blog

By Sarah Katz Producer, KatzTale, sarah@katztale.com   The AFI DOCS season has long been one of the most exciting times of the year for movie lovers in the Washington, DC region. We come together to observe, through cinema, how the most important stories of the day are playing out in people’s lives. By virtue of… Read more »

By Cheryl Anne Fries, WIFV Intern In honor of WIFV’s 40th anniversary, we encourage you to suggest a 40th film to complete the list of 39 films meriting 5 Stars and 4.5 Stars as chosen by Jan Lisa Huttner in her book Penny’s Picks: 50 Movies by Women Filmmakers 2002-2011. In the book, Huttner offers… Read more »

By Brooke Friedman, WIFV Membership/Programming Coordinator   “Follow your dreams and fight for what you believe,” said Director Alison Reid during a February 10, 2020 phone interview. Reid’s award-winning and critically acclaimed documentary THE WOMAN WHO LOVES GIRAFFES tells the story of Dr. Anne Innis Dagg’s innovative work with giraffes in 1956, and Dagg’s subsequent… Read more »

By Kathleen Schmitt   The year is drawing to a close. There is winter to get through but then Spring will be here soon-ish, too. Being an accountant, this has certain overtones to me: income taxes will be coming up soon-ish, too. Even sooner will be the January payroll filings: W-2s/W-3s for traditional employees (which… Read more »

By Liza Figueroa Kravinsky   As a composer, I would like to share some tips about working with a film composer. If a picture says a thousand words, music says a thousand more.   Here is a video that will communicate about ninety percent of what you need to know: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mndDbN60Eiw The best way to think… Read more »

By Wendy Anderson   It was finally happening. Five years and hundreds of books later, I was on my way to Stowe Story Labs’ Fall Narrative Lab, my twenty-page treatment of STORYTIME, a limited series fantasy drama, tucked onto the laptop. I was attending on a fellowship from Women in Film & Video; as WIFV’s… Read more »

By Lucia Fox-Shapiro   In the early days of cinema, it wasn’t uncommon for women to be found in the editing room. Assembling reels and cutting negatives was tedious, detail-oriented work that often fell to young working-class women. Many female “cutters” during the silent era were unacknowledged and uncredited because the work was seen as… Read more »

By Lucia Fox-Shapiro   WIFV kicked off the week of June 3 with the Craft of Producing Panel for members of the WIFV Narrative Directors, Screenwriters, and Documentary Roundtables. The panel included the moderator Tim Perell, with Kyle David Crosby, Catherine Hand, and Andrea Meditch. Perell is the director of the Johns Hopkins University Film… Read more »

By Lucia Fox-Shapiro BOOKSMART was released May 24, and has been referred to as the female SUPERBAD. The film is Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, and stars Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein as two high school overachievers who want one last night of fun before graduation. This female-centric film has relatable characters and realistic depictions of… Read more »

By Kathy Dismukes In March 1979, Ginny Durrin wanted to see a more positive female presence in media and build a stronger sense of self. She decided to invite local women she knew who were working in film for dinner at her house. Nearly a dozen women, hungry for change, gathered at that first meeting… Read more »

By Erin Essenmacher I can’t remember how old I was the first time I watched an episode, I just remember that Laverne DiFazio was a staple of my childhood. I was just a baby when Laverne and Shirley debuted in 1976, but over time, preserved in re-runs, my sister Annie and I would gobble up… Read more »

By Kathy Dismukes The gig economy is definitely here, but really everyone else is just catching up to media industry, where freelancing has long been a big part of the game. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. To be successful you have to be the CEO of You, Inc., marketing manager, and bookkeeper, as well… Read more »

  By Tara Jabbari   January’s Screenwriters Roundtable was led by scriptwriter and WIFV member, Lisa Scott and here are the biggest takeaways:   – Do a lot of research before you ever actually write the script. From reading scripts, watching films or television shows while simultaneously reading the scripts, to writing the treatments, there… Read more »

By Kathy Dismukes Recently, I wrote about how DC’s Global Impact Film Festival was employing smart strategies to build audiences and momentum. One of their keys to success, of course, is selecting the right films. In this post I explore the whys and hows of The Ripple Effect, one of the festival’s biggest critical and… Read more »

By Kathy Dismukes   Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Elizabeth Chomko, the writer and director of What They Had, a brilliant new film starring Hilary Swank, Blythe Danner, Michael Shannon, and Robert Forster. What They Had is the bittersweet story, inspired by Chomko’s own life, of how a family endures the many losses… Read more »

October Wednesday One: Making the Most of Film Festivals By Kathy Dismukes   John Benedetto of the WIFV board hosted a packed session at Interface Media Group with an excellent, diverse panel that included festival guru Jon Gann, programmer Monica Schorn, writer Brian Matusz, and writer-producer Jane Barbara. I took notes furiously and boiled down… Read more »

By Kathy Dismukes You can’t just create a film festival and—presto change-o—impact! It takes time, dedicated leadership, teamwork, and a bit of luck. The Global Impact Film Festival is a success story we can all learn from, and I recently sat down with its founder and director, Emily Aguilar, at DC’s Renaissance Hotel to get… Read more »

