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Gay Abel-Bey is an American film director, producer, writer, editor, and academic. She currently teaches at New York University. [1]
Early life and education
Abel-Bey earned her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, as well as her M.F.A. in Film from UCLA. [1] In 1991, she made her thesis film Fragrance, which earned her the Dorothy Arzner Award for "high recognition of dramatic piece by a woman." [1] While in graduate school at UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television, Abel-Bey taught courses in screenwriting and production. [1] In her time at UCLA, Abel-Bey worked with ABC's Television Lighting Director Leslie Zak to produce and direct an instructional video in television lighting, and conducted a lighting seminar for film as well as producing three more instructional videos retained at the UCLA archives. [2]
Career
Abel-Bey was involved with Filmex, a Los Angeles film festival, and co-hosted a retrospective for the National Film School of London. [1] She also helped to develop a community-based documentary workshop for at-risk youth in Los Angeles via Cal State LA's media department. [2] Additionally, Abel-Bey has produced a variety of other film projects, some of which include Father & Son, Running 4 My Life, When It's Your Turn for WPVI-TV, Stone Cold Hustler, and Kiss Grandmother Goodbye. [2] Father & Son was awarded a Sonny Innovators Award, while Stone Cold Hustler was awarded a local Emmy Award in Washington, D.C. for the "Drug Free School Zone" campaign. [2]
In 1995 Abel-Bey started teaching at New York University, and as of 2023 she continues to work there as an Academic Advisor for the Undergraduate Division of Film & Television, teaching courses in production and screenwriting. [1] As a teaching assistant, Abel-Bey taught the Remote Television Workshop and Sports Broadcasting & Intermediate Television Production. [2]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Daydream Therapy | Acting role | |
| 1980 | Happy Valentine's Day [1] | Director and writer | |
| 1991 | Fragrance [1] | Director, producer, writer, and editor | Served as her thesis film [1] |
Additional works include:
- Father & Son
- Running 4 My Life
- When It's Your Turn
- Stone Cold Hustler
- Kiss Grandmother Goodbye
Awards
 |
- Dorothy Arzner Award
- Sonny Innovators Award
- Local Emmy Award
References
- Film directors from New York City
- American women film directors
- African-American film directors
- L.A. Rebellion
- 20th-century African-American academics
- 20th-century American academics
- 21st-century African-American writers
- Mount Holyoke College alumni
- University of California, Los Angeles alumni
- New York University faculty
- Living people
- 20th-century African-American writers
- 21st-century African-American academics
- 21st-century American academics