Welcome to NYWIFT Talks, a weekly series to bring updated news and vital information about the impact of COVID-19 and current events on the media and entertainment industry. Industry professionals will be in conversation discussing what you need to know about theatrical releases, digital advances, virtual tools, festival opportunities, production updates and more.
NYWIFT Talks are free for all to attend.
On this week’s NYWIFT Talks, we speak about the lack of Latino representation in the industry. What is lacking, what is misrepresentation, and what work still needs to be done in order for the voices of the Latin community to be appropriately amplified.
Speakers will include Elaine Del Valle (director/writer, CSA casting director) and Bianca Marroquín (actress).
Moderated by NYWIFT Board Member, Emelyn Stuart.
Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Time: 4PM ET
Cost: Free
Panelists
Elaine Del Valle is a Brownsville, Brooklyn-bred Puerto Rican multi-hyphenate filmmaker. She won the 2022 SXSW audience award, and Seriesfest Caz Matthews Award for her original, independently produced and directed drama pilot, Brownsville Bred.
Elaine is a 150 Artist, Sundance Writer & Director Lab alumna, and HBOLatinx short film Director award winner.
She was recently selected by the Women’s Weekend Film Challenge to direct, and by the WGA, where Elaine is currently a part of the 2022 Showrunner Academy.
As a writer, her original one-hour procedural drama pilot, The System, landed in development at CBS. As a director, her short films, Me 3.769 and Princess Cut, went on to air on HBOmax.
Trained in acting by the legendary acting teacher Wynn Handman at Carnegie Hall, Elaine is an “actor’s director.” Her most notable roles include; her autobiographical one woman off Broadway play (NY Times raved, From Girlhood Trials to Onstage Triumph), and for her guest star recurring role in Queens (ABC).
Bianca Marroquín was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and raised on the border between Matamoros, Mexico and Brownsville, Texas. She started her artistic career in Mexico City in the productions of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Rent, Phantom of the Opera, Vagina Monologues and Chicago. For her portrayal of Roxie Hart in Chicago, Bianca received 5 awards from the Mexican Critics Associations including New Revelation and Best Actress. In the summer of 2002, Bianca was invited to crossover from Mexico to Broadway and made her debut with her English version of Roxie Hart and later kicked off Chicago’s 3rd National Tour for which she received a Helen Hayes Award in Washington DC for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2004. After touring for two years she officially moved to New York to continue to pursue her career. She originates the role of CARMEN in THE PAJAMA GAME. In the summer of 2010 she appeared back on Broadway when she joined the Tony Award winner company of In the Heights in the role of Daniela. Bianca transitions to TV as a judge on Univision’s explosive rating new Dance reality show Mira Quien Baila. Bianca starred in Televisa’s soap opera “Esperanza del Corazon” as “Angela” and several seasons of Televisa’s reality competition “Pequeños Gigantes” as a judge in the dance department. Bianca starred as Mary in the 1st Spanish speaking production of Disney and Cameron Makintosh’s “Mary Poppins” in Mexico City. Bianca made her debut album as a singer/song writer with EL MUNDO ERA MIO and went on to record a second album: NUESTROS TESOROS . Bianca portrayed ANITA in Carnegie Hall’s West Side Story. She had the honor of playing CHITA RIVERA in FX’s TV series FOSSE/VERDON. Other TV: Acapulco Film: Half Brothers and coming soon Flesh and Blood. You can see Bianca in the upcoming HBO/MAX documentary Habla/Loud.
Emelyn Stuart (moderator) embodies all things are possible when you marry purpose, passion, serious work ethic and commitment. Producing wasn’t an obvious path for this businesswoman who doesn’t deem herself an innate “creative” but it has proven to be a great fit for an extraordinary woman that has allowed making a difference propel her to uncharted territory. With a degree in business and less than a decade in the industry, Stuart has exemplified leadership and provided inspiration to filmmakers globally. A vast range of projects that includes a successful off-Broadway play makes Stuart different from her collaborators, but also garners her recognition internationally. Her wildly successful web series, 12 Steps to Recovery, earned Emelyn the Best Producer award at the 2011 LAWebfest. Stuart is partly responsible for multiple award-winning feature films including The Turnaround and Title VII. Her feature film Life Is Too Short premiered to sold out audiences in New York during its debut screening and in 2017 it was awarded Best Feature Film domestically and internationally at various film festivals. In 2018, Stuart opened an independent movie theater in New York called Stuart Cinema & Cafe. It will offer distribution deals to independent filmmakers and be a resource hub for artists. Now in 2022, she is building a multiplex movie theater in NY. This will make her the first Afro Latina to own a multiplex in NY.
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NYWIFT programs, screenings and events are supported, in part, by grants from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