By Kathy M. Dismukes Fundraising for films isn’t easy, but neither is filmmaking. Luckily, these pursuits have more in common than you might think. Here are some tips on film fundraising that will give you a leg up, especially if you’re going to attend WIFV’s September Wednesday One at the Foundation Center. But I’m a… Read more »

  By Miriam Cleeman Who do you call when you’re in trouble? Your mother? Your spouse? For someone in the public eye, it’s probably a publicist, a person whose job was created as celebrity created celebrities. Suddenly there was an entire class of people whose lives were opened to the public. With the growth and… Read more »

By Kathy Dismukes At this month’s Documentary Roundtable Caty Borum Chattoo and Will Jenkins presented Movies & Grassroots Community Engagement: Documentary Films & State and Local Public Policy in the United States. Their report provides perspectives from 15 policymakers, filmmakers, and advocacy leaders who successfully contributed to policy agendas on the state and local levels, with… Read more »

  Music is Storytelling, Too By Kathy Dismukes   “Music is a language that doesn’t speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions, and if it’s in the bones, it’s in the bones.” ― Keith Richards Preach, bony Stone-y Keith Richards! The Narrative Directors Roundtable meeting this month was on how and why media-makers work… Read more »

Best Audio Practices with Henninger Gurus By Kathy Dismukes   I still have a lot to learn about production workflow—especially audio—and I bet I’m not alone. By attending this month’s Editors Roundtable program (ably led by Pippa McBride), I got the scoop on how editors work with audio mixers to save time, money, and stress. Held… Read more »

Tom Wolfe By Jody Hassett Sanchez   For months, I’ve been flummoxed by how to structure a documentary about a journalist and novelist whose pages summons richer visuals than most films, whose dialogues, internal and external, eclipse the best efforts of many a screenwriter and whose literary characters became instant archetypes more memorable than the… Read more »

Attracting Everything I Needed for My Short Film By Joy Cheriel Brown In 2012, I was digging around my home office and found a short script I had written eight years earlier when I was a Senior in college. It was a contender for my thesis film, but I had decided to put it away… Read more »

Anim8Nature- The New Storytelling: 101 By Kristin Harris  The Old Storytelling Lots of talk about storytelling these days. Of course humans have been telling stories as long as we have existed, it’s part of our DNA. What I am finding fascinating is how my long career as a producer of preschool media prepares me for the current… Read more »

April Animators Roundtable Illuminates and Inspires by Kathy Dismukes   The Animators Roundtable is a picture-perfect example of how WIFV helps to advance the technical expertise of both beginners and long-time industry pros and facilitates their creative process. It’s coordinated by Kristin Harris, an animator, illustrator, designer, and educator whose passion is to use art… Read more »

APRIL WEDNESDAY ONE – Susan Borke Demystifies the Art of Negotiation   Susan Borke is passionate about helping people develop into effective negotiators. As a diverse crowd discovered at last week’s Wednesday One, no matter if it’s an hourly rate for freelancers, a contract for a video job, or the details of a proposal, Borke’s… Read more »

By Aviva Kempner Frances McDormand, a week has passed since the Oscars, and I’m still fired up by your speech. The highlight of attending this year’s ceremony was when you symbolically lowered your much-deserved masculine statue down on the stage, and called on all the nominated women to stand. Your recitation of “inclusion rider” validated… Read more »

by Kathy Dismukes   On Saturday, February 17 WIFV co-hosted with the Film & Video Studies Department at George Mason University a fascinating session with one of the top directors working today, Lesli Linka Glatter. Attendees at the GMU’s Founders Hall event in Arlington were treated to an intimate conversation with Glatter and insider clips… Read more »

by Colleen McCreanor  Catherine Hand held onto A Wrinkle in Time for nearly 40 years before finding the home she knew it deserved. On February 13th, she spoke to WIFV members and film lovers about what that home was. A Wrinkle in Time has taken on many forms in Hand’s life. As the author Madeleine… Read more »

by Kathy Dismukes  WIFV FEB 2018 WEDS ONE BLOG POST – WEB SERIES WIFV’s Wednesday One on Wednesday, February 7 featured a lively presentation and discussion of the ins and outs of Web series. Special guests included Anthony Anderson, creator, executive producer, writer, director, and star of the acclaimed Web series, ANACOSTIA; and Joe Carabeo… Read more »

by Colleen McCreanor On January 22, over 30 writers shuffled into a room awaiting lessons on how to pitch the stories they all had bustling inside of them. The crowd was full of a diverse set of skills, including screenwriters, novelists, and playwrights. Almost every person in the room had written something they were hoping… Read more »

By Jon Reiss, Hybrid Cinema   So it’s that intense festival time of year again.   You’re considering festivals, applying to festivals and who knows perhaps already excited about the festivals you have been accepted to. Here are 10 Do’s and 5 Don’ts when applying to film festivals.  These suggestions are based not only on my… Read more »

By Flo Dwek ONE OF US (Directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, 2017, 1 hr., 35 min.) ONE OF US, the thrilling new documentary by the talented directing duo, Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, is now streaming on Netflix in an unbelievable 190 countries, in 30 languages. This is indeed a remarkable feat, defying… Read more »

By Flo Dwek   Meaningful dialogue and conversation have always formed the cornerstone of our diverse, yet closely knit WIFV community. Buoyed by our supportive, day-to-day interactions, we can speak up, speak out, listen intently, empathize, and create lasting bonds and connections. Our deep sense of camaraderie and respect for one another derives in large… Read more »

