NYWIFT Blog

Terry’s Picks: October 22

Feeling Conflicted: because it’s exciting to see Barbara Kopple’s Harlan County, USA chosen to be on the list of most influential documentaries but more female directed films would have been nice to see be included. Just Got Lost: on the fabulous interactive website, Spotlight on Broadway, and the 40 videos portraits created by NYWIFT member...

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Webisodes Not To Miss: Ghost Ghirls on Yahoo!

Ghost Ghirls Trailer Television programming continues its march online, and with Halloween just around the corner, it’s a great time to check out Yahoo Screen Originals‘ new series, Ghost Ghirls, a comedic web series featuring Angelica and Heidi, two ghost-busting women solving paranormal cases. Created by and starring Amanda Lund and Maria Blasucci, each episode features not only the bumbling ghost...

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WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Photo Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Variety Will this quiet the masses (for a bit) over SNL’s hiring practices? Diablo Cody lists 7 things about being a Hollywood screenwriter. I love #6. Ready to distribute your film? Consider these 3 questions. “Be smart & don’t be annoying” advises TV director Jamie Babbit. The ONE person (kinda) raining on...

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Tweet of the Week

Get to know ten of the world’s most powerful women http://t.co/FUQBZTbpz7 via @guardian — UN Women (@UN_Women) October 14, 2013 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

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Notes from a Screenreader

photo via Go Into the Story A vast majority of spec scripts submitted to competitions open with mundane images. It seems like a logical choice. Establishing normal life is an explicit instruction in many structure templates. Filmmakers often open with shots of unremarkable details. That is misleading to writers. It’s one thing to watch eggs frying...

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Terry’s Picks: October 15

still from Desert Runners Congratulations To: NYWIFT Member Yael Melamede. She is the producer of Desert Runner and it just won  Audience Award for Documentary at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Excited For: NYWIFT Member Melissa Silverstein, founder of Women and Hollywood. She just was honored with a Susan B. Anthony Award from NOW NY. Another Great...

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NYWIFT Event Spotlight: An Inside Look at Film Festival Programming

An Inside Look At Film Festival Programming Panel photo via Joanne Belbey On September 25, NYWIFT brought together an amazing panel of programmers who curate leading festivals in the United States – Marian Masone from the New York Film Festival (NYFF), Thom Powers from The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Ashley Havey from Tribeca Film...

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WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Photo via OWEN HOFFMANN/PATRICKMCMULLAN.COM. Homeland’s Nazanin Boniadi is fierce but “goofier” than her character. Important Q&A with Casting Director/Acting Coach Bonnie Gillespie. Lee Jessup knows scripts and she shares her screenwriting gems. Congratulations to both Jane Fonda & Alice Munro! Great news for TV staffers from the DGA. — KELLY GLOVER

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Tweet of the Week

‘How Women Can Save the World by Telling Epic Stories in the Movies’ (via @HuffingtonPost) http://t.co/kMFZanmSSu — Women in Film & TV (@WFTV_UK) October 7, 2013 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js -@annelabarba

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Notes From A Screenreader

photo via Go Into the Story Billy Wilder believed that “There are only two types of movies, one for the audience with a simple story, nicely decorated and ornate…or a complicated story that is simply put on film.  If you put too many ornaments in there, people won’t be able to follow it.”  Clarity is the quality in...

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Terry’s Picks: October 8

Congratulations To: NYWIFT member Laurens Grant on winning an Emmy for Outstanding Research for Jesse Owens, This American Experience. Disappointed To Read: in the Director’s Guild’s study on prime-time episodic directors that women are still directing only 14% of TV shows. Please Join Me: if you are in the Hamptons this weekend at the NYWIFT Women...

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Female Presence at the Urbanworld Film Festival

//player.vimeo.com/video/71992175 DuVernay | SAY YES from @AFFRM on Vimeo. September 18th through the 22nd, the 17th annual Urbanworld Film Festival presented some of the most interesting feature films, shorts, documentaries, readings, and panels.  Although many of the films shown were by male directors, there was a large female presence, both in front of and behind...

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NYWIFT PROGRAMS: OCTOBER

Don’t forget to RSVP for NYWIFT’s October Programs: Monday, October 7, 2013 @ 6:30pm (Members Only) Master Class: Best Production Practices Veteran producer Jane Applegate shares production strategies proven to reduce stress and save both time and money. Tuesday, October 8, 2013 @ 12:30pm (Members Only) Lunchtime Skills Building Workshop: The Key to Being a...

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WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Apply! Apply! Apply! (Disney/ABC Directing Program) ((Sigh)) Another blow to the NYC filmmaking industry. Twilight Director Catherine Hardwicke on her struggle to find more work. Monkey wrench. Perhaps “Hillary 2016” will be better to watch? A Garfunkel & Oates (not the men) comedy has landed IFC. Congratulations to CNN’s Geraldine Moriba on her new post. Listen to...

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Tweet of the Week

SUCH A JOY. You define inspiration lady @Piper @OITNB @nlyonne @amoore9 @catecurtin @UzoAduba @tanyaTTwright @WPA_NYC — alysia reiner (@alysiareiner) October 2, 2013 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js NYWIFT member Alysia Reiner plays Assistant Warden Fig on my new favorite show Orange Is The New Black. Here’s a veritable follow Thursday for us fans, plus this extra: Amazing advice from...

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Notes From A Screenreader

photo via Go Into the Story You need a logline for your screenplay. It is your script’s calling card. You can’t submit to a competition, pitch or write a query without one. A logline reduces an entire screenplay to a single sentence that expresses its premise. It should include a sketch of the protag, what...

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Terry’s Picks: October 1

Still Image from The Dog Congratulations To: NYWIFT Member Joanna Plafsky, Executive Producer of My Reincarnation, up for a News and Documentary Emmy this week. Crossing fingers for her tonight. Hope To See You At: the NYFF51 LIVE: Spotlight on Documentary Filmmakers panel at the New York Film Festival on October 7 at 7:45 – 8:45...

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ExperTEAs: Filmmaker Lucy Walker

photo of Lucy Walker via lucywalkerfilm.com NYWIFT is a launching a new series along the lines of our popular Power Player Breakfast, but with a smaller more intimate setting and not as early in the morning. The series, ExperTEAs launches with the documentary powerhouse and award winning filmmaker Lucy Walker. Walker’s documentaries have won over...

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