cinematographer Archives - New York Women in Film & TelevisionNew York Women in Film & Television

NYWIFT @ Sundance: In Conversation with Laela Kilbourn

In a time when women’s reproductive rights are at the forefront of the political and cultural conversation, a group of teenage girls gather to assert their power, prepare for their futures, and determine the best way forward together. Following the smash hit success of their documentary Boys State at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss returned to Park City in 2024 with the companion piece Girls State. NYWIFT Member Laela Kilbourn was one of seven cinematographers on Girls State, assigned to follow one of the protagonist’s throughout her week-long journey. She spoke to us about her experience working on the documentary.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Hannah Xie

Let’s say hello to new NYWIFT Member Hannah Xie! After spending her earlier years in China, Hannah now lives in New York City where she dedicates much of her time to cinematography and photography. Her talent for blending and accentuating colors and lighting on film is reflected in projects such as Brief Encounter, Sleepwalker, Epic, and The End of the Affair. To learn more about Hannah’s creative process, check out our interview as we discuss her collaboration style with directors, her approach to cinematography, and the influential role that her childhood viewing experiences contributed towards her future career.

NYWIFT @ Tribeca: In Conversation with Cinematographer Karen Rodriguez

NYWIFT member Karen Rodriguez is naturally drawn to projects that align with her values, which made her latest cinematography outing, Deciding Vote, a perfect fit! The film just premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Festival in the Documentary Shorts category, and follows a landmark moment in New York state politics 50 years ago, when assemblyman George Michaels cast a single vote on New York’s abortion bill that changed the course of American history but destroyed his political career in the process. Rodriguez spoke to us about her work on Deciding Vote and what types of projects inspire her creativity.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Edna Luise Biesold

Welcome to NYWIFT, new member Edna Luise Biesold! Edna is a German-born and New York-based filmmaker who honed her craft at NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a special focus on cinematography. She received the Franz Wieser Grant from ARRI as DP for the fantasy short film The Molok. She co-wrote and co-directed The Color of Time, and is presently developing 3 Monkeys, a screenplay which earned her a Creative Career Design Fellowship from NYU's Production Lab in 2022. Most recently, Sunscreen, her first film in ASL, has won her a Best Narrative Short award at 1904 Deaf Film Festival and the NYWIFT Award for Excellence in Directing at the 2022 SOHO International Film Festival. Edna spoke to us about her favorite collaborators, the challenges of lighting 16-foot tall puppets, and exploring the subtleties of communication throughout her work.

What’s in Your Toolkit: Jendra Jarnagin

DP Jendra Jarnagin shares her favorite camera and script notation apps, creative advice, and why networking is the key to surviving in the industry.

Below the Line: A Cut Above – Jessie Maple

Jessie Maple is the first black woman to join the union of International Photographers of Motion Picture & Television (IATSE) in New York. Her book, How to Become a Union Camerawoman , is an instructional guide illustrating the obstacles that she endured to get into the union. It details the court case she initiated to fight discrimination after she became a member.

Terry’s Picks: Ravenal Grant, Wonder Women, Nancy Schreiber

Ravenal Grant: NYWIFT is seeking additional submissions for the Ravenal Foundation Feature Film Grant, which supports a woman second-time feature film director who is over 40 years of age in the production of a dramatic feature film. Learn more here, and submit your project to us by November 1st. Wonder Women: Director Angela Robinson discusses...

Terry’s Picks: Writers Lab, Kimberly Steward, Watch List

Writers Lab: Submissions for The Writers Lab 2017 open tomorrow. We’re thrilled to have Meryl Streep back providing funding for the project for the third year in a row! Kimberly Steward: Congratulations to Kimberly Steward, who is only the second black woman producer – after Oprah Winfrey – to have her film nominated for an...

Terry’s Picks: Cameraperson Trailer, VR Women, Pitch Perfect

Cameraperson Trailer: Check out the gorgeous, haunting trailer for the documentary Cameraperson, directed by Kirsten Johnson. Kirsten joined us for a NYWIFT ExperTEAS last year to discuss her work as a DP. VR Women: Marie Claire has a great feature on the burgeoning virtual reality industry and the career opportunities it offers women. Pitch Perfect:...

Terry’s Picks: Annetta Marion, Poor Taste, CXX Speaks

Annetta Marion: NYWIFT Board member Annetta Marion, an award-winning director and Primetime Emmy-nominated producer, shared her thoughts on the industry and her career on a recent Film Talk Podcast. Poor taste: 20th Century Fox came under fire for their insensitive adverting for X-Men: Apocalypse, which featured Jennifer Lawrence’s character being strangled on giant billboards. Was...

WEEKLY ROUNDUP: BIG DEALS & GENDER GAPS

Photo courtesy of katiecouric.com Katie Couric renews with Yahoo and Jennifer Lawrence IS the $20 million dollar woman. Katie also interviews Abbi Jacobson & Ilana Glazer of Broad City. (VIDEO) Are digital acting classes an option for you? Dustin Hoffman sure hopes so! This report gives a comprehensive look at the gender gap in media. Writers,...

Recap: NYWIFT at 2014 Sundance Film Festival

NYWIFT member Heidi Philipsen in The Better Angels, starring Diane Kruger, Brit Marling, and Wes Bentley (Photo courtesy of Hickory Pictures, LLC) What a whirlwind! Though temps in New York matched the biting Park City cold, nothing could beat the heat at the festival. This year, New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) caught up...

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