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WIFT Houston

Women In Film & Television Houston (WIFTH) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization, dedicated to helping women reach the highest level of achievement in television, film, and other moving-image media, and further dedicated to promoting equity for women in these industries. It was chartered in 1995, and currently has a membership nearing 200. In recent years our male membership has grown, and now represents over 20% of total membership. Members and contributors also include college students from, across the state, individuals with an interest in learning about the industry, as well as corporate members. WIFT Houston works to build community across the industry.

Posted April 2009

Where the Pros Go to Find YOU!

You can still be a part of WIFT's online member directory, but since it's voluntary you won't be added automatically. If you'd like to be included, email a headshot (.jpg only) to wifth@yahoo.com and put WIFT WEB DIRECTORY in the subject line. Include a brief bio with your background and skills, work you're looking for and any contact information. Check out those members already on the site Directory at www.wift-houston.org.

WIFT's Online Calendar

Don't forget check the calendar often! It's updated daily with WIFT-sponsored events, screenings, classes, seminars, workshops, selected events and opportunities from other industry organizations and more.
Want to add an event? Email the details and contact information for the person in charge to wifth@yahoo.com. Type "WEB SITE CALENDAR" in the subject line. “NOTE: WIFT has the right to edit and/or refuse any item.

WIFT-Houston would like to welcome...

First Quarter 2009

New Corporate Member
Indie Slate/Fresh Squeezed Entertainment - Maureen Herzog & Dave Walker

and Acknowledge with Thanks Corporate Renewals
Hotel Derek - Chad Tiedt & Ryann Woods-Tadlock, Houston Community College Audio & Film Department - Dr. Scott Gehman & Rick Harrington, Houston Community College Fine Arts Department - Dr. Aubrey Tucker, Bonnie Gallup & Betty Shine, Locke Bryan Productions - Camille Bryan & Locke Bryan, Page.713 / Page Parkes Talent - Page Parkes-Eveleth & Michelle Martinez, Photographic Design Lab - Heather Leigh Jackson & Sanjay Patel, Roeder & Moon - Jeff Evans

And, the Individual Renewals
Karen Aptekar, Susan Branton, April Brown, Kristine Canterbury, Robin Craig, Wanda Carraway, Aneta Davis, Melinda deKay, MaryKate Flanagan, Shawn Harris, Marc Isaacs, Jennifer Joseph, Carole Keeney-Harrington, Melanie Lawson, Eleese Lester, Linda Mazzagatti, Esq., Katie McDowell, Sabrina Miskelly, Patty Nilsson, Melannie O'Connor, Julitta Pourciau, Donna Reed, Dr. Scott Reynolds, Clemmie St Amand, Nancy Simonds, Mark Sullivan, Pamela Summers, Marilyn Swick, Patricia Torres-Burd, Elsa Ward, Karron Wardwell, Lori Gail White, Carrie Woliver, Lawrence Young, Esq.

Welcome to New Members
Denise Boucher, Susanne Campbell, Rutherford Cravens, Margarita de la Vega-Hurtado, Galadrief Ferguson, Hannah Isaacs, Dolores Jackson, Andrew Kantowski, Lydia Martinez, Carrie Moffett, Tresha Rodriguez-Jacques, Xxavier Tallow

Posted February 2009

WIFT Houston, as a community partner to The Brilliant Lecture Series Conversations With Brilliance, encourages its members to attend an intimate evening with Lauren Bacall, Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at 6:30 PM. An exclusive Film Screening of “To Have and Have Not” followed by Q&A with Ms. Bacall, will take place at River Oaks Theatre, 2009 W. Gray. The Brilliant Lecture Series has donated two tickets to WIFT to be awarded as a door prize at WIFT’s OSCAR TALK & Winter Membership Drive at Ernie’s On Banks, Wednesday evening, February 18.

Limited General Seating is available at $65. There will be a Private Post VIP Reception with Ms. Bacall hosted by Brilliant Lectures Chairman Emeritus Lynn Wyatt with limited tickets available for $250.

Tickets are available from The Brilliant Lecture Series, 713-974-1335, or www.brilliantlectures.org. For additional information email Niesha Lawson, nieshalawson@brilliantlectures.org.

Posted January 2009

WIFT's new Web site is complete, with more information and resources added continuously. Thanks to many hours of design and implementation by corporate member Sanjay Patel, with PDL Studios, your Web site is now a working example of his fine work. Get used to checking the Calendar section often. It will be updated throughout the month with WIFT, member-related, and industry events. "The One Sheet," our e-newsletter, will continue not only as a record of WIFT activities and progress, but as an outreach to the community we serve.

Happy New Year!

May these interesting times bring success your way!

It Happened In December...

If you missed the Holiday Party and Silent Auction, you missed a splendid evening that marked the beginning of a new WIFT tradition. December 2 proved to be an ideal time of the month before everyone's schedule gets out-of-hand, and the Silent Auction proved to be a great way to pick up some gift bargains, as well as handy production-related items to support your 2009 project needs. New members Amy Mitchell and Jake Messinger undoubtedly know how to shop, and have a good time doing it. WIFT appreciates the support of all the Silent Auction shoppers.

WIFT'S December Spotlight Event, December 2, 2008

The Holiday Party & Silent Auction was held at The Tasting Room Uptown Park, and a fine party it was! It was also a great way to kick off the holiday season.

Here are a few photographs to motivate you to explore further into Heather Leigh Jackson's event photo collection displayed in the Photo section of the WIFT Web site.

