Meet the New NYWIFT Member Archives - Page 2 of 9 - New York Women in Film & TelevisionNew York Women in Film & Television

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Gina Moore-Herring

Welcome to NYWIFT, Gina Moore-Herring! Writer, Filmmaker, and Digital Content Creator Gina Moore-Herring is a proud New Yorker and graduate of NYU where she studied Digital Communication & Media. Gina, also known as “G”, started her creative journey in the Fashion Industry in production, and as a designer. Her dream job with Calvin Klein led her to Gerber Technology where she worked for 10 1/2 years learning the importance of technology in global business. Her “can do” fearless approach allowed her to build lifelong business networks and travel the world. It is also the catalyst to spearheading her own consulting company, where she uses her business savvy skills to work with corporations, large and small, saving them time and money through her strategic, transformative thinking.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Amanda Ramirez

Let’s all give a warm welcome to our new NYWIFT member, Amanda Ramirez! As an actor, Amanda has appeared in All My Children, As the World Turns, and Fox's Canterbury's Law. As a producer, she has credits in the documentary Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies, the horror film Welcome to Willits, and the holiday feature My First Miracle. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and the Independent Filmmakers Guild of America (IFGA). Amanda holds a BA in Theatre with minors in Dance and Education from Long Island University - C.W. Post, and an MA in Communications from the New York Institute of Technology, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Check out our full article to learn more about Amanda and her passion for meaningful storytelling!

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Maura Garnett

Welcome to NYWIFT, Maura Garnett! Fresh out of NYWIFT’s internship program, where she played a crucial role on our Muse Awards volunteer team, Maura now joins the NYWIFT community in our Next Wave program. Maura Garnett is a writer/director who is a recent School of Visual Arts graduate. She specializes in directing and casting. Currently, she's in post-production on Treading, about a young woman's quest for belonging in the city, leading to a series of bad dates. Her film Disoriented, about a life-altering phone call, is on the festival circuit. Playtime, addressing date rape and sexual assault, has earned acclaim at over 30 festivals, including Global Indie Film Festival and New York Movie Awards. Aspiring casting director Maura has interned with Stephanie Klapper Casting and Emmy-winning Avy Kaufman. Now, she's a casting assistant for 5-time Emmy nominated Mark Saks. Maura shares what she has learned working alongside some of NYC's top casting directors, how she creatively approaches tough subject matter, and what's coming up on her professional horizon.

Meet The New NYWIFT Member: Yixin Cen

Let's welcome new NYWIFT Member Yixin Cen, an NYC-based Associate Producer and Producer specializing in narrative, documentary, and international co-productions. Fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, she has excelled in projects like leading the award-winning film A Father’s Son, which premiered at the Asian American International Film Festival. Her journey from China to New York City has shaped a career dedicated to authentic storytelling and cultural representation. Yixin is a passionate advocate for diversity in film, actively involved with NYWIFT to connect with and support fellow women filmmakers. Currently, she is producing documentaries exploring the legacies of Ping Chong and Basement Workshop, underscoring her commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Jade Copeland

Welcome to NYWIFT, Jade Copeland! Ready to conquer the world of film and television, the fabulous Jade Copeland is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Producing while interning at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon! These experiences have led to her two recent passion projects, the thesis films, Lemon Bars and Saltwater. Learn more about Jade’s journey, as we converse about the parallels between her enthusiasm for creating fascinating visual content that questions social mores and the discipline she developed while immersed in the competitive world of hip-hop dance as a teenager.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Kira Belin

Cue the music: it’s time to welcome our new NYWIFT member, Kira Belin! Kira is a New York based music editor with a career spanning film, television, contemporary art and more. She’s worked on a variety of high-profile projects including Barbie, And Just Like That…, and Los Espookys. She focuses on building an interdependent relationship between music and the story on screen. Read our full interview with Kira to learn more about her career journey and approach to film music editing.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Ashley Pickett

Welcome to NYWIFT, Ashley Pickett! Known for her dynamic roles on screen, Ashley is an actress expanding her creative horizons into screenwriting. Her latest project is a short form series delving into the complexities of women navigating the dating pool. Ashley describes herself as a warrior with a tender heart, embodying a blend of resilience and adaptability. Her storytelling is inspired by personal experiences and a deep understanding of human emotions, aiming to capture authentic narratives that resonate with audiences. Continue reading to dive into how acting influences her writing, as well as more on her short form series, The Serial Dater.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Ingrid Jean-Baptiste

Let’s give a huge NYWIFT welcome to Ingrid Jean-Baptiste! Founder of the Chelsea Film Festival, Ingrid was born in Paris and spent her early years there and in London. Upon graduating from La Sorbonne University, Ingrid pursued journalism and worked for various French magazines and within the production sphere of cultural television shows broadcasted on national French TV at France Television. After living in LA for some time, she moved to New York in 2010 where she studied acting and graduated from the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. In 2013, she began the Chelsea Film Festival, which since its beginnings has provided a platform for filmmakers worldwide and represented 30+ countries through showcasing 220 Official Selections. Currently she is a board member at Easter Seals, Young Minds for Gender Equality, and Chelsea Film Institute, and has received several accolades which include the WOW Award for International Women’s Empowerment and the Trophy of “French Citizens Abroad.” To learn more about Ingrid’s career highlights and how her vision influenced the genesis and evolution of the Chelsea Film Festival, check out our conversation.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Maura Campbell

