By Daryl Bright Clay
Welcome to NYWIFT, Muriel Omur Ilbas!
After working in television broadcasting, journalism, and advertising over 20 years in France and in Turkey, Muriel specialized in communication strategies and brand management consultancy, executive and intercultural coaching for French, Turkish and global companies as well as NGO’s including the United Nations agencies and the National Democratic Institute based in Washington DC. Since 1997, she produced and directed 10 biographic documentaries of famous Turkish businesspeople, artists and innovators. In recent years, Muriel has prioritized coaching and mentorships, and since 2010, has provided more than 2000 hours of executive, leadership, intercultural and empowerment coaching to worldwide corporate clients.
Get to know her in our latest interview!
Can you tell us about yourself and your creative journey, including the experiences and influences that have shaped your work?
I grew up in a vibrant, multicultural, and multilingual family, which greatly influenced my creative journey. In our household, languages were a bridge to countless worlds, English, French, Turkish, Arabic, and Farsi were not just spoken but celebrated. This diverse linguistic environment and multiple trips in Middle East and Europe sparked my curiosity about different cultures and their stories from a young age.
Our home was also a sanctuary for art and cinema. We would watch films from France, Italy, Egypt, Britain, and the United States, which opened my eyes to the power of storytelling across cultures. These early experiences shaped my appreciation for visual narratives, inspiring me to later explore documentary filmmaking, biographical storytelling, and intercultural coaching.
Throughout my career, I’ve carried this cross-cultural perspective into my work. Whether it’s directing biographical documentaries, teaching communication skills, or providing intercultural coaching, I draw upon this rich tapestry of influences to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. My creative work has always been about bridging cultures and celebrating the universal human experience, something I first learned to value within the walls of my family home.
What inspired you to transition from academia to the television industry as a producer and director?
Note: I started radio broadcasting and tv industry way before academia.
The inspiration to transition from academia to documentaries as a producer and director was rooted in my passion for storytelling and my desire to reach a wider audience. While teaching at Galatasaray University was a fulfilling experience that allowed me to share my knowledge and mentor young minds, I realized that my true passion lay in creating content that could touch people’s lives on a broader scale.
Documentaries offered an unparalleled platform to tell compelling stories and engage diverse audiences. It was an exciting medium where creativity and communication came together to bring narratives to life. My academic background provided me with a strong foundation in research and communication.
This transition was also driven by my fascination with visual storytelling. I wanted to explore how stories could be told not just through words but through images, sound, and emotion. The opportunity to work with exceptional teams and bring untold stories to light, whether it was capturing the essence of individuals, companies, or cultural histories, was both a challenge and a profound creative reward.
What draws you to biographical documentaries, and what stories do you feel are most important to tell?
I am drawn to biographical documentaries because they allow me to explore the intricate layers of human experience, highlighting the triumphs, struggles, and defining moments of individuals. These stories serve as bridges between generations and cultures, offering timeless lessons and inspiration. I am particularly passionate about telling stories of individuals who have left an indelible mark on their industries, communities, or the world at large, whether it’s a pioneering business leader, an artist, or an innovator. By capturing their journeys, I aim to preserve their legacies and celebrate the human spirit.
How do you integrate your teaching & coaching experience into your work as a producer and director?
I am drawn to biographical documentaries because they allow me to explore the intricate layers of human experience, highlighting the triumphs, struggles, and defining moments of individuals. These stories serve as bridges between generations and cultures, offering timeless lessons and inspiration. I am particularly passionate about telling stories of individuals who have left an indelible mark on their industries, communities, or the world at large, whether it’s a pioneering business leader, an artist, or an innovator. By capturing their journeys, I aim to preserve their legacies and celebrate the human spirit.
My teaching and coaching experience deeply influences my approach as a producer and director. When working with subjects or teams, I draw on my coaching skills to foster trust, empathy, and open communication. This ensures that individuals feel comfortable sharing their authentic stories. My teaching background helps me guide teams with clarity and purpose, ensuring everyone understands the creative vision and their role within it. Additionally, I apply intercultural coaching techniques to navigate cultural sensitivities, making my storytelling more inclusive and impactful.
What brought you to NYWIFT?
Joining NYWIFT was a natural step in my creative journey, as I’ve always believed in the power of collaboration and the importance of amplifying women’s voices in film and television. NYWIFT provides a dynamic platform to connect with like-minded women who share a passion for storytelling and creating meaningful work. It also allows me to continue learning, share my expertise, and contribute to a community that values diversity, innovation, and creative excellence.
Can you share an experience where intercultural dynamics played a crucial role in a project you were involved in?
One memorable experience was during my time consulting for Groupama, a French insurance company, after their acquisition of a Turkish brand. I served as an intercultural consultant to bridge the gap between French and Turkish corporate cultures, ensuring effective collaboration between teams. By addressing differences in communication styles, decision-making processes, and work ethics, I was able to foster a harmonious working environment. This experience taught me the importance of cultural awareness and adaptability in achieving project success, lessons I carry into all my creative and consulting endeavors. I am also very proud of a project I launched with Groupama: a ten-year sponsorship program for the restoration of old Turkish movies in collaboration with Istanbul Film Festival.
What skills do you believe are essential for effective communication in both corporate and creative environments?
Effective communication hinges on clarity, empathy, and adaptability. In corporate environments, clarity ensures that objectives and expectations are understood, while empathy fosters collaboration and trust among team members. Adaptability is crucial, especially in intercultural settings, as it allows you to tailor your approach to different audiences and situations. In creative environments, active listening and storytelling are also essential. Listening ensures that everyone’s ideas are valued, while storytelling helps convey complex ideas in a compelling and relatable way.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned throughout your creative journey, and what advice would you offer to emerging filmmakers navigating their own paths?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is the value of resilience and authenticity. The creative journey is rarely linear, and challenges are inevitable, but staying true to your voice and vision is what sets you apart. It’s essential to embrace failure as a steppingstone to growth and to continuously seek inspiration from diverse sources.
