By Tammy Reese
NYWIFT member Kristi Zea, an acclaimed production designer, costume designer, producer and director has once again showcased her exceptional talent at the 2024 Tribeca Festival. Zea’s impressive career spans over three decades, with notable works including designing Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas and Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs.
Her latest project, Daddio, directed by Christy Hall and starring Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson, shows her ability to create compelling visual narratives even in small places. With Daddio, Zea masterfully uses the confined space of a taxi to tell a powerful story, proving her enduring influence in the film industry.
NYWIFT Member Kristi Zea (photo courtesy of Kristi Zea)
Congratulations on such an outstanding and inspirational career in producing, directing, costume and production design for some of the most iconic movies and TV series. How do you stay inspired and motivated after so many years in the industry?
I’ve been very lucky to be in the right place at the right time throughout my career. All my work has been inspired by good scripts. Inspiration flows when there’s a good story to tell!
Still from Daddio (Image Courtesy of Tribeca Festival)
Daddio is your latest project showcasing at the Tribeca Festival. Please tell us about your design process for this film.
The story of Daddio is simple: two strangers get stuck together in a taxi for over an hour in bad traffic. What happens as a result of that event is why this film is so important. The taxi is the primary container. The props we see in the taxi help tell the story. Our prop person Diana Burton is brilliant.
We combed the internet for photos of taxi interiors from all over the world and picked our favorites. Then I talked to director Christy Hall and Sean Penn (Clark) to get their feedback. It was great fun to figure out the clues to Clark’s life and personality by what he had in his cab.
The other complicated issue was how and where to shoot this film. There are only three locations plus the interior of the cab. We were based in New Jersey because of the tax credit. Therefore we shot plates for the drive from JFK to NYC using the Array photographic system. The DP Phedon Papamichael is a magician… 80% of the film was shot inside the cab on stage with giant LED screens provided by 4Wall. The decision to establish the story at night helped conceal the cheat for NYC while setting the tone of intimacy and mystery. Our location manager Daniel McCarthy was tireless in finding just the right matches.
Director Christy Hall, Cinematographer Phedon Papamichael, Production Designer Kristi Zea at the 2024 Tribeca Festival premiere of Daddio (photo courtesy of Kristi Zea)
What inspired you to join NYWIFT and how has your experience been with the organization so far?
I love NYWIFT! It’s a powerful organization and it supports women as they attempt to shine in a very male-dominated business. It also engages women of color and gives them a much-needed voice in this crazy industry.
Kristi Zea and producer Ro Donnelly at the 2024 Tribeca Festival premiere of Daddio (photo courtesy of Kristi Zea)
What are some upcoming projects you’re working on?
I have two passion projects: one, directing and producing a documentary called On Tap is about an amazing improvisational tap dancer named Michela Marino Lerman who has been in the trenches tap dancing ever since she was a child. Talk about a male-dominated world! Thankfully Buster Brown, Gregory Hines and Wynton Marsalis took her under their wings. She is now a force!
The other project, is adapting a TV series based on a collection of wonderful books called Wilde Grove about a contemporary sleepy town in England that’s home to a coven of witches who are still wrestling with the past when a long lost adopted child arrives to claim a cottage that belonged to her witchy grandmother. It’s a modern-day hero’s journey all wrapped up with time travel, the Otherworld, passionate love and the recognition of the glorious power of Nature.
DP Phedon Papamichael and Kristi Zea at the 2024 Tribeca Festival premiere of Daddio (photo courtesy of Kristi Zea)
Looking back on your extensive career, what are you most proud of?
Tough question! The directors I’ve worked with are all geniuses. As a Production Designer, Silence of the Lambs was a wonderful and satisfying surprise. That film garnered so much attention! So did Goodfellas, The Departed, and Philadelphia. Not to mention Beloved and producing As Good As It Gets!
The list goes on… starting with my very first costume design job for Fame followed by Terms of Endearment.
