NYWIFT Blog

By Shayna Cartledge 

Welcome to NYWIFT, Madison Saviano!

Madison Saviano is a recent NYU Tisch School of the Arts graduate with a BFA in Dramatic Writing and a minor in Producing. 

She has worked on over ten early career films, primarily as a script supervisor and producer. Her produced projects have premiered at Cinema Village and earned grants from JQY and the Akhtar-Bhutta Fund, plus NYU’s Student Producers Award.

She is developing a short with NYU’s Stonestreet Studios and was recently selected for the inaugural Sundance x TikTok micro-series cohort through Sundance Collab.  

Madison interned in development for Debbie Liebling and currently volunteers as a script reader for the Austin Film Festival.

Could you give our readers a brief introduction to yourself?

I’m a New York-based writer and producer working on supporting independent artists.

I am currently working in post-production on fellow Tisch alum Georgia Overby’s The Red Boot and on a marketing pitch for an upcoming production company that was founded by another Tisch connection. As well as working on my micro-series concept with the Sundance x TikTok inaugural development cohort.

These professional experiences have taught me that creative endeavors are built on community and multi-tasking, though wicked Canva skills always help.

As a writer, I thrive on the quiet moments in between, the TCM movie channel, and the enduring support of my pet guinea pig, Blossom. My writing centers on female-led stories of triumph, often in the face of great adversity.

What brought you to NYWIFT?

I first learned about NYWIFT through a shining recommendation made by my producing Professor Janet Grillo. 

NYU’s close relationship with the organization inspired me to become a member, and I am so excited to contribute to its mission to support women in the industry as I grow my career.

What do you love most about storytelling?

I believe that storytelling is a fundamental part of being human. A simple hero’s journey about overcoming obstacles can inspire change and resilience in a viewer, which can shape how they live their life. 

Any audience member can relate to a well-crafted protagonist and share in that victory. The shared experience in a movie theater, online discourse, and personal identification with diverse characters make storytelling essential for empathy and engagement across perspectives.

How does being a producer influence your writing style and vice versa? 

As a producer, I understand how costly even simple stories can be. I try to write shorts that are easily producible, meaning the setting is limited to one location, there is a limited cast, and the page count is preferably under 10 pages. I think these limitations can often aid in the final script, since it puts character and the plot at the forefront as opposed to aesthetic style. A producing background also helps me access marketability and distribution strategies. 

As far as how being a writer affects my producing work, I would say that I can give better notes on scripts throughout the development process. My experience as a development intern for Debbie Liebling assists with this as well. Above that, being a writer helps me to prioritize and uphold the writer’s vision on any given project. As a script supervisor as well, I am used to maintaining a script during production.

Do you gravitate to a particular theme in your storytelling? If so, why?

I gravitate towards female-led coming-of-age stories. I’ve written two features and a short in which the protagonist is the mentor figure to a sibling or kindred spirit while undergoing her own journey. I like dual dynamics because they highlight change and perseverance across generations, showcasing a more diverse range of themes.

I believe I return to the theme of multigenerational female solidarity because of the enormous influence of women in my own life and family. I am very proud of a short script called Auld Lang Syne, which is currently being evaluated by the Austin Film Festival, since it is based on my relationship with my grandmother.

What films have the most influence on your work?

Barry Lyndon is something I return to see an exemplary example of how setting and atmosphere can be imagined. All of Kubrick’s films could serve this purpose, in my opinion.

Eyes Wide Shut and The Shining remind me that it’s okay to embrace ambiguity. 

Charlie Kaufman’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a masterclass on surrealism, which is something I strive to portray. 

I am drawn to ambitious examples of plot, such as Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival and Incendies.

Though my taste currently exceeds my ability, I believe that studying the best is crucial to developing your own distinct voice.

Connect with Madison Saviano on LinkedIn or on Instagram @madison.saviano. 

(All Images Courtesy of Madison Saviano)