaba spoke to us about how she uses art to cultivate connection, finding her voice as an actor, and her humanitarian initiatives.
READ MORENYWIFT Member Spotlight: Karen Goeller
Karen Goeller is a gifted storyteller whose work spans literature, film, television, and live performance. Since launching her film career in 2012, she has contributed to more than 100 productions both in front of and behind the camera. As a long-standing member of NYWIFT, Karen has built a reputation as a talented actor, script supervisor, writer, and producer. And as a writer, she’s earned awards for three screenplays — Escape Artists, Best First Dates...NOT, and Missy’s Voice. Also the author of 20 published books spanning gymnastics, fitness, and children’s literature, Karen continues to inspire across multiple platforms. With a unique background in law, health sciences, and athletics, her work reflects creativity, strength, and authenticity — qualities that define her as a dynamic and enduring force in storytelling. Karen’s latest project, Missy’s Voice, highlights themes of resilience and triumph through the story of a bullied young singer who eventually finds her voice. She spoke to us about exciting new developments for Missy’s Voice and what we can look forward to next.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Sophie Ostrove
Welcome to NYWIFT, Sophie Ostrove! Sophie is a thoughtful and funny storyteller who graduated with honors from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned her BFA in Film and Television with a focus on comedy. As a queer, disabled, and Jewish writer, Sophie is passionate about creating stories that center joy and offer authentic representation. Based in New York City, she splits her time between writing, freelancing, background acting, teaching filmmaking, ushering — and watching as much TV as possible (a job requirement she’s more than happy to meet). In our conversation, Sophie reflected on her creative journey, the role of comedy in her work, and why representation truly matters.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Rita Marcocci
Welcome to NYWIFT, Rita Marcocci! Rita Marcocci is founder of Verus Studios, LLC a female-owned, award-winning production studio based in Westport, CT. She is a former executive at FOX Television with an accomplished background in revenue growth and strategic partnerships. Her most recent project, the Oscar and BAFTA shortlisted film The One Note Man, is currently available on Amazon Prime. Next up is a short film collaboration with award winning director, Daniel Deville and the Oscar-winning team at Slick Films. Rita brings a strategic perspective to projects, offering a full understanding of successful operational knowledge as well as diverse, hands-on experience in the entertainment industry. In our interview, Rita discusses her current projects and the process of running Versus Studios!
READ MORE
Comments are closed