Terry’s Picks: Time’s Up, Hoda Kotb, New Test
Time’s Up: 300 prominent actresses and female agents, writers, directors, producers and entertainment executives have formed the Time’s Up initiative to fight systemic sexual harassment in Hollywood and in blue-collar workplaces nationwide. We are glad that in the face of such trying times so many women in the industry have found value in the powerful...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Inspiring Muse, Sheila Nevins, Golden Globes
Inspiring Muse: Thanks to all who joined us at the Muse Awards last week, particularly special guests MOME Commissioner Julie Menin and New York’s Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who had the audience on their feet and cheering! Sheila Nevins: Longtime NYWIFT member and supporter Sheila Nevins, who has hosted countless NYWIFT events and given her time...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Muse Awards, Time Magazine, Francesca Andre
Muse Awards: We hope to see you at the 38th Annual Muse Awards this Thursday! In addition to our usual festivities, we are honored to have Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul give welcoming remarks, and Commissioner Julie Menin will present the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment “Made in New York” award to actor and producer...
READ MOREA Report from The American Film Market
NYWIFT member Jane Applegate reports back on her trip to the American Film Market in Santa Monica, CA, in early November.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Urgent Action, Hedy Lamarr, Muse Raffle
Urgent Action: A few months ago, the State Assembly and State Senate passed legislation that incentivizes the hiring of women and people of color to write and direct television in New York. The bill has now arrived at Governor Cuomo’s desk and he has only a few business days left to sign the bill. Please...
READ MOREStorytelling in the Wake of Disaster – Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man
On December 3rd the NYWIFT Women’s Film Preservation Fund and UnionDocs will host a screening of Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man, followed with a panel discussion with filmmaker Mimi Pickering (via Skype) and fellow artist/activist Sylvia Ryerson, moderated by labor rights activist, Michelle Miller. WFPF co-chair Kirsten Larvick describes the harrowing story of disaster, heartbreak, and government and corporate neglect that inspired the film.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Voices Heard, Muse Awards, Mad Libs
Voices Heard: NYWIFT Board VP Margarita Sophia Cortes wrote a courageous, empowering take on Hollywood’s sexual harassment firestorm for the NYWIFT HuffPost column. Muse Awards: We’re thrilled to announce the honorees for the 38th annual Muse Awards: Laura Dern, Judith Light, director Julie Dash, Refinery29’s Amy Emmerich, and filmmaker and philanthropist Regina K. Scully. Actor...
READ MOREWomen Calling The Shots – A swinging pendulum over an active volcano
NYWIFT Board VP Margarita Sophia Cortes wrote about the recent Hollywood sexual harassment firestorm in our HuffPost column - addressing the importance of speaking out, supporting one another, and no longer letting the boys club get its way.
READ MOREFive Takeaways – True Crime Stories: Relationships and Responsibilities
True crime producer Dana Rossi shares insights from NYWIFT's panel on the relationships and ethical responsibilities of true crime documentary filmmakers.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Changing Times, Tiffany Haddish, Agnès Varda
Changing Times: Every day brings another story of sexual harassment (and worse) in Hollywood, from Louis C.K., to Kevin Spacey to Supergirl’s Andrew Kreisberg. Kudos to all the women and men who continue to speak out and support one another. Tiffany Haddish: Tiffany Haddish made Saturday Night Live history on Saturday by becoming the first...
READ MOREPositive News for Filmmakers at the New York Film Conference
Entertainment industry experts speaking at the first annual New York Film Conference on October 10, 2017 had some great news for attendees: It’s getting easier to sell your content directly to consumers, consumers are more open to watching films with subtitles and big digital platforms are spending billions on buying new content. NYWIFT member Jane Applegate shares insights from the conference.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Shorts Festival, Alias Grace, Culture Shift
Shorts Festival: NYWIFT’s first-ever online film festival is underway! Watch 74 short projects by NYWIFT members now through November 17 on our Fall Shorts Festival on Indevue – you can even log in and live chat with the filmmakers and fans during select “live screenings.” See the schedule for details. Alias Grace: I’m looking forward...
READ MORENYC Indie Filmmaker Vigil Chime Wins the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting
The Writers Lab, presented by New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) and IRIS and funded by Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey, pairs twelve women screenwriters over the age of 40 for a weekend of one-on-one mentoring and script development with accomplished film industry leaders. One of this September’s participating writers may be on the path to becoming one of those leaders herself: Vigil Chime has been awarded the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for her script Bring Back Girl, about a Nigerian teen kidnapped by Boko Haram – the same project she took to The Writers Lab.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Vicious Cycle, #BYkids PSA, Questionable Casting
Vicious Cycle: The LA Times published a great piece on how “Hollywood’s man problem may be a matter of simple math,” taking an in-depth statistical look at Hollywood’s gender imbalance and how it paves the way for discrimination and harassment. #BYkids PSA: BYkids, a global movement that uses storytelling through film to inform, engage and...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Ravenal Grant, Wonder Women, Nancy Schreiber
Ravenal Grant: NYWIFT is seeking additional submissions for the Ravenal Foundation Feature Film Grant, which supports a woman second-time feature film director who is over 40 years of age in the production of a dramatic feature film. Learn more here, and submit your project to us by November 1st. Wonder Women: Director Angela Robinson discusses...
READ MORETrue Crime: Relationships and Responsibilities
There is no doubt that the “true crime” documentary genre is thriving and that such film and television projects are enjoying unprecedented buzz. Studies show that women are their biggest audience, and broadcasters are taking notice. By the nature of their work, non-fiction storytellers are always considering how to present and represent their subjects through the creative process. But how is that further complicated in the “true crime” space, when the stakes might literally be life or death? Where do they draw the line between journalism and entertainment?
READ MOREWomen’s Stories in Film and the Need for an Authentic Ending
Why is it that when men make poignant films about a male’s coming-of-age, they are allowed to explore the pain, heartache, betrayal, danger, and the need for getting even or choosing a lesser evil to right a wrong—while women-centric films are expected to carry out a fairy tale romance? NYWIFT member Heidi Philipsen tackled this question as she made her first feature film.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Fall Drive, VR Jobs, Legal Help
Fall Drive: Now through December 1st is our Fall Membership Drive, during which we offer 50% off the initiation fee when you apply to join NYWIFT! Becoming a member now also lets you attend the star-studded Muse Awards in December at the member rate of $165. Apply now at www.nywift.org/join. VR Jobs: New York City...
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