BY FLO DWEK (Directed by Joan Kron, 2017, 1 hour, 39 min.)   TAKE MY NOSE…PLEASE! is a wistfully comic tale about the pressures of looking and staying beautiful. Under Joan Kron’s sparkling and impressive debut direction (at the vintage age of 89), she turns her lens on the ups and downs of two female… Read more »

By Flo Dwek SIGNATURE MOVE (Directed by Jennifer Reeder, 1 hr, 20 min.) If you were not among the lucky filmgoers who caught SIGNATURE MOVE at DC’s Reel Affirmations Film Festival on October 19, you are in for a treat when it comes to Amazon VOD at the end of December. This small, romantic gem… Read more »

By Flo Dwek This eye-opening documentary by Bolivian Director/Screenwriter Violeta Ayala—seven years in the making—takes an up-close and personal look at the horrendous toll on individuals and their families caught up in the cocaine trade.   The film had its Washington, D.C. premiere on October 20, 2017 at the Double Exposure Investigative Film Festival. It… Read more »

By Marlena Wright Growing up I always fantasized about what life would have been like for me if I were a boy. I wouldn’t have had to wear all those itchy uncomfortable dresses and combing my hair wouldn’t take more than a few seconds because all I would have to do is run the brush… Read more »

By Kristin Reiber Harris Van Gogh is arguably one of the most famous artists in the world. His artwork is certainly captivating; his use of color, the energy of his brush strokes and the sheer beauty of his work. However I believe a certain mystique that surrounds Van Gogh plays a role in his fame;… Read more »

By Maria Carmen Barranco I recently attended the Weds One event, “Women in the New Political Climate”, organized by WIFV in Washington, DC. The panelists, veteran journalist Amy Lynn Alexander and Dr. Renee Carr discussed how technology has shaped the way media is presented to the consumer, and as a consequence, the political landscape. As… Read more »

by Lance Kramer for International Documentary Association I was sitting at an IDA-produced summit on sustainability in February in Washington, DC. Dozens of seasoned filmmakers shared personal struggles about how they have survived in their careers as documentary filmmakers. I listened to people I deeply admire and respect candidly discuss potential action items to fix… Read more »

By Flo Dwek  About RUMBLE Director: Catherine Bainbridge, Co-Director: Alfonso Maiorana; 2017; 102 min This revelatory documentary – an award winner at Sundance Film Festival – brings to light the profound and overlooked influence of Indigenous people on popular music in North America. Focusing on music icons like Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Taboo… Read more »

By Joslyn Rose Lyons I knew, from a very early age, that I wanted to make movies. I didn’t know how I would do it, I just followed my passion and it’s continued to lead me on this path. Documenting the creative process has always inspired my work. I created The Museum of Light, where… Read more »

By Ilya Tovbis for the Washington Jewish Film Festival WJFF Director Ilya Tovbis talked with director Gillian Robespierre about her new film Landline, her influences, collaborators and political humor that’s gone sour. Landline opened in DC-area theaters on July 28th – tickets and more information can be found at landlinemovie.com. Original article can be found here. ILYA: I believe it’s the fourth time you, Jenny… Read more »

By Maya Pearson In Gillian Robespierre’s newest indie dramedy, LANDLINE, the Jacobs family attempts to prevent an inevitable meltdown amidst the backdrop of a quintessentially nineties New York City. John Turturro (BARTON FINK, O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?) and Edie Falco (NURSE JACKIE, THE SOPRANOS) portray Alan and Pat, parents trapped in a rapidly dissolving marriage…. Read more »

by Brian T. Carney for Washington Blade Actor Rachel Weisz did not do a lot of preparation for her dazzling star turn in the new movie “My Cousin Rachel,” based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier. “I read the script and I learned to ride side saddle and that was about it in terms of… Read more »

by Flo Dwek A major metropolitan area in the United States lies dangerously close to a large landfill containing radioactive waste — and an escalating underground fire. As concerned citizens attempt to halt a potential catastrophe, they discover that they may be running out of time to save their homes, health and lives. – Chuck… Read more »

by Flo Dwek, transcribed by Word Wizards  Rama Burshtein is the award-winning writer, director and producer of FILL THE VOID.  Her latest feature film, THE WEDDING PLAN, comes to theaters on May 26.  Originally titled as THROUGH THE WALL, the film had its Israeli premiere in 2016.   This comedic drama stars Noa Koler as… Read more »

by Flo Dwek Are you the kind of person who waits until you have out of town guests to visit the Smithsonian?  So many of us who live and work in the nation’s capital fall into that mindset — and are missing out on some fantastic happenings at our museums.  A case in point:  the… Read more »

by Brian Pascale via HipTV Woman in Film and Video’s Narrative Directors Roundtable (NDR) recently teamed with Studio Unknown on a Foley and Sound Design Seminar, held at Studio Unknown in Catonsville, Maryland. The NDR mission is to encourage members to get out and make narrative films. Studio Unknown needed a scene to work on,… Read more »

by Morgan Green; Communications Coordinator, Women In Film With the release of the second season of “Chewing Gum,” and the very last episodes of “Girls,” Spring 2017 is already an unusually good time for women in comedy. Last week I watched the whole new season of Michaela Coel’s “Chewing Gum” in one go. (Only six episodes!… Read more »

