#SummerHours Books to Read

Photo by Bridgette Mathews

This summer Mellini Kantanyya and I returned to #SummerHours, a series about fun books, movies, and television shows by or about women.  The series is running all summer long on the New York Women in Film and Television blog.  Below are excerpts of my book picks, which are memoirs of NYWIFT Muse honorees.  You can click on the links to read the full postings.  Be sure to check out Mellini’s picks in her category “BingeWatch-Worthy Comedy Picks.” 

#metoo Full Circle

Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo speaks at the bill signing of the “Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act” at City Hall, May 9, 2018.

Yesterday was a full circle moment — to be present at City Hall for the bill signing of the “Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act,”  a comprehensive package of legislation strengthening New York City’s anti-sexual harassment policies and combating sexual harassment in the workplace.  Last month the City Council  passed 11 bills that will expand worker protections and improve transparency about harassment in city government— some of the toughest harassment protections in the country.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio at the bill signing of the “Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act” at City Hall, May 9, 2018.

With the swiftness that the issue demands, the research and the passage of these bills has progressed rapid through local government in the wake of the #metoo movement to shine a light on sexual harassment and predation nationwide. The council members acknowleged that every new revelation of harassment and assault is a failure of the City to protect its most vulnerable residents.

Trailblazing Women in Film and TV

In Honor of Women’s History Month, Mellini Kantayya and I profiled some amazing women in television and film history for New York Women in FIlm and Television. This year’s theme—Trailbazing through the Decades.

True Crime: Relationships and Responsibilities

Death Row Stories, Bari Pearlman and Keith Davis. Photo credit – Bethany Dettmore.

I have been dying to write a blog about the growing demand for True Crime stories. From Serial, to The Jinx, to Making of a Murderer, nearly every outlet has an episodic investigative series. And now my friend Bari Pearlman and I have organized a panel discussion dedicated to the genre!  Bari, who has directed and produced two episodes of CNN Death Row Stories, will be joined by Kelly Laudenberg, creator of the Netflix series The Confession Tapes, and Stephanie Steele VP of current Production for Oxygen Media for an in-depth conversation about making crime stories that matter.  The panel will be moderated by journalist Andrea Marks. For more information about True Crime Stories: Relationships and Responsibilities on Wednesday Oct 25, 2017 at the Tribeca Film Center and to register, click here.    *This Q&A is published simultaneously on Huffington Post.

#SummerHours Episodes to Watch

Photo by Bridgette Mathews.

This summer Mellini Kantanyya and I created #SummerHours, a series about fun books, movies, and television shows by or about women.  The series is running all summer long on the New York Women in Film and Television blog.  Below are excerpts of my TV picks, and you can click on the links to read the full postings.  Be sure to check out Mellini’s picks in her category “Book to Screen…and Back Again.”

Women in Film and Television History

In honor of Women’s History Month, Mellini Kantayya and I wrote about women pioneers as part of the “Women in Film & Television History” Series for the New York Women in Film & Television blog.

Big News: Busy K joins the NYWIFT Board of Directors!

This summer, I was elected to the Board of Directors of the New York Women in Film and Television organization (NYWIFT). I am proud to serve the organization, which supports the careers of women in the Entertainment Industry.

I am honored that this week NYWIFT is running a profile on me, as part of their “Meet the New Board Members” series.  You can see it here.