The program was dedicated to WIFT Houston's Past President Cynthia Neely. Jolene McMaster presented the stunning crystal trophy selected by charter member and current board member Nancy Clinton, to express the organization's appreciation to Cynthia for her eight years as president, and decade of service to WIFT. Her oft-used phrase of "Onward & Upward" is remembered here as a toast to her future, and I'm sure will remain a continuing mantra for the organization.

eXtreme CloseUp - Another award presented at the Holiday Party was the $100 gift card for dinner at SoVino Bistro & Wine Bar awarded to WIFT Member Connie Hill for submitting the winning name for WIFT Houston's future educational series. The name eXtreme CloseUp (or XCU) beat out the competition. Connie, we know you'll enjoy the prize. Our thanks and appeciation to SO VINO for their contribution to the cause.

PHOTO: (Left) Of Connie Hill and Marc Isaacs PHOTO: (Right) Amy Mitchell and Jake Messinger with winnings

WIFT wants to acknowledge and thank all the Silent Auction Donors who made the evening such a success. Please support these individuals and businesses as often as possible. The donors were Entertainment Partners, The Alley Theatre, Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP), Houston Museum of Natural Science, Pastorini-Bosby Talent, The Editing Company, Yankie Grant, Nuvo Too, Bergamos Spa Retreat, Belly Dance Lessons By Belladona Dance, Wardwell Tax & Business Services, Eleese Lester & Lone Star Actors, ComedySportz Houston, 4SpecialtyGifts.com, Page.713 Model & Talent Agency, FireMonkey Productions, Murder Mystery Madness, Erin Williams, Hotel Derek, Kerry Beyer, Lot 8, Julie Furnas-Schuller, Sam Houston Race Park, Joyce Long and Associates, and youQPon from Steelbird Studios.

Co-Chairs for the evening were Marc Isaacs, WIFT Vice President, and Rick Ferguson, Executive Director of the Houston Film Commission. Many thanks to you both and to Melannie O'Connor, who hosted the interviews for the video presentation, editing it as well, featuring our guest of honor Cynthia Neely, Immediate Past President of WIFT Houston, and current President Jolene McMaster. The video production was made possible thanks to Houston Community College Department of Audio and Film, and Rick Boyd, who taped the interviews and aided in the post process.

Volunteers assisting in many ways were Julie Furnas-Schuller, Karron Wardwell, Melinda deKay, Melody Moss, Connie Hill, Rob McKinnon, Yankie Grant, Alan Martin, and our talented event photographer Heather Leigh Jackson.

New Members

New Members joining WIFT at the Holiday Party were Christine Bax, Melrose Fougere, John Goad, Jake Messinger, Amy Mitchell, and Felicia Stevens. Houston Cinema Arts Society Managing Director, Lisa Albracht and TXMPA South East Region Representative Susan Fowler joined recently, as did Carlis Lollie, a new student member. Returning Members are Connie Cooper, Anna Peterek, and Heather Tucker.

Renewing Members

Recent Renewing Members before year's end include Carolina Boyd, Nicole Fellers, Diana Howie, Christina Huston, James Huston, Joel Irwin, Josephine John, Rona Lamont, Dr. Patricia Nelson, Sandra Rios, Bea Rouse, Dr. Tahl Rozycki, Kay Salem, and Ellen Durckel Vestewig.

Also in December....

Houston Film Critics Society Best of 2008 Awards Program, December 20, 2008

The Houston Film Critics Society, founded in 2007, announced its 2008 Film Awards in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Brown Auditorium Theater on December 20. Fifteen categories included Best Picture and Performance awards, Ensemble Acting, Cinematography, and Score awards, plus two Outstanding Achievement Awards. The event was free and it was also quite a success!

The awards ceremony was co-sponsored by The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Houston Film Commission; WIFT Houston, Southwest Alternate Media Project, Houston Cinema Arts Society, and the Cultural Services of the Consulate General of France in Houston. Heather Jackson was the event photographer and you can view these photographs here on the Web site. The packed reception was held in the museum galleries.

Local awards were presented: A well-deserved one to WIFT member and MFAH Film Curator Marian Luntz and MFAHs Film Department for "Outstanding Achievement in Film Programming," and another to Andrea Grover and The Aurora Picture Show for "Outstanding Achievement in Cinema." The guys and gals in the photo are some of the members of Houston Film Critics Society. Back Row, from left to right are Joe Leydon, Nick Nicholson, President, and Eric Harrison. Middle Row: Joshua Starnes, Michael Sicinski, TJ Calahan, Regina Scruggs, Sally Hill, Jake Hamilton, Louis Parks. Front Row: Michael Bergeron, who will be our guest speaker on February 18 at WIFTs "Oscar Talk" night out. For a complete list of these 2008 Film Awards you can proceed to the Houston Film Critics' Web site at www.houstonfilmcritics.com. BTW, Best Picture went to "...Benjamin Button," Best Actor, Sean Penn in "Milk," and Best Actress, Anne Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married."

Camille Bryan, a WIFT Houston Board Member since 2005, stepped down from her At Large position at the end of 2008, and is currently serving on the board of American Advertising Federation Houston. They are getting a jewel. Camille has been an invaluable supporter of WIFT Houston, which of course won't change even with her departure from the board. Locke Bryan Productions will still be a WIFT Corporate Member. Camille and Locke Bryan have been corporate members since 1998, and Camille has been a member since 1997. Thank you for your guidance and for helping WIFT end the year successfully.

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