NYWIFT Blog

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Rita Damirón

On the move. Roll sound. Interview Take 1. Welcome to NYWIFT, Rita Damirón! Rita is a producer and director who has worked in various areas of production from news to animation to documentaries to post-production. She is a founding team member of Cheddar and was a lead producer for MSNBC’s Leguizamo Does America. Originally from the Dominican Republic, she’s passionate about creating strategic media content for Latinos. Read our full interview with Rita to learn more about her career journey, what makes a great producer, and her advice for creatives pursuing their passions.

READ MORE

Cynthia’s Picks: Director Disconnect, Board Elections, Ladies’ Morning

Director Disconnect: While the call for diversity in Hollywood is getting more bandwidth than ever, the movement toward inclusion is still not reaching the director’s chair.   Board Elections: NYWIFT members, don’t forget to vote in our Board Elections! Ballots have been emailed out to you and voting closes on May 1st. (If you missed...

READ MORE

Terry’s Picks: Female Forward, Writers Lab, Honeysuckle Magazine

Female Forward: Kudos to NBC, which just announced it is upping its inclusion efforts with an annual initiative called Female Forward, which will help work toward gender parity among scripted series directors across the network. Writers Lab: Congratulations to the participants selected for this year’s The Writers Lab for women screenwriters over 40, funded by...

READ MORE

Terry’s Picks: A ‘Toolkit’ to Prove Women-Led Projects Make Money, ‘Dear White People’ & Salke Is Honored

Dear White People. Cheering on: NYWIFT member Lydia Dean Pilcher. She’s working with the Producers Guild of America to create a “toolkit” of stats to prove that women-led projects are lucrative business both here and abroad. Recommending: Dear White People, a film produced by Lena Waithe and Ann Le. I was especially impressed by Tessa Thompson’s performance....

READ MORE

Weekly Roundup: Starts, Finishes & Remembering Joan Rivers

//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/450411634?et=UTrwPlVZTwZzyx9MzZp5HQ&sig=SSOxSDoY-Bs9anrw1gqqem5GsfQOdIugUyrDAQSR1sk=   Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace join The View. GMA favorite Robin Roberts launches a NYC-based production company. Rona Fairhead chosen as the first female chairman of the BBC governing body. Splendid! Are you the only one talking about your movie? Get your audience involved. Will Chelsea Clinton’s NBC replacement also make $600,000?! The...

READ MORE

Weekly Roundup: Remembering Elaine Stritch

//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/102985787?et=6cnWZ-PnQu5OIM7TOxqwWA&sig=taLVNk7TC4HoT0B3eYBlMy7Ak7uhI0Z82sW0okc3hS0= The spectacular Broadway singer and actress Elaine Stritch. Patricia Arquette really enjoyed her 12 years of Boyhood. Marvel Comics addresses superhero gender disparity. Thor will be female! Leighton Meester is not a “tart” in Broadway’s Of Mice & Men. ABC will address diversity with Cristela, and NBC will showcase more women in next season’s lineup. Robin Wright portrays her most revealing role yet...

READ MORE

Weekly Film & TV News Roundup

Mad Men photo via theguardian.com. Dear Mr. President, we agree! (Video) Congratulations, Kathy Kelly-Brown, NBC’s new SVP of Global Talent Booking. NYC will certainly benefit from this. Elizabeth Vargas’ return brings winning ratings for 20/20. Universal’s Donna Langley will be the “second most powerful woman in Hollywood” until at least 2017. Casting Director Allison Jones “discovered” our favorite TV/film nerds. Do what...

READ MORE