Creative Block: A Production Diary of Filming in Paris (Part 2)
In part 2 of her Paris production diary, NYWIFT member Nicola Rose encounters police, dogs and national landmarks, and shares her words of wisdom...some of which are French!
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Goodbye Alicia, Independent Women, Preserving the Legacy
Goodbye, Alicia: This weekend we bid farewell to The Good Wife, a classic made-in-New-York show with a marvelously complex female-driven storyline, starring our own 2009 NYWIFT Muse Honoree Julianna Margulies as power attorney Alicia Florrick. It will be missed. Independent Women: A new study from Martha Lauzen at the Center for the Study of Women...
READ MOREFor Indie Projects: An Actor’s Table Read Offers Best Results
On an indie film set there is little to no time to rehearse and most of the times the story is shot out of sequence, so it makes sense to have an actor table read before you start shooting.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Indie Women, Revolution, Jill Soloway
Good news: Four of the top five highest grossing indie films of 2015 feature women leads. Even better? Three of them are over the age of 50. Revolution: 2013 NYWIFT Muse Honoree Robin Wright says “we need a female Che Guevara” to fight Hollywood sexism. “We need a revolution.” Important Read: The Moveable Fest printed...
READ MORENYWIFT Members at Sundance Film Festival
From the documentary The Hunting Ground. Members of New York Women in Film and Television have films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, which runs from January 22 to February 1 in Park City, Utah. Here’s a sneak peek: ADVANTAGEOUS Section: U.S. Dramatic Competition Director: Jennifer Phang Screenwriters: Jacqueline Kim, Jennifer Phang Production Designers: Dara Wishingrad (NYWIFT Member), Aiyana...
READ MORENYWIFT Member Suzanne Hayes Kelly on Producing ‘Isn’t it Delicious’
Still from Isn’t it Delicious with Alice Ripley (L) and Suzanne Hayes Kelly ®. Photo courtesy of Aquapio Films. Last week, New York Women in Film and Television members were invited to see Isn’t It Delicious, an independent feature film produced by NYWIFT member Suzanne Hayes Kelly, at the Quad Cinema in New York City....
READ MOREAdvice from an Indie Producer: The Page Turn
After you’ve hired your crew, it’s now time to schedule a meeting with your key department heads to go scene by scene through the script, which is called a “page turn.” A page turn ensures all the department heads are in alignment with the producer/director’s vision. This meeting saves time and money because it reduces...
READ MOREDispatch From the West Coast: How Indie Films Are Conquering LA
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles Film Festival audience at AT&T Center in Downtown LA. The face of Los Angeles independent filmmaking is changing, and it has been for a while. More and more festivals showing short and experimental films are popping up in the capital of the Hollywood machine. Young and new filmmakers are not scared of...
READ MOREWeekly Roundup: NYWIFT Muse Awards, Golden Globe Noms & THR Power 100 List
(L-R) Loreen Arbus, Wanda Sykes, Abigail Disney, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary Bailey, Dawn Ostroff, Judy Gold, Alexis Alexanian, and Terry Lawler at NYWIFT’s 2014 Muse Awards. NYWIFT’s 2014 Muse Awards honored Maggie Gyllenhaal, Wanda Sykes, Dawn Ostroff, Mary Bailey, and Abigail Disney. Ava DuVernay makes history, and other Golden Globe news! Meet the women on this year’s The Hollywood Reporter’s Power 100 List. Melissa Joan...
READ MORESign Up for NYWIFT’s October Events: HIFF, Pitch Fest, VintAge & More
Reaching the “Right” People in Your Creative Career with Joanne Zippel Thursday, October 9, 6:30 pm It can be hard to find and connect with the “right” people to move your career forward. At this hands-on seminar, career coach Joanne Zippel will share powerful techniques that will connect you to the people who are right...
READ MOREAdvice from an Indie Producer: Production Design & Wardrobe
The Art and Wardrobe departments help build the characters through decoration and dress. What people wear and where they live and work can give you insight into the characters and their motivations. That’s why it’s important to hire crewmembers that are clear about your vision and have the ability to execute it for the budget...
READ MOREDrive Your Own Career: Producers of ‘The Kids Menu’ Talk Collaboration
Photo credit: Shane Maritch. A common frustration for many actors is the constant grind of looking for work, auditioning, and then waiting for the phone to ring (or the email to appear). So, ten women and myself decided to take our careers into our own hands and independently produce projects together. Our first collaboration is...
READ MORESocial Media for Film & TV: Engagement Is the Magic Word
If your social media accounts have largely been for personal use, the words “engagement” and “metrics” likely haven’t peppered your vernacular. But they are truly the magic words in trying to define the success of your social media strategy. More followers mean more buzz when you’re promoting your project — and being able to quantify...
READ MORESocial Media for Film & TV: Follow, Like, Share, Repeat
Image by Paola Peralta, via Wikimedia Commons. By now you should know how to set up your social media accounts and who your target audience is. But once you’ve created that Facebook page or Tumblr blog, your presence needs to be more than just your film’s teaser or a selection of production stills. A good...
READ MOREAdvice from an Indie Producer: What You Need for Filming
The CameraThere are many things you need to actually make a movie. The most important one is the camera. Without one there’s no movie. Here are some key questions you need to ask yourself when choosing a camera: What type of look are you trying to achieve? Each camera’s output has a different look and...
READ MOREAdvice from an Indie Producer: Locations
Locations are an important part of your prep as a filmmaker. The places you choose can either enhance or potentially harm the production value of your project. The process to find locations can be daunting especially on a full-length feature film, so it’s imperative that you have a plan. BreakdownsBreaking down the script is the...
READ MORENYWIFT Fund for Women Filmmakers Extends Deadline
It Felt Like Love, winner of the Nancy Malone Marketing and Promotion Grant and a 2013 Sundance Film Festival Official Selection. New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) provides grants to women filmmakers to complete and promote their film projects. This year, those grants include a new addition: the Ravenal Foundation Grant, supporting a woman second-time feature film...
READ MOREAdvice from an Indie Producer: Hiring the Crew
Preparation for an indie project is crucial for finishing on time and under budget. The budget is finite (in most cases) because you cannot go to the studio and ask for more money. You have to get it right the first time. In Robert Rodriquez’s Rebel Without a Crew, he credits detailed preparation as to how he shot...
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