Trailblazing through the Decades: Sandra Osawa (1970s)
Sandra Osawa is a director, producer, and writer. She is a member of the Makah Nation of Washington State. One could argue that news coverage of Native American issues is still vastly lacking today. Thus, Sandra Osawa was a true ground-breaker in 1974 by directing, producing, and writing NBC’s first news program on Native American issues
READ MORETerry’s Picks: NYC Pilots, Good News, Overlooked Women
NYC Pilots: Business is booming in New York, with 11 hour-long pilots shooting here this year. This ties with the previous record year, 2012. Good News: Although Ava Duvernay’s A Wrinkle in Time wasn’t able to beat Black Panther at the box office, the films still made history, as both the #1 and #2 spots...
READ MORETrailblazing Through the Decades: Ida Lupino (1950s)
British-American actress and producer Ida Lupino, got her start directing when the director of the 1949 film Not Wanted suffered a heart attack during pre-production. Lupino stepped in and shot the film guerilla style to keep the movie on budget and on schedule. Budgeted at just over $150,000, the film grossed $1 million, and Lupino’s reputation spread through Hollywood studios even though the original director retained credit.
READ MORETrailblazing through the Decades: Hedy Lamarr (1940s)
During WWII, a hobbyist inventor worked to help the military come up with a secure communication system to combat the Nazis. By manipulating radio frequencies at irregular intervals between transmission and reception, the invention formed an unbreakable code that prevented classified messages from being intercepted by enemy personnel. This patented form of frequency hopping revolutionized modern communications and formed the foundation for Wi-Fi, cell phone, and Bluetooth technology. The inventor’s name was Hedy Lamarr, and she was also a Hollywood star during MGM’s “Golden Age.”
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Feminist Films, Inclusion Rider, Patty Carey
Feminist Films: Celebrate Women’s History Month by watching these 30 feminist films. Inclusion Rider: Despite record Oscar nominations for women, not as many won as we had hoped – the fewest, in fact, since 2012. But kudos to past NYWIFT Muse honoree and Best Actress winner Frances McDormand, who made of a point of recognizing...
READ MORETrailblazing through the Decades: Esther Eng (1930s)
In honor of Women's History Month, NYWIFT looks back at some of the remarkable women who have shaped the film, television and digital media industries through the decades. We kick off the series in the 1930s. Esther Eng was a film director who also worked as a writer, producer, and distributor. She had an international career, making films both in the United States and Hong Kong. She was the first woman to direct Chinese language films in the U.S.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Easmanie Michel, The 94%, Man’s World
Easmanie Michel: Congratulations to NYWIFT Finance and Special Events Associate Easmanie Michel, who is the winner of the Fifteenth Annual American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest! From more than 1600 entries received, judge Francis Ford Coppola and the Zoetrope staff have selected Easmanie’s Caroline’s Wedding as the winning script. We are proud to say “we knew her...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: New Code, Black Panther, Canadian Progress
New code: This weekend, SAG-AFTRA released a code of conduct that defines sexual harassment and other prohibited conduct in the workplace and sets forth employers’ legal obligations under both the union’s contracts and the law, including the need to provide ways in which members can safely report workplace harassment. Black Panther: I’m looking forward to...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Black History, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon
Black History: The New York Times offers a list of 28 Films for the 28 Days of Black History Month, including our recent Muse honoree Julie Dash’s classic Daughters of the Dust, and Spencer Williams’ 1946 film Dirty Gertie of Harlem, USA, which was preserved by the NYWIFT Women’s Film Preservation Fund. Nicole Kidman: We...
READ MOREWIFT Around the World: Meet Women in Film and Television—Toronto!
Whether you’re cast in a project that shoots abroad or you’re a producer on a quest for locations and tax credits, we’re all finding ourselves traversing the globe more than ever. Getting to know (and joining) our sister Women in Film & Television organizations around the country and the world can be a resource of unending value. We're pleased to premiere our new "WIFT Around the World" column, which will introduce NYWIFT members to Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI) chapters across the globe. First up, Mellini Kantayya reports on her visit to the Toronto office.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Screening Series, The Oscars, HP Foundation
Screening Series: NYWIFT is seeking submissions for our fourth annual Women Filmmakers: Immigrant Stories series, which showcases films about women directors and/or producers that about the New York immigrant experience. The deadline to submit your project is February 16. The Oscars: 48 women were nominated for Oscars this year, tying with the 2016 awards for...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Chavela Vargas, The Tale, Working Women
Chavela Vargas: In NYWIFT’s latest column with Honeysuckle Magazine, Communications VP Margarita Sophia Cortes profiles the filmmakers behind the critically acclaimed documentary Chavela, about legendary LGBTQ Mexian singer Chavela Vargas. The Tale: We are bursting with pride for NYWIFT Board President Simone Pero, who produced Jennifer Fox’s harrowing and timely film The Tale, about childhood...
READ MOREThe WFPF Screens Four Experimental Films at MoMA’s “To Save and Project” Festival on January 22
The Women’s Film Preservation Fund: Four Experimental Films will screen January 22nd in The Museum of Modern Art’s annual festival, To Save and Project. The four recently preserved films by Barbara Hammer, Victoria Hochberg, Peggy Ahwesh, and Sheila Paige, all carry a common thread of movement towards a future from the past. WFPF Co-Chair Ann Deborah Levy gives us a preview.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: MoMA Event, Joosje Duk, Showing Support
MoMA Event: I hope you’ll join us at MoMA on Monday, January 22nd, where the Women’s Film Preservation Fund will show Four Experimental Films as part of the museum’s To Save and Project Festival. Joosje Duk: We are so proud of former NYWIFT intern Joosje Duk, whose short film Night, which we screened at our...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Wearing Black, Oprah Winfrey, Laura Dern
Wearing Black: Kudos to all the women and men who wore black at this past weekend’s Golden Globes Awards to show their solidarity with the women speaking out against sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. And speak out they did. From impassioned speeches to quick, smart digs like Natalie Portman’s laser-sharp “Here are the all-male...
READ MORETerry’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...
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