Goodbye, winter caps—hello, summer hats! It’s that glorious time of year where many of us can switch from content creators to content consumers. NYWIFT members Mellini Kantayya and Kathryn O’Kane have put together #SummerHours, a series of fun summer books, movies, and TV shows by or about women.
By Mellini Kantayya
I have decidedly gone all-out-fan-girl over Issa Rae and her HBO series Insecure. I’m far from alone. In The Guardian review, writer Brian Moylan says, “There’s something quite remarkable about HBO’s long-gestating comedy Insecure. It’s the first pilot this season that comes close to perfection, the sort of show that leaves you feeling giddy, eager to tell all of your friends about it.”
Issa Rae in HBO’s Insecure
Indeed. But why stop there? I first discovered Rae through her 2011 web series The Mis-Advenures of Awkward Black Girl, which follows J, a likable twenty-something nerd, as she navigates laugh-out-loud uncomfortable situations, exacerbated by her own self-consciousness. The series has that fun-indie-film feel à la Clerks and you’ll buzz through the episodes quickly.
This summer, I am also looking forward to reading Rae’s New York Times bestseller, also titled Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Comedic luminaries Lena Dunham and Mindy Kaling have both sung its praises, describing it as “brilliantly wry” and “lovably awkward” respectively.
(Cover photo by Bridgette Matthews)
Mellini_Kantayya
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Andrea Frierson
Welcome to NYWIFT, Andrea Frierson! Two-time Helen Hayes Award nominee Andrea Frierson is a Dramatists Guild Fellow, a NYSCA grant recipient, and a Library of Congress Award-winner (Ethnographic Research, American Folklife). Her plays and musicals have been produced by Lincoln Center Theater and the York Theatre Company in NYC, among others. As an actor, her Broadway productions include: The Lion King, Once on This Island, Bring in ‘Da Noise/Bring in ‘Da Funk, Eubie!, For Colored Girls, Marie Christine, and Julie Taymor’s Juan Darien: A Carnival Mass. Television appearances include: Quantico, Pose, Red Oaks, Elementary, and Harlem. Andrea was a series regular on the Nickelodeon TV series, Allegra’s Window. In our interview, Andrea discusses her experiences as a writer, actor, and singer, and her journey writing her memoir.
READ MORENYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Veronica Reyes-How
Award-winning writer, actor, and producer Veronica Reyes-How is making a bold mark on the indie television landscape with the world premiere of her new episodic series, Mother, May I Have a Kidney?, at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. As a proud NYWIFT member and first-generation Filipino-American, Reyes-How brings heart, humor, and authenticity to her storytelling. Her latest project, which she created, wrote, and executive produced, explores themes of family estrangement, empathy, and kidney health through a unique dramedy lens. With a rich background that spans from tech consulting to national tours, hit TV appearances, and more, Veronica continues to champion diverse voices and underrepresented narratives in media.
READ MORENYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Eileen Zyko Wolter
Please meet NYWIFT Member Eileen Zyko Wolter, a creator, writer, and actress whose journey has taken her from a Connecticut childhood shaped by a first-generation Muslim Albanian father and a mother descended from the Revolutionary War and Salem Witch Trials to the set of Queens of the Dead, premiering at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. With a background in art history and film from Vassar College and training from The Atlantic Theater Company, The Actors Studio, and The Beverly Hills Playhouse, Eileen brings a unique blend of intellect, passion, and grit to every role. In this interview, Eileen shares what it was like to portray a zombie in Tina Romero’s thrilling directorial debut, her lifelong dream of joining SAG-AFTRA, and her love for the NYWIFT community that helped reignite her acting ambitions.
READ MORENYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Co-Directors and Producers Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin
The 2025 Tribeca Festival is kicking off with a bang as the world premiere of Billy Joel: And So It Goes takes center stage as part of the Opening Night Gala. This highly anticipated documentary, co-directed by the legendary multi-Emmy, Peabody and Grammy award-winning filmmaker Susan Lacy and Emmy and Peabody award-winning producer Jessica Levin, delves deep into the music, mind, and legacy of one of America’s greatest songwriters. In this exclusive NYWIFT interview, we speak with Susan, a proud NYWIFT member, and Jessica, her longtime collaborator, about the creative journey behind the film, the art of storytelling through music, and what it was like working alongside the Piano Man himself.
READ MORE
1 Comment
busyk
So great! Love this show.