NYWIFT Blog

NYWIFT Member Jill Rosen Talks Entertainment Publicity and Sundance Success

At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Focus Features, Amazon, Fox Searchlight and Netflix were among the buyers in a bidding war for Michael Showalter’s dramatic comedy The Big Sick. Amazon won, paying $12 million for the U.S. rights. And NYWIFT member Jill Rosen was right there at the heart of the action building buzz for the breakout film. Rosen explains what goes into being a marketing and publicity consultant, and discusses some of the highlights from Sundance.

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Creative Block: A Production Diary of Filming in Paris (Part 2)

In part 2 of her Paris production diary, NYWIFT member Nicola Rose encounters police, dogs and national landmarks, and shares her words of wisdom...some of which are French!

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Creative Block: A Production Diary of Filming in Paris (Part 1)

In part 1 of her two-part production diary, NYWIFT member Nicola Rose describes the joys and challenges of shooting her short film in Paris, featuring early call times, angry shop owners, delightful locals, and a little balloon drama.

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Made in NY: Comedy Makers Brings Laughs and Insight to Carolines

"Made in New York." What could be better? As New York Women in Film & Television, it's who we are and what we do. NYWIFT presented an eclectic group of talented and dynamic comedy makers who "make it all happen" in NYC - from behind the scenes to the front lines – at this year’s Women in Comedy panel at Carolines on Broadway. Member Jean Criss recounts the highlights of the evening.

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To Save & Project Features Preserved Works by Jane Aaron

Next month, the Museum of Modern Art’s 14th annual To Save and Project series will celebrate the art of Jane Aaron with screenings of two films preserved by NYWIFT’s Women’s Film Preservation Fund. WFPF co-chair Kirsten Larvick gives us a sneak preview of the program and discusses Aaron's prolific and groundbreaking career.

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Filming Close (or Maybe a Bit Too Close) to Home

Making make believe is difficult and costly. So heading home to Asbury Park, where encouragement and support is offered freely, was the right choice for Jersey girl (and NYWIFT member) Christina Eliopoulos. She tells us about free hot dogs, meddling neighbors and why mothers make the best publicists.

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Becoming Producer Lauren Avinoam

NYWIFT member Heidi Philipsen interviews Fourth Man Out producer Lauren Avinoam on her path, her favorite projects and her advice on indie film distribution.

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Preserving the Cultural Legacy of Women in Film: A Conversation with Barbara Moss

In the pitch that would lead to the establishment of NYWIFT’s Women’s Film Preservation Fund (WFPF) in 1995, documentary filmmaker Barbara Moss wore white gloves and held up a 35 mm film canister. She opened it before the NYWIFT Board of Directors and pulled out a decrepit ribbon of film which then disintegrated before their eyes. “Ladies, this is what’s happening to our history,” she warned. Since then, the WFPF has preserved over 100 films. NYWIFT member Terisa Thurman talks to Moss about the fund's inception.

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There is No “Right” Way: 14 Things Directors Need to Know about Directing Actors

NYWIFT member Erica Fae is an actor/director/writer who teaches acting at both Yale and The New School, and just wrapped her first feature as a writer/director, called To Keep the Light - so she knows a thing or two about the complex relationship between directors and their stars. She recently wrote a piece for Filmmaker Magazine with great tips on how to direct actors (spoiler alert: there is no "right" way).

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The Top 3 Tips to Get Your Documentary Financed and Broadcast to Millions

Advice from the “Opportunities in Public Television for Documentary Filmmakers” panel at NYWIFT’s Documentary Film Financing Day By Terisa Thurman When the public television broadcasters took the stage at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts for the “Opportunities in Public Television” panel, part of  NYWIFT’s Film Financing Day: Documentary Features on June 4, 2016, practically...

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An Invitation from the Women’s Film Preservation Fund – WE WANT YOU!

The NYWIFT Women's Film Preservation Fund (WFPF) is currently seeking volunteers for significant positions within its committee: Head of our Fundraising Subcommittee, additional Fundraising Subcommittee members, and post-production professionals, especially with film experience, to serve on our Preservation Subcommittee. These positions are essential to strengthening our ongoing work to SAVE WOMEN’S FILM LEGACY. The WFPF, since its inception in 1995, has saved over 100 women-made movies, from silent to contemporary eras, in all genres. The films are on all subjects and represent women makers of all colors and a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. WFPF is the only fund in the world that focuses solely on preserving women’s cinematic heritage.

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A Look Back at Designing Women: Feeling the Love for Hair Stylists

After honoring costume designers annually starting in the year 2000 at what was then called Designing Hollywood, NYWIFT added a category for hair stylists in 2006. After all, hair literally - and figuratively - is what tops off a character's look on screen! Our very first hair stylist honoree was Lyndell Quiyou.

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A Look Back at Designing Women: The Diverse Range of Makeup Artists

In 2004, four years after NYWIFT began honoring costume designers at what was then called Designing Hollywood, we added a category for makeup artists to the mix. We began paying tribute to the subtle artistry of designing an actor's, well, face - how makeup artists use their tools to catch the light a certain way, portray age, stress, culture and other factors that make a character real, alive and unique.

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Women Directors: Nicole Quinn on Boundaries and The Gold Stone Girl

A Candid Interview with Nicole Quinn – by Heidi Philipsen Film and Theater Director Nicole Quinn recently joined UPWIFT (Upstate NY Women in Film & TV – a sister of NYWIFT) as a Guest Speaker of their quarterly Reel Women Screening Series at WAMC’s The Linda, in Albany, NY, where they screened her narrative feature...

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A Look Back at Designing Women: Costume Legends Patricia Field and Ann Roth

They say "clothes make the man" - or woman - which is one reason why every year NYWIFT honors costume designers at our Designing Women awards. When a character appears on screen, his or her clothes are often the first thing we see. Costume designers don't just make actors look pretty (though they sometimes do that too) - they pack a wealth of information into every thread. We look back at two costume legends we honored, including one from our very first ceremony.

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A Look Back at Designing Women: Orange is the New Black

Every year at Designing Women, in addition to honoring an individual costume designer, hair stylist and make up artist, we recognize the full costume, hair and make up team of one New York production with the Variety Ensemble Award. Past honorees include Boardwalk Empire and Sex and the City 2 but none was perhaps quite so buzzworthy as last year’s honoree, Netflix’s Orange is the New Black.

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Women’s Film Preservation Fund: Protecting the Legacy for Over 20 Years

Founded 1995 by NYWIFT in conjunction with the Museum of Modern Art and spearheaded by the determination of NYWIFT member Barbara Moss, the Women’s Film Preservation Fund (WFPF) has preserved over 100 films by women. In fact, we are the only organization dedicated to preserving exclusively films made by women. Get to know the WFPF!

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The Art of First Impressions and Movie Trailers

NYWIFT Board of Directors member Maura Kelly writes about female entrepreneurs in tech and entertainment for The Huffington Post. She recently sat down with Evelyn Brady-Watters and her sister Monica Brady, the founders of the Golden Trailers Awards (GTA's) as they gear up for the live ceremony on May 4th in LA.

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