Mellini_Kantayya, Author at New York Women in Film & TelevisionNew York Women in Film & Television

#Muse40for40: Gabourey Sidibe (2015)

Gabourey Sidibe is an Academy and Golden Globe Award-nominated actress recognized for her roles in the films Precious, Gravy, Life Partners and White Bird in a Blizzard.

#Muse40for40: Patricia Clarkson (2015)

Patricia Clarkson is an Emmy Award-winning actress for her role as Sarah O'Connor in HBO’s Six Feet Under. She is also an Oscar, Academy Award, Tony, Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award nominee for her work in Pieces of April, The Elephant Man and High Art.

#Muse40for40: Charlayne Hunter-Gault (1993)

Journalist and author Charlayne Hunter-Gault began her career as a reporter to The New Yorker, where she still contributes, and was the Harlem bureau chief for The New York Times. She worked for 20 years with PBS NewsHour where she was a national and international correspondent as well as a substitute anchor.

#Muse40for40: Rita Moreno (1996)

Rita Moreno’s career has spanned over seventy years and is one of few EGOT artists, as she has won multiple Emmys, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. She shows no signs of slowing down, recently appearing in Jane the Virgin, One Day at a Time, Carmen Sandiego, and will be Valentina in the 2020 remake of West Side Story.

#Muse40for40: Blythe Danner (2015)

Blythe Danner is a Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress for her work in The Miser, Butterflies Are Free, and Huff, and also renowned for her film roles, including Meet the Parents, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Husbands and Wives, and Sylvia.

#Muse40for40: Dede Allen (2001)

Dede Allen was a pioneering film editor with a career spanning over sixty-years. Though she said she went “completely by gut” when editing, she introduced of a number techniques into America cinema—including frequent use of jump-cuts and overlapping audio between scenes to drive the narrative forward.

#Muse40for40: Angela Bassett (1995)

Angela Basset is critically heralded actor whose prolific career has spanned four decades.

NYWIFT’s Women’s Film Preservation Fund Receives Archivists Round Table Award

NYWIFT’s Women’s Film Preservation Fund (WFPF), which has supported the preservation of nearly 150 American-made films by and about women since 1995, received The Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York’s 2019 Outstanding Support of Archives award on October 21st.

Three Takeaways from NYWIFT’s Web Series Panel

How do you turn your web series into a true success? We offer three takeaways from the NYWIFT Web Series: From Creation to Distribution panel.

Feelin’ Like Film Distribution Reality Bites? Bite [Me] back! Four ‘A’ Takeaways from the NYWIFT Bite Me Panel

The team behind the independent feature Bite Me recently joined NYWIFT for a panel case study on how they flipped the film distribution paradigm from something you “get” into something you “do.” As they journey on their 40-city Joyful Vampire Tour of America, we recap some key nuggets of wisdom.

Below the Line: A Cut Above – Production Designer Hannah Beachler

Production Designer Hannah Beachler created the iconic looks of "Creed," "Moonlight," and Beyonce's "Lemonade" before taking on the fictional world of Wakanda in "Black Panther," which won her a 2019 Academy Award. She is the first-ever African American - male or female - to take home that honor.

Below the Line: A Cut Above – Film Editor Joi McMillon

Joi McMillon made Oscar history in 2018 when she became the first African American woman nominated for Best Achievement in Film Editing for Moonlight. But the road to the Oscars wasn’t straight or smooth.

Below the Line: A Cut Above – Costume Designer Edith Head

This Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the oft unsung yet always vital contributions of those working below the line. Join NYWIFT blog contributors Kathryn O’Kane and Mellini Kantayya as they celebrate a few of the many women in history and making history—“Below the Line: A Cut Above.” We start with costume legend Edith Head.

Five Tax Takeaways: Changes for Filing this Year

There are some significant changes to the tax law this year, many of which particularly affect freelancers and entertainment industry multi-hyphenates. Mellini Kantayya breaks down some of key differences to look out for as you prepare to file for 2018.

The Art of Directing and Running a Show: Takeaways from a Conversation with Annetta Marion and Kathryn O’Kane

At a recent NYWIFT program, board members (and director/showrunners) Kathryn O’Kane and Annetta Marion discussed the unique role of the showrunner, and the combination of skill, gumption, and inspiration essential in helming a show.

#SummerHours Summer Reading: Women in Early Hollywood

Throughout history, and specifically film and television history, women have been early to identify and seize opportunity in emerging fields—only to be edged out of those fields, and their history, once they become mainstream. Mellini Kantayya shares four great reads about the women pioneers of early Hollywood.

#SummerHours Summer Reading: Books for Actors (That Have Nothing to Do with Acting)

Mellini Kantayya shares the books about mindfulness, presence and intention that can inform the acting and audition process.

#SummerHours #BingeWatch-Worthy Drama Picks

Mellini Kantayya offers two very different - but equally addictive - drama series for your summer #bingewatch.

Posts by: Mellini_Kantayya