by Flo Dwek Need a sanity break from the mind-numbing roar of politics and media-speak incessantly washing over you? Then come up for air from your own personal Niagara—and immerse yourself in the far out realms of this offbeat and quirky Sci-Fi/Horror/Anti-Rom-Com flick (yes, it’s all that!)—the sooner, the better. Anne Hathaway stars as our… Read more »

by Flo Dwek   THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE, by Director Niki Caro (NORTH COUNTRY, WHALE RIDER, McFARLAND, USA), is an astonishing cinematic masterpiece, destined for international acclaim and longevity. In bringing Diane Ackerman’s best-selling book (2007) of the same name to the screen, Caro has gifted us with a universal and resplendent tale of love, compassion and… Read more »

by Flo Dwek Journey through America’s toughest terrains, majestic landscapes and remote 
sites with a stellar trio of environmental films by award-winning female filmmakers. Thurs, March 16, 7 PM; Carnegie Institution for Science- $10 Q&A   GUIDED (USA, 2016, 18 min.) Guided profiles the gentle spirit of Maine wilderness guide Ray Reitze who shares his philosophy of… Read more »

by Brigitte Yuille Once you learn about Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, you may call her the “Oprah Winfrey of West Africa.” However, Juliet’s story of success is not only unique; it could be a fascinating film of its own. Strengthening Her Resolve During the 1980s, Liberia was transformed. A civil war erupted as a result… Read more »

by Brian T. Carney via Washington Blade By now, everyone knows what happened at the Oscars on Sunday night. Due to an embarrassing gaffe by PwC, the accounting firm formerly known as Price Waterhouse Cooper, Faye Dunaway mistakenly announced that “La La Land” had been awarded the Academy Award for Best Picture. With class, when the slip-up… Read more »

We love celebrating Women’s History Month by saluting our members who contribute so much to this community.  Every day in March we will feature a WIFV Member who has created compelling work and mentored others. Learn more about our honorees by reading their bios below. We encourage members to honor their colleagues with a $31 donation during… Read more »

by Zoe Peters This January marks my second year volunteering for the Sundance Film Festival. As a volunteer, I was provided housing and worked Access Control for the Temple Theater Operations team. I am a Film major at George Mason University, so the festival is a great opportunity for me to meet filmmakers, see independent… Read more »

by Flo Dwek WOMEN OF MAIDAN, screening at 7 pm on March 8 at Sweetbay Yoga, 545 Westbard Ave, Bethesda, tells the story of the women’s life-supporting force, unity, courage and sacrifice during the 2013-2014 Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity.  — Sometimes standing behind the cause takes as much courage as dying for it. — For a complete list of upcoming screenings, visit Olia’s… Read more »

by Via Bia On a stage almost too far away to see, I heard a voice, light as air, yet full of energy – “…everything in this world has come from the body of a woman.” It was Dolores Huerta, and I was at the Women’s March in Park City. Sundance. A few months ago,… Read more »

by Gabrielle Smith   Death is a hard component of life to overcome, especially when death takes the life of someone closely related to you. Some people who lose a family members experience moments of depression in their lives. They change from an energetic person to a dull person who hates to get out of… Read more »

by Flo Dwek   MANCHESTER BY THE SEA is a ravishing new film written and directed by playwright and screenwriter, Ken Lonergan (ANALYZE THIS, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, GANGS OF NEW YORK). It is, above all, a tale of heartbreak and loss, but equally so, one about the search for redemption and forgiveness, and the… Read more »

by Flo Dwek Courtroom dramas have always starred front and center in Hollywood. Think back to such weighty classics as TWELVE ANGRY MEN, WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, or TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.  They made our heads spin with suspense, excitement and profound truths. These riveting dramas have stood the test of time and played well… Read more »

  WIFV member Flo Dwek interviewed Director Vanessa Gould shortly after her remarkable documentary, OBIT, screened at AFI Docs 2016, this past June.    “This not-to-be-missed doc is a tour-de-force in vividly cinematic, behind-the-scenes filmmaking, gifting us with a once-in-a-lifetime look at the arduous, often profound process of creating The New York Times’s iconic and… Read more »

by Scott Gordon On June 30, 2016 at an event hosted by Interface Media Group, WIFV (Women in Film and Video) brought the fascinating animation portfolio of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) and its director Dr. Horace Mitchell, to the attention of the local film and video production community.  The… Read more »

  CLICK HERE TO READ FLO DWEK’S REVIEW OF THE FILM INDIGNATION! INDIGNATION: ROUNDTABLE INTERVIEW WITH JAMES SCHAMUS AND LOGAN LERMAN JULY 18, 2016, WASHINGTON, DC – FLO DWEK, WOMEN IN FILM AND VIDEO (WIFV) – DEAN ROGERS, THE ROGERS REVUE   DEAN ROGERS: Thank you. Let me start with you, Logan, I would like to know… Read more »

by Haley Beasley If you were previously unaware, the WIFV office has an open door policy during our hours of 9-5 Monday through Friday. If you’re in the area, feel free to drop by and have a chat with Ariel and Melissa about what projects you’re currently working on. Perhaps you’re not working on any… Read more »

