Actors Ruby Dee and her husband Ossie Davis fought for civil rights from Washington, DC to Hollywood. And they were married for nearly 60 years. Kathryn O’Kane shares some of favorite quotes and moments from their joint memoir, In This Life Together. Continue reading #SummerHours Summer Reading: Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis
In her 2011 book Bossypants, Tina Fey recounts stories of her childhood, her rise to head writer on SNL, her experiences on 30 Rock, and what she learned along the way. Continue reading #SummerHours Summer Reading: Tina Fey
1996 NYWIFT Muse Honoree Rita Moreno is, quite literally, a national treasure. She is one of only 12 performers to win all four major artistic awards: the Oscar, the Emmy, the Grammy and the Tony, and she is the first Hispanic person to have won all four awards. Kathryn O’Kane digs into her memoir this summer. Continue reading #SummerHours Summer Reading: Rita Moreno
Use your #SummerHours to have a few laughs – and get real about relationships. Kathryn O’Kane tells us why 2003 NYWIFT Muse Honoree Whoopi Goldberg’s relationship how-to should be your next read. Continue reading #SummerHours Summer Reading: Whoopi Goldberg
Twenty years ago a young artist set out to make a documentary about women like herself: black queer filmmakers. She found nothing but homophobia and omission, and then… inspiration. The resulting film The Watermelon Woman marked Cheryl Dunye’s 1996 debut – a hybrid of autobiography, documentary, and comedy. It defies categorization and was the first feature film directed by an African American lesbian. Continue reading Trailblazing through the Decades: Cheryl Dunye (1990s)
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. Continue reading Trailblazing Through the Decades: Jessie Maple (1980s)
British-American actress and producer Ida Lupino, got her start directing when the director of the 1949 film Not Wanted suffered a heart attack during pre-production. Lupino stepped in and shot the film guerilla style to keep the movie on budget and on schedule. Budgeted at just over $150,000, the film grossed $1 million, and Lupino’s reputation spread through Hollywood studios even though the original director retained credit. Continue reading Trailblazing Through the Decades: Ida Lupino (1950s)
During WWII, a hobbyist inventor worked to help the military come up with a secure communication system to combat the Nazis. By manipulating radio frequencies at irregular intervals between transmission and reception, the invention formed an unbreakable code that prevented classified messages from being intercepted by enemy personnel. This patented form of frequency hopping revolutionized modern communications and formed the foundation for Wi-Fi, cell phone, and Bluetooth technology. The inventor’s name was Hedy Lamarr, and she was also a Hollywood star during MGM’s “Golden Age.” Continue reading Trailblazing through the Decades: Hedy Lamarr (1940s)
There is no doubt that the “true crime” documentary genre is thriving and that such film and television projects are enjoying unprecedented buzz. Studies show that women are their biggest audience, and broadcasters are taking notice. By the nature of their work, non-fiction storytellers are always considering how to present and represent their subjects through the creative process. But how is that further complicated in the “true crime” space, when the stakes might literally be life or death? Where do they draw the line between journalism and entertainment? Continue reading True Crime: Relationships and Responsibilities
Kathryn O’Kane praises fellow #NYWIFT #SummerHours blogger Mellini Kantayya’s brave essay collection on making it in the entertainment business. Continue reading #SummerHours Memoirs: Mellini Kantayya
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