HP Foundation to Fund New York Women in Film & Television Young Female Filmmaker Initiative

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is pleased to announce the receipt of a generous donation of more than $50,000 from The HP Foundation. The HP Foundation is one of the largest of its kind and is the culmination of Vietnamese actor, singer, writer, philanthropist and NYWIFT member Ha Phuong (HP)'s passion for music and her fierce devotion to supporting young people's causes. The announcement of this partnership was made at the Goldcrest Films, Cinematographers XX and NYWIFT Party at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22

In HP's honor, NYWIFT has named three programs to provide additional opportunities, growth and acknowledgement for women:

HP Training Program for Recent High School Grads
Two recent high school graduates will be selected to participate in an intensive, hands-on training program in camera operating. Students will take a two-week long intensive course on basic video-making. Week one would be a production overview and week two would be specialized instruction with a professional camera operator. For the next several months after completing the course the students will tape six NYWIFT events which will either be live-streamed or made available on the NYWIFT website. The students will have a professional camera person to mentor them during each shoot. Footage from these events will be made available to them to put on their reels.

The NYWIFT HP Scholarship
The scholarship Provides financial assistance to women second-year graduate students at The Brooklyn College Steinhardt School, City College of New York Columbia University, New York University and SUNY Stony Brook, as well as a graduating senior at School of Visual Arts.

HP Apprenticeship Program for Women Entering the Industry
Two women who have recently become part of the film industry will be placed on films or television shows to apprentice with someone in the one of the industry crafts including cinematographer, electrician, gaffer, grip, property master, set decorator, production sound mixer, boom operator and utility sound technician. The apprentices will be paired with a worker on set who will teach her the basic functions of the job. The apprentices will be paid a living stipend for the time they spend on set. Prior to joining the set, the apprentices will meet with producers and workers about over-all practices on set and the specifics of each job.

The students, trainees and apprentices from the three initiatives will also be invited to work with HP on her next film or video.

"We are so grateful for HP's generosity," said NYWIFT Executive Director Terry Lawler. "She has shown a commitment to inclusion in the arts and we are thrilled to partner with her to foster the next generation of women working across of a variety of trades in the film, television and digital media industries."

"I am happy to support young women filmmakers in partnership with New York Women in Film & Television," Ha Phuong said.