by Rachell Shapiro I have been in the film/video production industry for 14 years.  As a woman in a male-dominated industry I have faced everything from chauvinism and overt bias to subconscious underestimation. It’s not everywhere and it’s not everyone – but it is prevalent and I can’t imagine there is one woman in the… Read more »

by Flo Dwek  A documentary is due out on July 8 by Director Alex Gibney about the perils of cyber warfare, entitled ZERO DAYS.  And if you are mystified about the title but intuitively sense that it must pertain to either the realm of science fiction or apocalyptic vision, you are not far from the mark…. Read more »

by Flo Dwek   “Step right up, ladies and gents!  Step this way to happiness, to your one and only chance to get your very own, healthy baby! To love and to hold! To take home and cherish for the rest of your lives!” Does the smarmy salesmanship of a carnival barker offering a prize… Read more »

by Flo Dwek To the filmmakers among us, a loaded question: would you be tempted to make a film about a book editor who sits in his office 24/7, diligently turning piles upon piles of an author’s brilliant scribblings into a popular masterpiece? No thanks–no audience for that, you say? Where’s the action, the mayhem,… Read more »

by Haley Beasley On a bright Thursday morning, forty or so excited 5th graders from Elsie Whitlow Stokes Charter School (DC) and Julius West Middle School (Montgomery County) made their way to the Inter-American Development Bank for the 2016 Kids World Film Festival hosted by Women in Film and Video (WIFV). The screenings of short films… Read more »

by Flo Dwek   UNION tells the story of a father who must face his past when his daughter, a surgeon in the Union Army, returns home for Christmas with an unexpected guest—a soldier on whom she operated. The film, to be released later this year, is inspired by real-life historical figures. The heroine, Sophie–played… Read more »

by Flo Dwek A lot of junk has been written about him, and his name has been the butt of one too many lewd jokes.   It’s hard to believe there’s anything left to expose about the man.   But here comes WEINER–a documentary that breathes new life into an old story with a lot to… Read more »

by Rachel Goldberg As a filmmaker, at some point you’ll likely need help advancing your career, whether it’s through access to cash money or just knowing the right people. That’s difficult for all of us, but when you are a female or female-identifying creator, it can be difficult to even meet another woman working in… Read more »

by Ariel Magno Life can be crazy. There’s work, bills, grocery shopping, getting the car fixed, getting the cat to the vet; the list goes on and on. Sometimes it’s hard to remember to stop and breathe! So last night’s Wednesday One on mindfulness and meditation with Valerie Tate was a refreshing hour-long break from… Read more »

by Marilyn Weiner via Indiewire Years ago, when my husband, Hal, and I first arrived as young filmmaking partners in Washington, D.C., the first person I met was the wife of a fellow filmmaker. After talking to her briefly, it became clear that instead of recognizing me as the producer I was, she had automatically… Read more »

by Flo Dwek; transcription courtesy of Word Wizards, Inc. “On a December morning in 1970, the King of Rock ’n’ Roll showed up on the lawn of the White House to request a meeting with the most powerful man in the world, President Richard Nixon. Starring Academy Award-nominee Michael Shannon as Presley and two-time Academy… Read more »

By Maggie Burnette Stogner Thanks to American University’s Center on Media and Social Impact (CSMI), six graduate students and I attended Full Frame Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina earlier this month. It was my first time at Full Frame and I highly recommend it! There were dozens of excellent documentaries, meetings with filmmakers, discussion… Read more »

By Mary T. An What happens when you put a climate scientist, a filmmaker, and an environmental activist together in a room for a day and ask them to create something? This sounds like the makings of a social experiment, or the beginning of a joke about a desert island. But it is in, in… Read more »

by Aviva Kempner   In the April 1-8 edition of Entertainment Weekly (page 22) there is an article discussing which Hollywood directors would encourage the release of movies put forward by Sean Parker’s Screening Room for same day release in your home.  Cleverly, writer Nicole Sperling decided to survey directors about what they thought of… Read more »

by Shanon Lee   “Our stories have value.” – Jane Barbara   On Museum Day Live!, Women in Film & Video hosted The Journey To Success: A Conversation with Women Filmmakers at The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. This year, the Smithsonian’s annual event included special programming aimed to encourage women and girls of color… Read more »

by Meredith Lee This morning, a group of influential women gathered in Washington D.C. as The Wrap held their Power Women Breakfast. This breakfast assembled a group of women working in media, entertainment, technology and brands all from various cities across the country to discuss issues affecting women. So much power was in one room and… Read more »

by Kristin Reiber Harris   I recently had the opportunity to hear Shellée Haynesworth, creator and executive producer of Black Broadway on U speak at Randolph College. Her talk was part of the Sara Driver ’77 Digital Filmmaking and Lecture Series, funded by Martha Driver ’50 and Al Driver. This fall I had reconnected with… Read more »

by Erica Ginsberg via filmmaker magazine   With more than 200 films and events, DOC NYC has become the largest documentary film festival in the United States. It has also become a must-stop for emerging and established filmmakers who want to deepen their craft through DOC NYC PRO, a series of panels and master classes… Read more »