Welcome to NYWIFT, Maura Campbell! She is an award-winning playwright turned filmmaker, creating the acclaimed film The Non-Essentials, which won Best Feature at the International Cellphone Cinematography Competition in Cannes. This groundbreaking project was shot across the country under pandemic conditions, featuring a multiracial and multigenerational cast directed remotely through Zoom. At the Actor’s Studio, Maura hones her craft through weekly play readings, while at The Lambs, she lead a playwrights’ group and co-created the musical Anna and Fyodor, exploring the lives of Dostoyevsky and his first wife. Currently, she is in rehearsals for this production alongside filming Quirks, a feature evolving from episodic beginnings. Maura is dedicated to shedding light on human experiences through storytelling, supporting young writers, and pushing creative boundaries across theater and film.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Claire Read

Claire Read is a New York-based documentary filmmaker and producer known for her work on HBO series like Telemarketers and The Vow, as well as independent documentaries covering diverse subjects. Her journey into documentary filmmaking began with a high school project on a controversial NYC community center, now culminating in Penn F—ing Station, a documentary exploring the city's debate over its redevelopment. She crafts stories that blend emotional depth with intellectual engagement, focusing on authentic narratives and human connections. Continue reading to discover Claire's experience in filmmaking and learn more about her upcoming projects.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Tara Morrison

Welcome to NYWIFT Tara Morrison! Tara "Penk" Morrison is a visionary from Brooklyn now based in Jamaica, Queens, NY. She's a determined self-starter with a unique creative style, inspiring others with her confidence and passion for storytelling. Tara found her niche in film and TV behind the scenes, launching Sweet Penk Films in 2020 to produce her own projects and support fellow creatives. From writing screenplays on her stoop to directing her debut project, Faith Tribulation, Tara's journey reflects her resourcefulness and community spirit. With multiple screenplays and a docuseries treatment in the works, she advocates for finishing what you start and believing in yourself.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Veronica Moya

Welcome to NYWIFT, Veronica Moya! Driven by a belief in every child's innate wisdom and spiritual connection, Veronica founded a platform dedicated to nurturing these qualities. Her mission is to empower children to embrace their truths confidently, equipping them with the tools to navigate life's adventures while staying true to their inner spirit. Through her work, Veronica instills a sense of self-awareness and inner security, guiding children to realize their role as creators of their own happiness and fulfillment in the world.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Sheila Robinson

Let’s put our pens to paper and craft the perfect welcome for our new NYWIFT member, Sheila Robinson! Sheila is a playwright, screenwriter and social worker who has been pursuing writing for the last 16 years. Her career as a social worker has inspired her work. Her writing has brought her to many different film festivals and she continues to hone her craft. Read our full interview with Sheila to learn more about how she balances her writing with her career as a social worker and her advice for screenwriters.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Claire Englebienne

Don’t hold the applause! It’s time for us to welcome our new NYWIFT member, Claire Englebienne! Claire is currently a Film & TV student at NYU who’s extremely passionate about storytelling and has begun writing and directing her own work. Originally from Argentina, she hopes to tell stories from her home country that move people. Read our full interview with Claire to learn more about her exciting projects, her experience working in the film industry in Argentina and some inspiring advice she’s received!

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Richardine Bartee

Here’s the scoop! We’re excited to welcome our new NYWIFT member, Richardine Bartee. Richardine is a journalist, publicist, music supervisor, and founder of the multi-tiered business and magazines GRUNGECAKE and GRUNGECAKE AFRICA. The first digital issue of GRUNGECAKE AFRICA is launching in July 2024. She’s been a member of the Recording Academy since 2015. Connecting with people is very important to her. She started writing about artists in journalism and media and wants to take that further by telling people’s stories through television and film. Read our full interview to learn more about her career journey and her advice for starting new projects.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Nicole West

Welcome to the NYWIFT community, Nicole West! Nicole is a visual effects technical director who has spent her career blending technology with art. She has a great love for the performing arts and is on a creative journey with storytelling. Read our full interview with Nicole below to learn more about her experience working in visual effects, her advice for successful collaborations, and her insights about technology and art.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Willette Murphy Klausner

If you’ve seen a great Broadway show recently, chances are Willette Murphy Klausner had something to do with it. As the founder and owner of WMK Productions in Los Angeles she has produced or co-produced dozens of award-winning theatrical and film projects, including MJ the Musical, Hadestown, Stereophonic, The Wiz. Porgy and Bess, Three Mo’ Tenors, Caroline or Change and Cabaret, just to name a few. For film, she’s co-producing the documentary Liza, which just premiered at the Tribeca Festival. Previous films include Radium Girls and Wakefield with several film and TV projects in development. In 2022 she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Drama League. She has served on the Boards of Directors of the Los Angeles Music Center and the Women in Film Foundation, is a member of the League of Professional Theatre Women, the National Women’s Forum, and NYWIFT. She is currently on the board of Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Margaux Moores-Tanvier

Welcome to NYWIFT, Margaux Moores-Tanvier! Margaux is a documentary producer and writer with a focus on investigative stories. She’s produced features and episodic nonfiction for Tubi, Oxygen, Discovery ID, A&E, and HISTORY, mainly in the true crime genre. In her work, Margaux values collaboration, essential to produce premium content. She strives to cover topics such as crime, civil rights abuses, and extreme beliefs in a compelling, cinematic way that also provides an engaging and personal narrative for viewers. Prior to working on documentaries, Margaux directed and produced over 30 short films, music videos, and live events. Born in France, with family ties across the globe, she is deeply connected with international news.

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