Meet the New NYWIFT Member: China L. Colston
Welcome to NYWIFT, China L. Colston! China is a SAG-AFTRA actress and award-winning filmmaker. As an actress, she has embodied emotional women, from the guilt-ridden mother in Strings Attached to the dealer in Sweet Thang. China’s unwavering dedication as the star, writer, director, and producer of Dark Seed led the film to acclaim from the Validate Yourself Film Festival, African American Arts Alliance of Chicago, and the Dramatist’s Guild Success In The Arts Award aka SITA. She is the recipient of a 2021 NYFA grant for her script To Cook or Not to Cook, which follows a chef in Harlem repairing his relationship with his family through food. She is the recipient of a 2021 NYFA grant for her script To Cook or Not to Cook, which follows a chef in Harlem repairing his relationship with his family through food. China brings us through her incredible journey as a creator here!
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Derya Celikkol
Welcome to NYWIFT, Derya Celikkol! A proud graduate of the Experimental Theatre Wing at Tisch Schools of the Arts, Derya Celikkol is a Turkish filmmaker who lives in New York City and has contributed her extraordinary artistry to numerous projects. In addition to acting and production designing, Celikkol has directed and produced films, some of which have been showcased and won awards at film festivals worldwide.
READ MOREHighlights from the 2022 AMC Networks Summit
The AMC Networks Summit held at 74Wythe in Brooklyn, NY on September 28, 2022 brought together talent and network executives for moderated discussions centered around the company’s content and legacy from the past, present, and future — and to dissect the new and epic worlds coming to AMCN’s platforms, and introduce the next seminal characters that will capture the hearts and minds of viewers.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Isi Laborde
We are thrilled to welcome new NYWIFT member Isi Laborde! Isi is a Brooklyn-based actor (AEA, SAG/AFTRA). Her film roles include Return to Montauk, directed by Academy Award-winner Volker Schlöndorff, and Jay-Z’s music video “Smile,” directed by Grammy-winner Miles Jay. She has had TV appearances in Facebook TV's Strangers and Paramount's Younger. Theater credits include The Bacchae at La Mama Experimental Theatre Club and Skip to My Lou at Theater for the New City. Isi spoke to us about her craft, how she kept up her creativity during COVID, and her dream role!
READ MORENYWIFT Black History Month Spotlight: Brianna Seagraves
Happy Black History Month! At NYWIFT we are celebrating the Black creators and artists in our membership, while honoring Black culture & cinema throughout history. Today’s spotlight is on our member Brianna Seagraves, an actress, writer, and award-winning producer. Brianna shares her acting inspirations and her directorial debut at the Billie Holiday Theater.
READ MORECreativity and Angst through the Ages
In early August, NYWIFT made Kris Rey’s new feature I Used to Go Here available for streaming and presented a conversation with the writer/director and lead actress Gillian Jacobs. I Used to Go Here is the story of a young woman in her mid-thirties, Kate Conklin, whose first novel has been released and the consequences of a lack-luster response to the book.
READ MOREOlympia Premieres Online July 9th
The feature length documentary, Olympia, celebrating the life and career of Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, will have a national LIVE streaming premiere in North America on July 9th at 8pm ET, followed by a Q&A, with a special premiere screening in Greece and Europe at 1pm ET on July 10th and an exclusive ‘virtual cinema’ release beginning Friday, July 10th.
READ MORE#SummerHours Summer Reading: Books for Actors (That Have Nothing to Do with Acting)
Mellini Kantayya shares the books about mindfulness, presence and intention that can inform the acting and audition process.
READ MOREActing Up: Interview With Casting Director Brette Goldstein
Casting director Brette Goldstein has cast over 40 independent films—many of which have won awards and been official selections at major film fests, including Sundance, Tribeca and Cannes—as well as numerous commercials and plays and several TV and digital projects. Goldstein was the resident casting director at the Folger Elizabethan Theatre in Washington, DC, for 10 seasons, and...
READ MOREWeekly Roundup: NYWIFT Exec Director on Lack of Women in Hollywood
//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/167353543?et=WxkncLmSTPJFGW2FE2fifg&similar=off&sig=BxRWIPRE0OUtBt4qRWCy15LpqzDfGJl7SxdKSG9pagE= Terry Lawler, Executive Director of New York Women in Film & Television. BBC New asks, Where are the women in Hollywood? NYWIFT Executive Director Terry Lawler answers. Tribeca Film Festival official entry deadline is coming up soon! The Broad City season finale shows why Comedy Central renewed it. (Video) Five questions with CNN International anchor Robyn Curnow. What are...
READ MOREWeekly Roundup: Critics, Criticism & Where Are All the Women?
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READ MOREActing Up: Tips for Creating Your Website
As a producer, one of the things I look for online when I’m hiring actors is an up-to-date, easy-to-navigate website. I want to see their work and what they’re contributing to the business. It is important to have an online presence, even if it’s just a single web page with your headshot and contact info Here...
READ MOREActing Up: Soul Inspiration
This past month I had the opportunity to travel to Machu Picchu. Wow! Did that trip turn my vibration, my reality, my thoughts on their head. As time slows down for a bit this summer, I encourage you to inspire your soul. Do something extraordinarily out of the ordinary that will make this summer one to remember....
READ MOREActing Up: Revamp Your Online Bio
Every six months or so, I always find myself looking over my website, Actors Access account and IMDB page to see if everything is up to date and current. This time around, as I read my bio, I could feel a heaviness. I just didn’t connect with what I was reading. So, I decided on...
READ MOREWeekly Roundup: Tonys Recap & Shonda’s Life Advice
//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/450314366?et=wfBGImImRLxDbnZrqwyOig&ContextMore=on&sig=A1BBm0oFQUXIgw1UOsqOl4uTY2WGbnrx17-0NOuLdyM= Audra McDonald makes Tony history. Rosie O’Donnell gets the “real” thing. Sophie Okonedo, Lena Hall and Jessie Mueller also win big. Women’s Media Center seeks applicants for its Progressive Women’s Voices program. Shonda Rhimes tells grads about dreams, hashtags and fulfillment. Consider becoming more politely aggressive in your acting career. Comedy Central increases their woman-centered programming. Assistant costume designers discuss their fortunate roles in the industry....
READ MOREActing Up: Create the Space
“Acting is the ability to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” — Sanford Meisner Recently, I wrapped Melissa Rodwell’s upcoming film, and my “preparation” was the most abstract that I’ve ever worked with. I realized my job as an actor is to create the space for the work to show up. How did I do this? I took all...
READ MOREActing Up: The Improv Audition
Lately, I’ve noticed that a lot of my auditions have been improv/ad-lib. Although I still receive a character breakdown, research the players of the project (via IMDB, Google), and do my best to get a description for any new shows, the question remains, What am I going to do in the room? I love sides,...
READ MOREActing 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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