ScriptDC offers plenty of “aha” moments, and you can take advantage of them by applying the new information so you can improve your skills, networking with executives, and connecting with your peers. So, make the most of your time at the event with the following five tips and techniques. Establish your goals beforehand. Take a… Read more »

by Erin Essenmacher via National Association of Corporate Directors   Michael Uslan has been many things: a lawyer, a professor, an executive producer, and—most recently—a global media mogul; but he identifies most closely with the moniker that became the title of his 2011 memoir: The Boy Who Loved Batman. During an interview at the 2015… Read more »

By:Adriana Del Castillo   Through the week of September 28-October 3, Media Rise is hosting its annual festival  for filmmakers, writers, and  young aspiring professionals. The festival features a series of workshops, screenings, presentations, and talks about important topics in our society, aiming to “create a positive change through media.” Previous participants have said: “Wonderful… Read more »

By Katharina Fritz When Natalie Portman gave her commencement speech at Harvard University this year, she provided the graduates with rare and refreshing advice:  Your inexperience is your asset. “If I had known my own limitations I never would have taken the risk,” she said on taking on her role in Black Swan. “And the risk… Read more »

Happy WIFV Anniversary to Melissa Houghton! Congratulations to Executive Director, Melissa Houghton, who has been with Women in Film & Video for the past ten years! During her time with WIFV, Melissa has helped to produce over 60 projects. Her current passion project is our Documentary Seed Fund In honor of her anniversary, please consider… Read more »

By Kristin Reiber Harris Did you miss our exciting Education and Children’s Media (EdCM) Roundtable at Interface Media Group last week? Lucky for you, member, Kristin Reiber Harris, can fill you in on what you missed! Check out Kristin’s post on Skin & Bones, An Augmented Reality Mobile App with Robert Costello and Diana Marques here. And a… Read more »

By Matt Radcliff At the June meeting of the WIFV/Docs In Progress Documentary Roundtable, our guest speaker was Meghan Shriver.  Ms. Shriver is the Arts Insurance Manager for MDP, Inc. (Maury Donnelly & Parr, Inc.), an insurance broker based in Baltimore but with offices around the country and licensed to sell insurance in 50 states. … Read more »

From The Wrap Guest contributor Aviva Kempner imagines the possibilities when the power of women reverberates through culture As Hillary Clinton’s run for the presidency is destined to make history, Hollywood is waking up to the profitability of female-centric cinema. The studios need to realize that they should not be making movies only geared to… Read more »

By Scott Gordon, Word Wizards Inc. Read full blog here. Thanks so much to Docs In Progress for organizing the Crowdsourcing Theatrical Distribution talk. They do amazing work helping people from all walks of life to fulfill their desire of creating documentary productions. Since video transcription is often an essential part of making a documentary,… Read more »

“What is a laugh really worth?” asks contributor Aviva Kempner. “These actors expressed their concerns about the film and were essentially told to ‘get over it or get gone’” Adam Sandler learned an important lesson in humanity this week when a dozen Native American actors just picked up and walked out during the filming of “The… Read more »

An Awakening of Love with Maria Bello By: Carletta Hurt Wake Up! Wake Up! What wakes you up in the morning? What have you read that awakens your spirit? What does it mean to finally WAKE UP! For actress and activist, Maria Bello, it’s a few things like hearing Dancing Queen by ABBA that helps… Read more »

‘Woman in Gold’ Speaks to Children of Holocaust Survivors (Guest Blog) The true-life story of reclaiming art stolen by the Nazis stars Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds and Charles Dance For many of us children of Holocaust survivors, Simon Curtis’ Woman in Gold really hits a nerve as it tells a story about a young lawyer… Read more »

Dispatch from Austin: Some Cool Things I Picked Up at SXSW By Erin Essenmacher, WIFV President A New Champion for Women-Led Creative Work Pantheon of Women hopes to do for female  media makers in narrative film and television what Chicken and Egg has done for women-lead documentary films by supporting works that “change the way… Read more »

Shared from a Guest Post on Indiewire’s “Women in Hollywood” By: Elissa Leonard In 2012, I bought the life-story rights of a nurse who took on the medical establishment when she uncovered an epidemic of misdiagnoses. I had always wanted to produce a feature film, and I finally found a story I wanted to tell: that… Read more »

By Erica Rivers A long week and frigid temperatures made me seriously rethink my commitment to attend last Thursday’s “How to Stand Out at Auditions”.  But having recently attended an audition where I wasn’t quite sure how to dress for a particular part, I decided it was in my best interest to attend the presentation. The… Read more »

Groundbreaking New Screenwriters Initiative Presents the Work of Talented DC Screenwriters to Industry December 11, 2014 at 10:49am MPTD Partners with Women in Film & Video on Groundbreaking Screenwriters Program Spotlight on Screenwriters initiative touts talented screenwriters in the D.C. metropolitan area For the first time, talented screenwriters in the D.C. metropolitan region have an… Read more »

Sunday, March 1: Shoshana Rosenbaum To start the celebration, we focus on SHOSHANA ROSENBAUM, an independent writer, director and producer, who made her first short film THE GOBLIN BABY in 2014. The film premiered at the 2014 DC Shorts Film Festival Screenplay Competition (the script was a finalist in 2013), was invited to screen at… Read more »

By Matthew Radcliff We had three speakers give their perspective and advice on Navigating Public Television. Kathryn Washington, from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB), started the evening by describing the public television system as a confederacy. There are many gatekeepers, but that also means there are multiple ways to get a documentary on air…. Read more »