To emerging filmmakers, my advice is to never stop learning, whether it’s through formal education, mentorship, or life experiences. Build strong networks but also nurture your individuality. Be open to feedback, yet confident in your creative instincts. And most importantly, remember that storytelling is about connection—so tell the stories that move you, because they’re the ones that will resonate most deeply with your audience.
Connect with Muriel Omur Ilbas via the website: https://yourcoachinamerica.com/ as well as her LinkedIn.
Daryl Bright Clay
Daryl Bright Clay (She/Her) is a multidisciplinary artist: a producer, writer, and performing artist. Yes, she actually does wear multiple hats (or hairstyles) depending on the vibes. Hailing from the DC Metropolitan Area has helped contribute to her love of cultural storytelling mixed with a dash of wit and a lot of heart.
As a founding member of CNT Productions, she has helped write, produce, and star in CNT Production's sketch comedy series NOT YOUR TYPE , their live interactive show, THE SEX SCENE, and their choreopoem series OPEN, which has been featured in AFROPUNK, DEADLINE, and Gloria Steinem’s Ms. Magazine. With CNT partner, Ariel Zucker, she co-wrote a pilot called, GYNO, which was accepted to Gotham’s 2022 TV Film Lab & Project Market.
Daryl was the production associate on APPLE TV+’s The Supermodels. She was also the showrunner’s assistant to Branden Jacobs Jenkins, who adapted Octavia Butler’s Kindred for FX/HULU. Her contributions have been recognized by HBO, the American Black Film Festival, AT&T’s Awards for New Forms of Storytelling, and Sundance’s Horizon Awards. Much of Daryl’s work is rooted in encouraging self-love, acknowledging self-hate, and finding connection in the paradox of it all. Upcoming projects include the Sundance official selection, GOODNIGHT, starring Dagmara Dominczyk (HBO’s Succession), and GET LOST directed by Victoria Pedretti (Netflix’s You).Currently based in Brooklyn, Daryl is a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama. She is represented by Stalwart Talent Management.
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Samantha Herrera
Welcome to NYWIFT, Samantha Herrera! Samantha Herrera is a queer Filipina artist born and raised in Queens, NY. Her roots began in theatre with training at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, The Neighborhood Playhouse, and LAMDA. Saint Vegas is the first narrative film she has directed, written, and produced. It will internationally premiere in the Philippines hosted by Cine Balikbayan. This November, she played one of the lead roles in Diwata, directed by Shea Formanes. Aside from filmmaking, Samantha works at her alma mater - The Neighborhood Playhouse - and runs a Filipino food pop-up business with her partner. In our interview, Samantha discussed the mentors who shaped her artistry, her inspirations, and her upcoming work.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Joyce Hills
Welcome to NYWIFT, Joyce Hills! Joyce Hills is a recent graduate of NYU Tisch, where she co-wrote and directed the culturally-rich epic Viking short film The Feather, featuring out-of-this-world SFX hair and makeup, practical stunts, and generative workflows on a virtual production volume. She was the First Assistant Director and VFX Supervisor on the Seed & Spark-awarded short film Night of Melancholia, interned in Virtual Production at Gum Studios in Brooklyn, and performed as Sugarsop, The Widow, and assorted household servants in Will Kempe’s Players’ The Taming of the Shrew. Joyce is developing her first feature film, a dark fantasy inspired by mystical quests, heroes’ journeys, and time and destiny in popular culture. She is also developing a science fiction feminist short, and is pursuing additional education in XR mediamaking and STEM. In our interview, she discussed her childhood inspirations, emerging technologies, and the future of storytelling.
READ MORENYWIFT Member Spotlight: Kelcey Edwards
NYWIFT Member Kelcey Edwards found her way into documentary filmmaking through Iron Gate Studios, a nonprofit gallery and artist workspace she cofounded in her early twenties in Austin, Texas. At the time, she was making small narrative films alongside many other Austin-based filmmakers involved in the “mumblecore” scene; her first film, Letter, screened at SXSW in 2006. Since cameras and equipment were always present in the gallery, she began interviewing many of the artists who visited the space. Over time, the habit of recording conversations and documenting artists’ lives became a steady part of her practice. That interest eventually led her to pursue an MFA in Documentary Film at Stanford and later to move to New York, where she continued developing their work. About a decade later, she directed The Art of Making It, a feature documentary about the art world, which won the Audience Award at SXSW in 2022. It’s currently available on most streaming platforms. Kelcey’s films have received support from the MacArthur Foundation, Sundance, and Tribeca Film Institute, among others, have been broadcast internationally, and have screened at top-tier festivals including SXSW, Berlinale, and Hamptons International. In our interview, Kelcey discussed her teaching philosophy, approach to filmmaking, and upcoming projects.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Therese Cayaba-Jones
Welcome, Therese Cayaba-Jones, to NYWIFT. Therese is a filmmaker with over 15 years of experience with films, documentaries, and series across the Philippines, Singapore, and the U.S. She just finished the feature screenplay for UnMarry, which was recently announced as one of the entries for the Metro Manila Film Festival 2025. Currently, Therese is producing the film Tales My Father Told, and raising money through NYWIFT fiscal sponsorship. Read on to see Therese’s story of moving to New York, her role in the 48 Hour Film Project, and her take on the state of independent filmmaking in the Big Apple.
READ MORE
Comments are closed