Past Quotes from Members

"I was looking for smart, intelligent women who are enthusiastic and proactive about getting ahead, but also willing to work at it with others and make a great network that will hold good in the future when we start greenlighting things and making tv/movies..."
-- Giulia Prenna - Industry Entertainment

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"It's about starting and creating a community. Reaching out to one another and helping each other out. To make a difference in the Entertainment industry, and to change by example of leadership, friendship, networking, and community service."
-- Arlona Polywka - APA

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"I have only just joined, but to me the greatest utility of the group is having a bunch of smart, cool women all over the industry who can answers questions, provide info, and share job leads. The internet is great, but nothing beats a collection of real people with real knowledge at their fingertips."
-- Hannah Wachs -Important Films

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"I joined the group after realizing that all the amazing job leads and networking leads I was getting were coming from a friend who was already part of the group. ÝWhat I've gotten out of it, since joining, was an assistant job for a director which I may not have gotten otherwise."
-- Julie-Anne Wight - Writer/Director

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Our Mission

NEXT GEN FEMMES was developed to foster a community of young female professionals to build successful leaders in the entertainment industry.

 

 

 

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Founders

Rachel G. Abarbanell: Co-Founder and CEO

Born and raised in Chicago Illinois, Rachel studied at Knox College, and received her Bachelors Degree in Economics, with a minor in directing for the Theatre. Following graduation, Rachel received a Post Baccalaureate fellowship to study film. After completing her fellowship Rachel moved to Los Angeles and interned for a small independent production company, Millennium Films. Her stint at Millennium led to a full time job as their Production Coordinator, and assistant to Producer John Thompson. At Millennium Rachel worked on eighteen features, including The Black Dahlia, 16 Blocks, The Wicker Man, and 88 Minutes. Independently, Rachel has also Produced Whatever Happened to Gavin Buckmaster, and The Insect Chorus. Rachel recently received Associate Producer credit on THIS SIDE OF THE TRUTH to be released next year, and is currently serving as Vice President of Production for Lynda Obst & Marc Rosen at Rosen-Obst Productions. Click to view Rachel's IMDB page

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Elise Freimuth: Co-Founder and President

Elise is a Film & Events Account Associate who graduated from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor with a bachelor's degree in Film/Video Studies and English. She also interned for two summers with Walden Media in New York City, which further inspired her to pursue a career in cinema. Elise started working at Cherry Road Films, a small independent production company, upon her move to Los Angeles. While there, she assisted three executives in all aspects of development and production. She also worked extensively on the set of Richard Kellys SOUTHLAND TALES as the assistant to two producers. Elise is currently the film account coordinator at mPRm Public Relations. Click to view Elise's IMDB page

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Lauren Ito – VP of Events

Lauren Ito is a world traveler who is constantly searching for the next amazing artist, the newest in electronics, or just the next great adventure. She studied psychology, and theater at Cal State Fullerton, before devoting a year to guerilla film making. After which she became a talent manager, specializing in placing unknown actors with their first agencies, and getting them their first credible roles on major TV and Film projects. From there Lauren went to work at APA, as an Executive Assistant to Partner and Head of the Music department Troy Blakely, before quickly moving up as a Junior Agent booking talent internationally. Missing the ebb and flow of the Film world, Lauren left APA, and has recently taken a position at Rosen Obst Productions, where she will be helping the team develop and produce their ongoing slate of projects.

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Angela Iuorno – VP of Publicity

Angela Iuorno graduated from The New School's Parsons School of Design in New York City with a BBA in Design Marketing. After graduation, she worked her way up to an Account Executive in Public Relations at Evins Communications, working in the Fashion and Accessories division. She then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. After various temp and off-entertainment work, she re-established her career path in Public Relations, working as an assistant to one of the partners at Wolf-Kasteler and Associates. Angela currently works in the Publicity Department at Focus Features.

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Julie Michaels – VP of Educational Outreach

Julie Michaels was born in Toronto, Canada where she studied at Claude Watson School for the Arts with a major in theatre, and co-founded a student film festival in her senior year. She graduated with a BFA in Film Production from Concordia University in Montreal and moved to L.A. where she interned for Scott Rudin Productions and Morgan Creek. After working for Indie Producer Cotty Chubb, Julie's passion for music led to her job as Executive Assistant to Partner/Agent Laura Engel of Kraft-Engel Management, a music agency that reps film composers ranging from Danny Elfman to Phillip Glass. Julie is currently working for manager/producer Rosalie Swedlin at Industry Entertainment. In addition to her job, she is developing several documentary film projects.