By: Carletta Hurt January 2015 Talent Roundtable The first month of 2015 was a busy one for Women in Film & Video. With a host of activities and events, members and friends had a variety of industry related opportunities to network and learn. The January Talent Round Table proved to be both a great time… Read more »

By: Katharine Roman The first Monday in February Jim Arnoff, acclaimed New York based Television Packaging Agent, Entertainment Lawyer and Certified Life/Career Coach extraordinaire provided a lively crash course on how to represent yourself and pitch to the fast paced and cut throat Television Industry. Snacks of cheese, bread, cupcakes and even wine greeted attendees… Read more »

By: Liz Lovern The WIFV/TIVA Holiday party was held Monday, January 26th in the midst of awards season. Instead of “Who are you wearing?” the topic of conversation among the 180 attendees at the Harman Center for the Arts was “What are you working on?” Here’s a quick rundown: Producer Abigail Sharon recently completed her… Read more »

By Bonnie Breuner Summer is over, which means it’s back to school and back to work after a long three months of lounging outside with a cold drink in hand. For many of us freelance media professionals and business owners, it means business is picking up again. But of course, work is difficult to come… Read more »

By: Valerie Kaplan, Word Wizards, Inc. One of the most exciting new tends in filmmaking today is the use of camera-equipped drones. These inexpensive Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs, are more budget conscious than helicopters for capturing the overhead excitement of a vehicle chase or other outdoor scenes. Using a versatile GoPro camera on a… Read more »

    It was finals week of my last semester of college at James Madison University last year when I saw on the WIFV listserv an email about the May Wednesday One called “Bridging your Career Between DC and LA.” The panel discussion was slated to happen a few days later, just before graduation. Being a film and… Read more »

If you missed WIFV’s March Weds One or you’d like to refresh your memory of the night, head over to Katrina Jackson’s blog and read her post!   http://katrina-jackson.com/meet-the-science-producers-wifv-event/

By Erin Essenmacher I attended a great session at the SXSW film conference entitled “Navigating Partnerships: Film and Advocacy”, focusing on the power and the challenges of partnering with advocacy groups to help build audience and buzz for independent film. Increasingly, social change advocates are savvy about the power of media and open to partnering… Read more »

By Jane Barbara When I heard Callie Khouri was going to present a Master Class at the Athena Film Festival at Barnard College in NYC, I was determined to make it there even if I had to hitch up my two Goldendoodles to a sled and dangle hot dogs in front of them. Since I… Read more »

by: Mikael Manoukian If you haven’t heard there is a new online learning platform ideally suited for the development needs of busy professionals like TIVA members. The concept is called Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOC’s for short. MOOC’s are an incredible resource for both personal and professional development across a wide range of subjects…. Read more »

by Margaret Looney With web-native multimedia features and interactive elements permeating both journalism and documentary filmmaking, two crafts that were once distinct are beginning to blur. Experts from both fields met to discuss the subtle differences between these types of storytelling and what the fields can learn from one another at a recent Women in… Read more »

The Weds One conversation about Documentaries vs. Journalism was very stimulating and engaging. We would like to thank our presenters and everyone that attended the event.    *Photos courtesy of Iolene Branch (WIFV Intern)

WIFV members had a great time on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at the WIFV Executive Breakfast that included a fun and exciting tour of NPR Headquarters! We have uploaded the pictures below for your enjoyment. *Photos courtesy of Melissa Houghton & Jamila Flomo (WIFV Intern)

Dec. 4, 2013 By Libby Austin I arrived early for this first keynote to hear about NASA’s use of 4K imagery.  NASA works on the cutting edge of scientific image gathering and workflow, so their processes can serve as models for other government agencies. Rodney Grubbs, chairman of NASA’s DTV Working Group and a principal… Read more »

Written By: Jillian DiNardo   Overview of the Panelists: Erica Ginsberg, the co-founder and executive director of Docs in Progress, spoke first. The second speaker was Angelica Das, the associate director at the Center for Media and Social Impact. Following her was Julia Cohen, an advocacy, outreach, and fundraising consultant and the creative advocacy director… Read more »

Happy Holidays Everyone! For your entertainment on those cold, snowy (or maybe just rainy?) winter days, WIFV has compiled a list of members’ favorite movies. Check them out!   Mimi Machado-Jones 1. Dance with Me– (Randa Haines, 1998) “My favorite dance scene is shot on steadicam and Vanessa Williams gets caught in a Rueda de… Read more »

By: Sharon Sobel   I just finished creating 20 DVD labels for a job I’ve got this Saturday. It’s been so long since I made DVDs, I had forgotten where I stored the blank labels. But I DO still make DVDs for my clients.  Even though I have gone through the efforts of learning webcasting,… Read more »

Many of our WIFV members have been involved in a year-long mentorship project to develop a webseries pilot.  The results of their work, Lunatic Fringe, will be shown at the WIFV Holiday Party on January 15.  More details will be posted soon.  In the meantime, we are so grateful for the expertise and enthusiasm our… Read more »

By: Sharon Sobel I recently landed a gig with the NFL for Thanksgiving Day. You likely have at least one of two reactions: 1)  That’s cool!  How did you get that job? 2)  I bet you’re making a lot of money on that! I will use this blog post to address both of these potential… Read more »

