NYWIFT Blog

Road to Muse: Honoree Sonia Manzano

As Maria on Sesame Street, Sonia Manzano has been a part of millions of children’s and parents’ lives. Manzano joined the show in 1971, and eventually began writing scripts for the series—receiving 15 Emmys as part of the show’s writing staff. She has also performed on the New York stage in The Vagina Monologues and...

Road to Muse: Honoree Ellen Barkin

Ellen Barkin in Another Happy Day (2011), which she also produced.  Ellen Barkin has a diverse body of work spanning theater, film, and television. The Bronx native has appeared in over 50 films, including Ocean’s 13, Sea of Love, The Big Easy, and Diner, which served as her film debut. She received a Tony award in 2011 for her performance in The Normal Heart,...

Weekly Film & TV News Roundup

Slut: The Play. Sasithon Photography. Teen actors from Slut: The Play discuss a serious issue among the selfie generation. Naomie Harris on the struggles of portraying Winnie Mandela. (video) Helpful phone apps for actors. Do (non)friends ask to meet for coffee? Charge them for it. Q&A with Teresa Lee, creator of NYC comedy web series #YouUp. Halle Berry helps Hannibal gain strength at the...

Notes from a Screenreader: Meaningful Images

Photo via Go Into the Story. A script is a story that will be told with images. It feels like that goes without saying, but spec scripts are so often crushed under the weight of their own dialogue that it bears repeating. Meaningful images are revealing, memorable, interesting to read, and space saving. To rewrite for...

New Member Spotlight: Imoya Monroque

The NYWIFT fall membership drive is almost over. So, it’s a perfect time to check in with new member Imoya Monroque and find out why she joined NYWIFT. Imoya, would you tell us a bit about your acting career? I am a member of SAG/AFTRA and have appeared in several national commercials and TV shows and pilots, such...

‘Monster-Fighting Feminists’

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). Over at RogerEbert.com, Bob Calhoun discusses the liberated women of 1950s sci-fi cinema — classics like Them! (1954) and The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) — and why the woman scientist archetype waned in later decades: In her October 8, 2013 RogerEbert.com piece, “Visual Pleasure and Voodoo Demographics: a Reflection on...

Weekly Film & TV News Roundup

Photo by Joe Pugliese Finally, a truly diverse actress roundtable. New York Film Academy’s article on gender inequality in film. Wow. HBO’s getting a show created by Diablo Cody and someone named Oprah. Winona is back. And starring in an action flick. Meet director Dennie Gordon, made in the USA—in demand in China! Indie producer Alison Owen controls the only...

NYWIFT December Programs: Pitch Fest, Muse Awards + More

December programs are filling up fast so make sure to RSVP soon. Bullets, Bios, Resumes, and Interviews Monday, Dec 2, 6:30 pm, NYWIFT Offices (6 East 39th St) Learn to write, pitch, and interview for high impact. TV Pitch Fest Wednesday, Dec 4, 6 pm, NYWIFT Offices (6 East 39th St) An amazing opportunity! NYWIFT members...

L-R: Alessandra Stanley, Delia Ephron, Fran Drescher, Samantha Bee, and Whitney Cummings at NYWIFT’s Women in…Comedy panel. Photo via CINEMATIQ magazine.  Women in…Comedy: Changing Times A few weeks ago, NYWIFT brought together Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), Whitney Cummings (co-creator, 2 Broke Girls), Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced), and Delia Ephron (writer, You’ve Got Mail) to discuss the changing landscape for...

L-R: Alessandra Stanley, Delia Ephron, Fran Drescher, Samantha Bee, and Whitney Cummings at NYWIFT’s Women in…Comedy panel. Photo via CINEMATIQ magazine.  Women in…Comedy: Changing Times A few weeks ago, NYWIFT brought together Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), Whitney Cummings (co-creator, 2 Broke Girls), Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced), and Delia Ephron (writer, You’ve Got Mail) to discuss the changing landscape for...

L-R: Alessandra Stanley, Delia Ephron, Fran Drescher, Samantha Bee, and Whitney Cummings at NYWIFT’s Women in…Comedy panel. Photo via CINEMATIQ magazine.  Women in…Comedy: Changing Times A few weeks ago, NYWIFT brought together Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), Whitney Cummings (co-creator, 2 Broke Girls), Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced), and Delia Ephron (writer, You’ve Got Mail) to discuss the changing landscape for...

L-R: Alessandra Stanley, Delia Ephron, Fran Drescher, Samantha Bee, and Whitney Cummings at NYWIFT’s Women in…Comedy panel. Photo via CINEMATIQ magazine.  Women in…Comedy: Changing Times A few weeks ago, NYWIFT brought together Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), Whitney Cummings (co-creator, 2 Broke Girls), Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced), and Delia Ephron (writer, You’ve Got Mail) to discuss the changing landscape for...

Wendy Williams & Andy Cohen to Co-Host 2013 Muse Awards

Wendy visits Andy at the Bravo clubhouse during season 6 of What Happens Live! (photo via Bravo). What’s better than one groundbreaking television host emceeing our 2013 Muse Awards? Two of ‘em: friends Wendy Williams and Andy Cohen have just confirmed for this year’s event. We feel like the luckiest folks in the world! Order your ticket for the 2013 Muse Awards on December 12.

Road to Muse 2013: Flashback to 1983

Meryl Streep rocks her embroidered NYWIFT jacket as a Muse Award nominee in 1983. Who else thinks we should bring back the NYWIFT jacket?! Fun fact: The early Muse Awards in the1980s often only had one honoree, sometimes two. It wasn’t until 1989 that there were three Muse honorees, and the number has grown ever...

Road to Muse 2013: Meet Awards Show Organizer Susan Steiger

Susan Steiger (third from the right), the rest of the NYWIFT board, and Muse honorees take the stage at the 2012 Muse Awards. At the 2001 Muse Awards, Dede Allen — the first editor to get an exclusive credit on a film — received a standing ovation from a packed house. It’s those moments that make Susan...

Weekly Film & TV News Roundup

Photo by Google photos Need to finance your project? Check out these grant writing secrets. Maya’s coming back! Maya’s coming back! Well played, Lorne. WIE Network founder Dee Poku on taking risks, entrepreneurship & the state of women. This Lena Dunham & Mindy Kaling interview is FUNNY and very important. “Older guys” at ABC couldn’t steal Shonda Rhimes’ creative thunder. Soledad...

NYWIFT Fall Membership Drive

NYWIFT’s most important asset is its members, and this year, we’re calling on ALL OF YOU. Help build our amazing community of over 2000 successful women in the film and television industry by participating in our Fall Membership Drive. New members will receive two great discounts (50% off initiation fee, and over 50% off Muse...

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...