NYWIFT Blog

By Itu Phalane

Welcome to NYWIFT, Lauren Hale-Rieckhoff!

Lauren is a Strategic Advisor and Producer of feature films and documentaries. She began her career as a Casting Associate on HBO’s Sex and the City (2000–2002), then spent over ten years at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where she represented talent across music, film, TV, and sports, facilitating over $200 million in deals for A-list clients like Ron Howard, Jamie Foxx, Hilary Swank, Eva Longoria, John Legend, Dwyane Wade, and Sarah Jessica Parker. In 2017, she co-founded WilyfoXX Collective, a boutique agency advising, among others, tech giants and legacy fashion brands, with a client portfolio exceeding $10 million.

Now, as the founder of Andiamo Pictures, Lauren is producing The Florist, starring Carla Gugino as Vivien Leigh, and has upcoming projects including Savage House (Paramount, 2025) and a documentary on Dita Von Teese. Her film financing and production approach combines industry experience with a talent-first, future-focused philosophy. Lauren shares her journey in the film industry, beginning as a Casting Associate and progressing to producing her own films. 

NYWIFT Member Laura Hale-Rieckhoff

Can you give our readers a short introduction to who you are?

Hi everyone! I’m Lauren Rieckhoff, a producer based in lower Manhattan. After 25 years representing visionary talent across film/TV, music, and fashion, I’m now focused on telling my own stories. In addition to a small slate of documentaries to be announced, I’m currently developing The Florist, a character-driven true story about Hollywood icon Vivien Leigh, starring Carla Gugino. I’m drawn to emotionally honest storytelling — be it fact or fiction — and I’m thrilled to be part of the NYWIFT community where women are supporting and championing each other’s work.

Lauren at “Behind the Lens: Pennsylvania’s Filmmakers in Focus”.

What brought you to NYWIFT?

I’d heard a bit about NYWIFT over the years — especially the annual MUSE Awards — and recently felt drawn to learn more. Serendipitously, I was introduced to the brilliant Kim Jackson through a mutual friend this past spring. What was meant to be a quick coffee turned into a two-hour breakfast marathon in the West Village. At a time when so much feels transactional, Kim was unbelievably generous with both her time and expertise. When I learned she was President of the Board of Directors, I jumped at the chance to join such a special organization.

You are known for being part of the casting team for HBO’s Sex & The City, and those characters have remained iconic. What were your responsibilities?

That’s awfully kind, but Darren Star (and later, Michael Patrick King) was the real creative force behind the original foursome. I joined the production at Silvercup Studios in the summer of 2000, cutting my teeth casting background actors and under-fives. For Seasons 3, 4, and 5, I took real pride in my role as Casting Associate — happily pulling 16-hour days on set and soaking up every bit of knowledge I could from the incredible team around me. During Season 3, I found myself casting a fair number of body doubles, in addition to featured players and background. I’ll never forget the day my mom and dad stopped by set to say an impromptu hello — right as I was taking close-up Polaroids of women’s heinies for the director, who was bringing in a butt double for one of the girls. It took a long time for them to realize that no, I wasn’t working in adult films.

Lauren with John Corbett.

What elements do you attribute to the success of that television series?

At this point, the original Sex and the City just feels like pure nostalgia. For those of us who lived in pre-9/11 New York, it takes us right back to those late ’90s days that felt a little more carefree. But beyond the fashion and the brunches, the show really did something new — these women were talking about sex, dating, careers, all of it, completely on their own terms. So many shows since have explored what it means to be a woman with wants, flaws, ambition — but SATC was the first to really said it out loud.

Lauren with Sara Jessica Parker.

What is the most important quality you look for when you are casting?

Now that I’m producing my own features, I love a collaborative casting process. For The Florist, we brought on the magnificent Avy Kaufman to guide the discovery of our leading men and featured players. But when it came to the leading lady, I had felt a hunch right away — after reading Jayce Bartok’s script, Carla Gugino was unmistakably our Vivien. Sometimes casting hits you like that — an unshakable feeling, no matter how difficult it may be to get a script in front of the actor.

What significant strides do you envision for women — whether they are actors, producers or directors — despite the current challenges the film industry faces? 

More recently, there’s been a real spotlight around the need for inclusivity and representation like we haven’t seen before. More women are stepping up to tell their own stories in ways that feel honest and powerful. People are starting to get that diverse voices aren’t just a “nice bonus” — they’re actually what makes stories connect with audiences all over the world. At the same time, women are making more room for ourselves behind the scenes, taking on leadership roles that influence not just the creative side but the whole culture of the industry. There’s a world of brilliant talent here, just waiting for that right opportunity. And orgs like NYWIFT are crucial to keeping women at the forefront.

Lauren and Bobbie Thomas.

You describe yourself as a “cultural strategist.” What does that mean? 

A cultural strategist is just a fancy way of saying I pay close attention to what’s happening in the world — how people think, what matters to them, and what’s shifting. I help bring those insights into projects so they feel real and connected to the moment.

Lauren at the premier of Larger than Life.

It’s about understanding the zeitgeist and using that to develop strategies across areas like philanthropy, finance, business development, talent partnerships, and more. I’ve always believed that all boats rise with the tide, so there’s nothing I love more than bringing together former clients and colleagues to find new ways of creating impact that resonates at this very moment.

Lauren with Ron Howard, Jamie Foxx, and other stars of Canon’s Project Imagination.

Connect with Lauren Hale-Rieckhoff on LinkedIn and follow her on Instagram at @laurenhalerieckhoff.

(All images courtesy of Lauren Hale-Rieckoff)