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
Tribeca Festival 2026: “The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony” Shines a Light on Courage, Community, and Opportunity
At the 2026 Tribeca Festival, audiences were introduced to an inspiring story of resilience, determination, and hope through The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony, a powerful documentary that follows a group of young girls in Pakistan who dare to dream beyond the limitations placed upon them. Directed and written by Habiba Nosheen with Mariska Hargitay as an executive producer, the film takes viewers into Machar Colony, a marginalized fishing community in Karachi where many residents live without official documentation, limiting access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Against these challenges, a gymnastics team emerges as a beacon of possibility for a group of girls determined to create a different future for themselves. Tammy Reese and LaKisa Renee brings us exclusive red carpet interviews with Nosheen and Hargitay.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Esther Casas Roura
Welcome to NYWIFT, Esther Casas Roura! Esther is an award-winning filmmaker known for blending metaphorical storytelling with animation. Originally from Barcelona, Spain, she began her career as a molecular biologist before moving to New York and transitioning into filmmaking, focusing on animation while working across both commercial and narrative projects. She later founded Claymaniak Studios (now ECR Films) to create emotionally resonant films across stop-motion, traditional animation, and motion graphics. Her animated shorts—Check Date: An Underdog Love Story, Creamen, and FLOCKY—have screened internationally at over 150 film festivals. FLOCKY was recently shortlisted for the Goya Awards in Spain, has received 18 international awards, and has gained international recognition for its social impact. Esther is currently developing her fourth short, The Melody Within, and her first animated feature, TAO.
READ MORENYWIFT at Tribeca Festival: “APART” Animated Short Explores Friendship, Courage, and the Human Cost of Division
At the 25th Anniversary of the Tribeca Festival, the Shorts Program curated by Whoopi Goldberg delivered a powerful lineup of animated storytelling that continues to expand the boundaries of the medium. One of the standout selections, APART, made its world premiere at Spring Studios, offering audiences a deeply emotional lens into apartheid-era South Africa through the eyes of two young boys whose friendship is tested by a divided world. Tammy Reese and LaKisa Renee bring us exclusive interviews with writer Spike Lee and director Pola Maneli.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Christina Brennan
Welcome to NYWIFT, Christina Brennan! Christina is a New York–based filmmaker whose work explores the emotional complexity of young womanhood through bold, conversation-driven storytelling. She is particularly drawn to dystopian, psychological thriller, and comedy genres, often blending tension and humor. As a recent graduate, she made her directorial debut with the short film Dear Nora, which won first place at AGBO’s No Sleep ’Til Film Festival—marking an exciting start to her creative career. In addition to her work behind the camera, Christina is the founder of Onore Films, a community dedicated to supporting and connecting young women in film through collaboration and shared resources. With experience across multiple areas of production, she approaches filmmaking as both a creative practice and a way to foster meaningful connection. In our interview, Christina discussed her journey into filmmaking, the inspiration behind Dear Nora, and her passion for building community among emerging women in film.
READ MORE
Comments are closed