Directing Anna Deavere Smith in Notes From the Field for HBO was an honor. I guess I am proud of all my films!
Still from Daddio (Image Courtesy of Tribeca Festival)
What advice would you give to anyone who is inspired by your career path?
Be patient, persistent and passionate about your work. Learn as much as you can from experts in the industry. Respect the collaboration process. Be kind. Don’t forget to laugh!
Keep up with Kristi Zea on her website www.kristizea.com and connect with her on Instagram at @kgzea.
Tammy Reese
Tammy Reese is CEO of Visionary Minds PR & Media, and a New York award winning Actress, Writer, and Journalist.
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Kash Blagrove
Welcome to NYWIFT, Kash Blagrove! Kash is a New York City–based producer with a background in advertising and a strong commitment to authenticity, diversity, and inclusion in media. Over the past decade, she has produced campaigns for major brands including eBay, European Wax Center, Peloton, and the WNBA, working across projects ranging from small-scale productions to multi-million-dollar campaigns. As a champion of body positivity, Kash brings a thoughtful perspective to her work, advocating for greater representation both in front of and behind the camera. Her work on the WNBA’s Line ’Em Up campaign earned multiple honors at the 2025 Clio Sports Awards, reflecting the real impact the project had beyond the screen. In our interview, Kash discussed her journey into producing, her commitment to inclusive storytelling, and the projects she’s excited to bring to life next.
READ MORENYWIFT Board Member Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago on Kaya, Cultural Identity, and Its Tribeca Festival Premier
With more than three decades of experience spanning film, television, theater, and festival leadership across the United States and Asia, Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago has built a remarkable career championing diverse voices and meaningful storytelling. As President of Sitting Cat Productions, Executive Director and Head of Programming for the SOHO International Film Festival, and Board Member for NYWIFT, she has dedicated her career to creating opportunities for filmmakers and bringing impactful stories to audiences worldwide. This year, Reymundo-Santiago serves as Consulting Producer on Kaya (ᜃᜌ), a powerful film featured during the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival. The story follows Nia, a half-Filipina young woman who secretly trains with queer outcast Malic in hopes of joining an elite Filipino Martial Arts team and proving she is “Filipino enough.” Through themes of identity, belonging, cultural connection, and self-acceptance, Kaya explores experiences that resonate far beyond its cultural roots.
READ MOREBecky Morrison is Championing a Better Future for Film While Bringing “Stand Clear ‘ the Closing Doors” to Tribeca
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, producers like Becky Morrison are helping lead the charge toward a more thoughtful, people-centered future in filmmaking. A producer, entrepreneur, and advocate for safer production environments, Becky brings both heart and vision to every project she touches — including Stand Clear ‘ the Closing Doors, the powerful short film making its World Premiere at the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival. Set against the backdrop of New York City’s subway system, Stand Clear ‘ the Closing Doors transforms a seemingly ordinary interaction into a gripping reflection on space, respect, tension, and human behavior. The film captures the emotional complexity hidden within everyday moments, offering audiences a story that feels distinctly New York while speaking to universal experiences of dignity and connection.
READ MORENYWIFT Member Susan Margolin Brings “Time Warp” to Tribeca’s 25th Anniversary Documentary Competition
For more than three decades, NYWIFT member Susan Margolin has championed independent storytelling that sparks conversation, challenges perspectives, and amplifies voices that deserve to be heard. As an award-winning producer and trailblazer in documentary distribution, she has helped bring hundreds of impactful films to audiences worldwide. Now, she returns to the festival circuit as one of the producers of Time Warp, a powerful new documentary making its world premiere in the Documentary Competition at the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival. Directed by Allison Berg and produced alongside an accomplished creative team, Time Warp follows a drag theater company in Rock Springs, Wyoming, as they stage a shadow cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50 years after the cult classic first captivated audiences. For Susan, whose career has been defined by elevating meaningful stories and underrepresented voices, the film arrives at a pivotal cultural moment.
READ MORE
Comments are closed