A conversation and Q&A with the author of “Every Frame Counts, An Assistant Editor’s Reference Book”. Jared Simon shared some the processes he uses to differentiate his work as an AE, as he works toward finding additional editor and assistant editor roles. He discussed using Avid with FileMaker Pro, prepping for ADR and explained some of the ‘student resources’ included with his book.

Speakers:
Carl L. Marxer
Carl Marxer is a picture editor and assistant editor. His recent films include “Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down”, “Blind Trust”, “The Loneliest Whale:The Search for 52”, and “Before You Know It”. He also works for CBS Sports and NewsNation. Carl earned an MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design in Broadcast Design and Motion Graphics.

Jared A. Simon
Jared Simon is an editor and assistant editor with selected credits including Ad Astra, The Piano Lesson, Chevalier, and Come From Away. He frequently works with editors John Axelrad, ACE and Leslie Jones, ACE. Jared earned a BFA in Film Editing from the School of Visual Arts

This PNYA Post Break, produced by its Education & Events Committee, was "New York State Film & TV Tax Credit Updates.” The NY post-production community needs to band together now more than ever. The PNYA’s focus is bringing and keeping post-production in NY. The Post NY Alliance has been working tirelessly to keep the New York Tax Credit competitive and relevant to the ever-changing landscape. The budget has now passed, and the changes are big! Learn about all of the tax credit program enhancements. Join us in thanking our amazing outgoing Chair, Yana Collins Lehman (Trevanna Post), and meet our newly elected PNYA Chair, Vivian Connolly (Phosphene), and Vice Chair, Pete Conlin (Goldcrest). Also hear from Connie McFeeley from Empire State Development. This was an interactive seminar! Your membership and participation matter now more than ever!

Speakers:
Yana Collins Lehman is the CEO of Trevanna Post, Inc., a leading provider of financial services for feature films and television. She oversees strategy and operations for the New York, Los Angeles, and London offices. Trevanna most recently expanded their services to include accounting for Animation and Visual Effects, both rapidly growing industries in Film and Television.

Yana is considered an outspoken advocate of the New York film industry. As a founding member and Head of Government Affairs of the Post New York Alliance, an organization that promotes and supports the growth and development of post production in the state, Yana played a key role in lobbying for the 30% film and tv post production incentive. Recently made more aggressive, the NY Film and TV Incentive has created thousands of jobs and grown New York State's economy.

Additionally, Yana is a board trustee of Montclair Film, a nonprofit organization that celebrates and supports independent filmmaking. She was recently appointed Chair of the MFF education committee and serves on the Executive Board.

Vivian Connolly - CEO/Executive Producer, Phosphene/ PNYA Chair. Before co-founding Phosphene in 2008, Vivian Connolly was Head of Production at Edgeworx Inc. where she oversaw all production and worked closely with Visual Effects Supervisor and now business partner John Bair on projects including Synecdoche New York, Chicago 10, The Universe, and Peabody winner Judgment Day.

Vivian has led strategic planning for Phosphene’s expansion and growth, including a hands-on approach to building a diverse, creative and collaborative team. Vivian has used her wide range of production and post-production experience to develop new approaches to the management side of the VFX industry, resulting in a more streamlined and efficient workflow.

Under Vivian’s leadership, Phosphene has teamed up with HBO, Apple TV, Disney, FOX, Sony, A24, Dreamworks, Paramount, Universal, CBS, ABC, FX, HULU, Warner Bros., Netflix, Amazon, Showtime and Cinemax. Phosphene has received Two VES nominations, one VES Award as well as three Emmy Award nominations.

Phosphene’s recent projects include: Babygirl, Daredevil, Rebel Ridge, Maestro, Tick Tick Boom, In The Heights, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Succession.

Vivian is a lifelong activist, the proud new chair of the Post New York Alliance, the even prouder mother of two mini activists, and an (almost) native New Yorker by way of Mexico City.

Pete Conlin is a producer and four-time entrepreneur specializing in innovation and technology for the media and entertainment industry.

Moderator:
Chris Peterson (Post Executive, PNYA Board Member) is a post production and business development executive. He is also a founding PNYA Board Member and chairs its Education & Events Committee. His credits include A REAL PAIN (Jesse Eisenberg), FINNEGAN'S FOURSOME (Edward Burns) and HEREDITARY (Ari Aster). He has also served on the advisory board of Deliverable, a SaaS that leveraged AI to accelerate operations for creative companies.

