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10 Takeaways from the NYWIFT “Casting Comedy: Funny People On-Camera” Panel

NYWIFT member Mellini Kantayya shares the top 10 nuggets of wisdom from NYWIFT's panel on TV comedy casting. Learn whether or not to ad-lib, button it, stalk (answer: definitely no), and self-tape.

Terry’s Picks: Dusty Awards, Handmaid’s Tale, Gabourey Sidibe

Dusty Awards: The SVA Dusty Film & Animation Festival runs May 5-8. We look forward to partnering once again for their annual Dusty Awards! Board President Alexis Alexanian will present the NYWIFT award. Handmaid’s Tale: Can’t wait to start binging on The Handmaid’s Tale. Eight of 10 episodes are directed by women – good for...

The Women’s Film Preservation Fund 2016 Grants are awarded to five groundbreaking works from the 1920s and 1970s

The NYWIFT Women’s Film Preservation Fund's (WFPF’s) 2016 grants have now been awarded. The films include three shorts from the 1920’s by pioneering filmmaker Angela Murray Gibson and two important films from the 1970’s, SISTERS! by Barbara Hammer and Women’s Happy Time Commune by Sheila Paige. WFPF Steering Committee Co-Chair Ann Deborah Levy explains why these particular films are important to women's legacy, and how you can help.

Terry’s Picks: Representation Matters, Sheila Nevins, Box Office

Representation Matters: Kathryn O’Kane was among the five NYWIFT board members who joined me at the Women’s Media Summit in Provincetown, MA, last month. She recaps it for our Huffington Post column, as we look ahead to what’s next. Sheila Nevins: NYWIFT member Sheila Nevins, President of HBO Documentary Films, sat down with Lesley Stahl...

Moving Forward: Representation Matters: NYWIFT at the Women’s Media Summit

NYWIFT Board member Kathryn O'Kane was among the six NYWIFT representatives who attended the historic Women's Media Summit in Provincetown, MA, last month. She offers a recap, including the opinions and takeaways of fellow board members, and looks ahead at what's next.

A Filmmaker is Born: How the Power of One Immigrant’s Story Inspired a Musician to Go Visual

Filmmakers create great stories every day. But once in a while, a truly great story will create a filmmaker. Such was the case with Patricia Shih and her debut film, Undocumented. The inspiring documentary, which was screened on March 16th at the Queens World Film Festival as part of NYWIFT’s Women Filmmakers: Immigrant Stories series, showcases the realization of the American Dream through the unique story of undocumented-immigrant-turned-successful-cardiac surgeon, Dr. Harold Fernandez.

Terry’s Picks: Zookeeper’s Wife, 25 Films, Female Heroes

Zookeeper’s Wife: Go see The Zookeeper’s Wife! Jessica Chastain gives a great performance, as directed by Niki Caro. 25 Films: Mark your calendars – here are 25 women-directed films being released this year. Female Heroes: The Guardian digs into why seeing a female hero – not just passive female characters – on screen is critical...

Starless Moonlight’s Lesson on Making Your Production Shine Brighter: Q & A with Casting Director Angela Mickey

After Moonlight won the Oscar for best picture, casting director and NYWIFT member Angela Mickey had some insights on what independent filmmakers and can learn from its casting.

Terry’s Picks: Spring Drive, Tribeca Films, Black Comediennes

Spring Drive: Now through May 15th is the NYWIFT Spring Membership Drive, during which we offer 50% off the initiation fee for new members. If you’re thinking of joining our community of women calling the shots, now is the time to do it! Tribeca Films: I’m looking forward to next week’s Tribeca Film Festival, which...

Sound Advice: Avoid (or Fix) the Two Biggest Mistakes in Sound Design

Mismatched ambient noise and clothing rustle are the two biggest mistakes in sound design, according to award-winning sound designer, editor and mixer Paul Michael. At a recent NYWIFT program, he explained to how to avoid - or fix - these problems.

Terry’s Picks: Zookeeper’s Wife, Female Friendship, Theresa Rebeck

Zookeeper’s Wife: USA Today highlights the team behind The Zookeeper’s Wife, which might be the most women-populated crew in Hollywood history. Female Friendship: Grace and Frankie stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin talk about aging in Hollywood, women’s sexuality and the importance of female friendship. Theresa Rebeck: In an excerpt from her essay for the...

The Ask for Jane Filmmakers on Telling a Little-Known Story from Women’s History

When NYWIFT member Cait Johnston first heard about the Jane Collective — a real-life group of women who helped others get abortions before Roe v. Wade — at a NYWIFT screening, she knew it was a story she had to tell. She teamed up with fellow member Rachel Carey, a screenwriter and director she know through a NYC theater company called The Shelter, to create Ask for Jane, a narrative feature film that they are currently crowdfunding for on Seed&Spark.

Women in Film & Television History: Meet Tressie Souders, Director, Producer, Screenwriter

The story of Tressie Souders, or perhaps more accurately, the lack of details about Tressies Souders’ life and work exemplifies the need to research and rescue early film-works of women and women of color.

Terry’s Picks: Diana Means, Stacy Smith, Women Editors

Diana Means: When she’s not working her day job in production and creative services at Warner Bros., Diana Means has been running the L.A. Women’s International Film Festival for the past 13 years. Stacy Smith: Social scientist Stacy Smith gives a Ted Talk on how the media underrepresents and portrays women – and the potentially...

Women in Film & Television History: Meet Marion E. Wong, Film Company President, Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Actor, Costume Designer

During the silent film era, Marion E. Wong started the Mandarin Film Company, the first Chinese-American film company. The company’s feature film The Curse of the Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with West (1916) is credited as being the first American film made with an all-Chinese cast and company as well as one of the first films directed by a woman.

“Knowledge is Something Nobody Can Take Away from You:” Yvonne Ng Discusses her Student Academy Award Win

NYWIFT scholarship recipient Yvonne Ng, a Singaporean immigrant who came to the U.S. to study photography, discusses inspiring women, her powerful short film Cloud Kumo, and her Student Academy Award win.

Women in Film & Television History: Meet Ethel Payne, Journalist & First Female African-American National Network News Commentator

Ethel Payne was known in as “the first lady of the black press” and was described by journalist Gwen Ifil as “the most influential journalist and activist most people have never heard of.”

Terry’s Picks: Influential Women, Jill Soloway, Loreen Arbus

Influential Women: Our friends at B&H, with support from Canon and Sony, are running a wonderful Women of Influence series, an inspirational look at the talent, drive and perseverance that forged some remarkable photographic and filmmaking careers. Jill Soloway: In her keynote address at SXSW, Jill Soloway addressed challenges – and solutions – to hiring...

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