NYWIFT Blog

Weekly Film & TV News Roundup

1980s cartoon Jem (Hasbro). A Jem and the Holograms is being made—by men. #JemTheMovie Amazon Studios wants your comedy or children’s series. The PGA is stepping up to promote gender equality behind the scenes. Journalist Maria Bartiromo has a new show and three rules for success. OWN headquarters leaves the Windy City for the bright lights of LA. FreemantleMedia...

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Sign Up for NYWIFT’s April Events

Photo courtesy of NASA.   New York Women in Film & Television’s events for April 2014: Power Player Breakfast: Jana Bennett, President, A+E Networks’ FYI & LMN Thursday, April 3, 8:30 am  Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, 488 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor A+E Networks executive Jana Bennett, who manages two of the company’s fastest growing...

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Notes from a Screenreader: The Wonkavator

Photo via Go Into the Story. Willy Wonka: No, it’s a Wonkavator. An elevator can only go up and down, but the Wonkavator can go sideways, and slantways, and longways, and backways… A screenplay should not be a Wonkavator, even if it isn’t linear. What you want in a spec script is a ride straight...

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Terry’s Picks: March 25, 2014

Gloria Steinem at the Ms. Foundation for Women’s 23rd annual Gloria Awards on May 19, 2011. Photo via WikiMedia. Wishing a: happy birthday to Gloria Steinem! The feminist writer, activist, Women’s Media Center co-founder and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient turns 80 today. Checking out: some wonderful films this week! Beth B.’s provocative Exposed (co-produced by NYWIFT member Sandra...

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NYWIFT Recap. Laughing Matters: Diverse Voices From the World of Comedy

Diversity in comedy has been all the buzz as of late, and on February 20, 2014, New York Women in Film and Television joined the conversation with Laughing Matters: Diverse Voices From the World of Comedy, a panel of seven female comedians. With much laughter and a riveting discussion, Laughing Matters unfolded into a memorable...

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Flix Not to Miss: ‘Nowhere Boy’

Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, Nowhere Boy follows The Beatles’ John Lennon (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson) as a teenager finding his way, learning to play guitar, and meeting future bandmates Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Nowhere Boy explores the little-known family dynamic that played out in Lennon’s life before he toured with The Beatles. After being raised by his Aunt...

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Weekly Film & TV News Roundup

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NYWIFT 2014 Board Elections

Image via Wikimedia. Have you voted yet? NYWIFT Board elections run through April 8, 2014. This is the most important decision each year for a New York Women in Film and Television member. NYWIFT Board Members play a very important role in shaping the organization. They head committees such as Special Events, Membership, Communications, Development...

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Notes From a Screenreader: ’20 Feet From Stardom’

Photo via Go Into the Story. If you have not seen 20 Feet from Stardom, put it at the top of your to-do list. It won an Oscar, and it is the non plus ultra of setting your inner star loose on the world. A voice is a voice, whether it is raised in song or committed...

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Terry’s Picks: March 18, 2014

Historical poster courtesy of Wikimedia.   Kicking off: Women’s History Month in multiple ways with partner organizations and initiatives! This month, be sure to check out SWAN Day, NoMore.Org (chaired by Joyful Heart Foundation founder and former NYWIFT Muse honoree Mariska Hargitay) and other great projects! Eagerly waiting: tonight’s keynote by Amy Goodman at the Rated SR Socially Relevant...

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NYWIFT Success Story: ‘In Montauk’ and the Value of PR

Lukas Hassel and Nina Kaczorowski in a scene from In Montauk, written and directed by NYWIFT member Kim Cummings. Photo by Aja Nisenson. Independent filmmaking on a micro-budget is a lonely business. People come and go throughout the process. As the filmmaker, you’re the only constant day in and day out. It’s not that you...

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New Opportunities From NYTVF, Disney, Tribeca, IFP

We’re highlighting some of the latest, most innovative competitions and programs for film, TV, digital, and writing: For the second year in a row, the Tribeca Film Festival has launched the #6SECFILMS Competition. Choose from one of the categories — #GENRE, #DRAMA, #COMEDY, #ANIMATION — and enter as many Vines as you want by March 27, 2014. Just...

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Weekly Film & TV News Roundup

//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/477632659?et=ypH3AGd2mk6QsjKiitLTPQ&sig=qYCv0zRZXUqeFAov_qAHtLjzjKyIqiTlbiAP8rKqCFo= Lena Dunham tells a SXSW crowd that “things need to change and I’m trying.” Piers Morgan met his match and her name is Chelsea Handler. (Video) Anita Hill discusses Anita, the Freida Lee Mock–directed doc about her life. Producer Paula Wagner is bringing Pretty Woman to broadway. CBS This Morning had wonderful coverage of NatGeo’s...

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Notes from a Screenreader: Old News

Photo via Go Into the Story. How long ago did you write your script? Does it show? It is impossible to stay convincingly up to the minute with technology and pop culture in a script, but it is possible to blow the dust off by doing a careful read for obsolescence. There’s an app for that....

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Terry’s Picks: March 11, 2014

(A proud declaration via the ladies of P.Ink) AGING IS: a powerful lens for the Beautiful Minds Project’s innovative storytelling. NYWIFT member Lee Hunkins is honored as one of their 2014 Beautiful Minds for her lifelong commitment to narrative through play and television writing. And along that note… …FINDING THE BEAUTY IN: our bodies is the theme of today. The...

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Flix Not to Miss: ‘Short Term 12’

Short Term 12 is a heartbreaking look into the foster care system told through the eyes of Grace, played by the fantastic Brie Larson, who earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for the role. Grace is a former foster child, who is now a dedicated young worker supervising at-risk teens in a group foster home....

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Truth Be Told: Women In Film at Sundance 2014

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Acting Up: Lights, Camera, Audition!

In the midst of pilot season, I realized that most of my auditions sent out to LA are being put on tape. I have always found the “audition on tape” a bit elusive — what exactly is it? That’s why I leave it to the professionals and instead focus on knocking auditions out of the park. Whether...

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