NY has a long and rich tradition of documentary and unscripted storytelling. The PNYA membership is proud to celebrate this history. This Post Break explored the challenges documentary filmmakers face in their artistic journeys. Our panel discussed the finer points of crafting the narrative structure of a doc as well as digging into the picture and sound techniques deployed.

Speakers:
Shirley Vernae Williams is an embodiment of storytelling passion, having worked in media and entertainment for over a decade. With a directorial and producer journey spanning 11+ years, she radiates as the heart behind her brainchild, Willie B. Studios. She's produced over 140+ hours of unscripted television for major networks, produced and directed over 32 unscripted branded docu-series and 24 unscripted one offs for brands like Cadillac, CDC, Ikea, and Ritz. She was the Post Producer of Joe Berlinger’s Emmy nominated documentary Intent To Destroy and serves as the director and executive producer of A Break In Belonging, a full-length documentary about pastor Martin Thomas who pled guilty to murdering his friend. Never revealing why, Martin spent 23 years incarcerated and left his children shattered with unanswered questions. Now home from prison, Martin embarks on a journey to unveil the staggering truth about the murder and rebuild his broken relationship with his sons.

Carla Gutiérrez is an Emmy and Eddie nominated documentary filmmaker. Her directorial debut FRIDA, about iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, premiered at Sundance 2024 where it won the prestigious Jonathan Oppenheim Award for Best Editing. FRIDA (TIME Studios, Imagine Documentaries) is an Amazon MGM Studios original and it's currently streaming on Prime Video.

Carla's work as an editor includes the Oscar nominated films RBG, about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and LA CORONA. She edited JULIA, about renowned chef, and television personality Julia Child (Telluride, Toronto Film Festivals, CNN Films); and PRAY AWAY (Tribeca, Telluride, Netflix Original). Carla's work has received awards at Sundance, Tribeca, Berlinale, Outfest, the Critic’s Choice Awards, the National Board of Review Awards and the DuPont Columbia Awards.

Carla has been a creative adviser for the Sundance Edit Lab, and a mentor for the Firelight Producers’ Lab, The Karen Schmeer Diversity Program, and the Tribeca Film Fellows program. Carla is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and the American Cinema Editors. She received a Masters in Documentary Film from Stanford University.

Grace McNally is a documentary director and producer whose work has appeared on National Geographic, PBS, Discovery Channel, History Channel, Comedy Central, HBO, Hulu, Netflix and in theatrical releases.

Recently, she co-directed and produced the four part docu-series “Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey” for Netflix, a series on the FLDS and the brave men and women who fought against the authoritarian control of their prophet, Warren Jeffs. Previously, she co-produced “Slay the Dragon,” a feature documentary on democratic values and voting rights in the United States produced by Ark Media in collaboration with Participant Media. The film premiered at the TriBeCa film festival and is distributed by Magnolia Pictures.

Her self-produced short films have appeared in multiple festivals and won both jury and audience awards. She has also directed short films for partners including the Breakthrough Prize foundation, More Equitable Democracy, and 23&Me for TriBeCa Film Festival. Her work has covered a range of topics including international terrorism, Cuban black markets, the U.S. gun-control debate, voting rights, U.S. Presidencies, DNA ancestry, the opioid crisis and cults. She also has experience in commercial production including branded documentary style content, internal media campaigns, and political ads for the Hillary Clinton Presidential campaign and the Biden Presidential Campaign.

Ryan Price has been in the NYC film & television community for over 15 years as a Supervising Sound Editor and Re-recording Mixer. He’s well versed in both television and film. Select film credits include "Good Time" (The Safdie Brothers), "Her Smell" (Alex Ross Perry) and "Another Earth" (Mike Cahill). Highlights of his episodic work include "Damages" (FX), "Filthy Rich" (Fox) and "Love Life" (HBO Max). Most recently, Ryan completed “The New Look” and “Palm Royale” for Apple TV+.

Nick Quested - Producer/Director/Business Owner

Moderator:
Peter Conlin is a Producer and Entrepreneur specializing in innovation and technology for the media and entertainment industry. Currently Peter is working as a sales and innovation advisor to Goldcrest films and digitalfilm tree - global post production service companies with offices in New York, London and Los Angeles. In addition Peter serves on the board of software startups ProdPro and Showrunnr, industry leaders in production tracking and management solutions.

Previously Peter founded and served as the managing partner for post production and visual effects companies Sixteen19, powerhouse VFX and The Foundation.