By: Sharon Sobel So, I got this question asked of me the other day. I like to compare a producer to a general foreman on a construction job. So, let’s say you want to build a house.  The foreman has to ask lots of questions like:  how big you want the house, when do you… Read more »

By: Katrina Jackson   Welcome to the fourth Science Video of the Week feature!  Each Wednesday I will post an interesting science video with some comments from either myself or the producer, and will conclude with some questions for discussion. All of the previous features can be found on katrina-jackson.com/blog. If you created a science video you would like to share,… Read more »

Written by: Jillian M. DiNardo   Panelists Overview The first speaker was Lance Kramer, the executive director of Meridian Hill Pictures, followed by Rosemary Reed, the owner and president of Double R Productions. Chithra Jeyaram spoke third; she is a documentary filmmaker with Real Talkies. Ending the panel was Mariah Craven, the communications director of… Read more »

Written by: Jillian M. DiNardo   Panelists Overview Robin Smith, the founder and president of Video/Action, began the event. She is currently a member of WIFV and has received our Women of Vision award! Andrew Satter spoke next. He is the Senior Video Producer for the Center for American Progress and spoke about film being… Read more »

Written By: Jillian M. DiNardo   Overview of the Panelists Peter Stonier is the Senior Director of Visual Storytelling at Conservation International, an organization that works to protect nature and promote biodiversity initiatives. Kiley Kraskouskas is the co-founder, president, and executive producer of Thinking Forward Media. She is also a long-time member of WIFV! Kim… Read more »

By: Katrina Jackson Welcome to the third Science Video of the Week feature!  Each Wednesday I will post an interesting science video with some comments from either myself or the producer, and will conclude with some questions for discussion. If you created a science video you would like to share, especially ones that had interesting challenges you’d like to discuss, send… Read more »

WIFV hosted another successful ScriptDC weekend on November 18-20, 2013! It was great to see our attendees and guest engaging in informative panel discussions as well as pitching and critiquing throughout the entire weekend. WIFV member, Sandra Brennan, recounts the experience in her blog posting ScriptDC 2013. Follow this link to read the post: http://www.wifv.org/featured/scriptdc-2013/  

By: Katrina Jackson Welcome to the second Science Video of the Week feature!  Each Wednesday I will post an interesting science video with some comments from either myself or the producer, and will conclude with some questions for discussion. If you have a science video you would like to share, especially ones that had interesting challenges you’d like to discuss, send… Read more »

By: Sandra Brennan This is what I learned at ScriptDC:  If you have a story to tell, it all starts with the words. If you want to pitch for project funds, you better be concise, confident and have a darn good reel. Thinking of directing? Then you need to convey to your actors how to… Read more »

By: Katrina Jackson Welcome to the first Science Video of the Week feature!  Each Wednesday I will post an interesting science video with some comments from either myself or the producer, and will conclude with some questions for discussion.   Before you watch the video: THNKR, a YouTube channel created by Radical Media, recently started a web-series called “Why With Nye” featuring… Read more »

Photo by Carroll D. Thomas, 1994 Courtesy of Library of Congress, “Working in Paterson” Mari’s Hair  People on 21st Avenue   Diary of a Webisode Maker #3 Sandra Brennan “Location, location, location,” is the mantra of all real estate agents and the backdrop for most storytellers.  This weekend, producers of “Gravity” can expect another week… Read more »

By: Sandra Brennan As the pre-production phase of WELCOME TO LUNATIC FRINGE continues, scouting for the perfect location has begun. What constitutes “perfect” must take into account liability, permission contracts, access, timing, and let’s be honest, price –as in, free. A film location can support the tone and feel of a movie and so producing… Read more »

By: Sandra Brennan My job might be securing trolls. And that’s OK. I’m here to learn. In a few short weeks WIFV members start production of WELCOME TO LUNATIC FRINGE (EPISODE ONE), an original screenplay by Maureen Offutt and Heidi R. Willis. The premise goes something like this:  In a hair salon called Lunatic Fringe,… Read more »

It was with great pleasure that WIFV hosted a sold out screening of A League of Their Own directed by Penny Marshall at the Avalon Theatre on August 29 to celebrate the inclusion of the film in the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress! Peter Freeman of DC Outook, a guide to staying… Read more »

By: Annie Schweikert, WIFV Intern Research by Stacy L. Smith, Ph.D., Katherine Pieper, Ph.D., and Marc Choueiti Sundance Institute and Women in Film Los Angeles Empirical research has shown that the gender of directors, producers, and writers fundamentally affects the type of stories told. Female storytellers are much more likely to depict women and girls… Read more »

Making Something Out of Nothing Part Three: Visual Storytelling Author:  Dan Bailes, WIFV Member This final blog in a three-part series will explore creativity, decision-making, and problem solving in the process of fashioning videos, with a focus on client work and web videos.  If you recall, this project about John’s “mission that matters” essentially had… Read more »

If you have a filmmaking partner, you know how much of an asset it can be; you also know it’s not w/o its challenges. By Claude LaVallee Moderator: Katy Chevigny, Co-Founder and Senior Director, Arts Engine Panelists: Rob Fruchtman, Filmmaker, Sweet Dreams Lisa Fruchtman, Filmmaker, Sweet Dreams Jason Mann, Filmmaker, Betting the Farm Cecily Pingree,… Read more »