Amy Sewell
Encyclopedia
Amy Sewell is an American
author and filmmaker, best known for Mad Hot Ballroom
(Paramount, 2005), in which she debuted as a film writer and producer.
Sewell is also the founder/director of a non-profit organization, Give It Up for the ARTS. The non-profit's main mission is to help kids gain exposure to the arts.
in 1963, Sewell grew up in suburban Chicago
and Detroit. In 1985, she earned a degree in marketing and communications from the University of Michigan
.
After working in public relations for several years, Sewell enrolled in Schiller International University
, located in Paris, France, where she studied business administration. Armed with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Sewell moved to New York in 1989.
In NYC, Sewell spent 15 years as a marketing executive in the publishing industry before leaving corporate America to spend more time at home with her twin daughters. Following a short stint as a stay-at-home mom, Sewell soon re-entered the workplace as a writer, reporting local stories for her neighborhood newspaper, the Tribeca Trib, in lower Manhattan. In July 2003, following the publication of a feature story in the Tribeca Trib about New York City public school children studying ballroom dance, Sewell joined forces with film producer Marilyn Agrelo to turn her story into the hit documentary Mad Hot Ballroom.
: Sewell received acclaim for her debut film, Mad Hot Ballroom. Based on a feature article written by Sewell, Mad Hot Ballroom looks inside the lives of eleven-year-old New York City public school kids. Pieces of themselves are revealed along the way, as the children strive toward the final citywide competition and journey into the world of ballroom dancing. Told from the students' perspectives, the film highlights the cultural diversity that is the soul of New York City.
what’s your point, honey?: Sewell’s latest documentary, in which she partners with filmmaker Susan Toffler, puts a new face on political leadership by introducing seven possible presidential contenders coming down the pipeline. Defining where women stand now and more importantly, how what happens today shapes what will happen tomorrow, the movie takes a (sometimes whimsical) look at gender issues in America and inequalities that still exist today. Portraits are painted of seven possible future leaders, the 2024 girls, underscoring one of the main themes of the film that it is not about one woman candidate running.{
Sewell’s short stories and screenplays include:
Sewell has also written the following news articles:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author and filmmaker, best known for Mad Hot Ballroom
Mad Hot Ballroom
Mad Hot Ballroom is a documentary film by director Marilyn Agrelo and writer/producer Amy Sewell about a ballroom dance program in the New York City Public School system....
(Paramount, 2005), in which she debuted as a film writer and producer.
Sewell is also the founder/director of a non-profit organization, Give It Up for the ARTS. The non-profit's main mission is to help kids gain exposure to the arts.
Early career
Although born in Cedar Rapids, IowaCedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
in 1963, Sewell grew up in suburban Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Detroit. In 1985, she earned a degree in marketing and communications from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
After working in public relations for several years, Sewell enrolled in Schiller International University
Schiller International University
Schiller International University is a private American university with its main campus and administrative headquarters in Largo, Florida. It has campuses on two continents in five countries, each offering its own unique experiences to students: Largo; Paris, France; Madrid, Spain; Heidelberg,...
, located in Paris, France, where she studied business administration. Armed with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Sewell moved to New York in 1989.
In NYC, Sewell spent 15 years as a marketing executive in the publishing industry before leaving corporate America to spend more time at home with her twin daughters. Following a short stint as a stay-at-home mom, Sewell soon re-entered the workplace as a writer, reporting local stories for her neighborhood newspaper, the Tribeca Trib, in lower Manhattan. In July 2003, following the publication of a feature story in the Tribeca Trib about New York City public school children studying ballroom dance, Sewell joined forces with film producer Marilyn Agrelo to turn her story into the hit documentary Mad Hot Ballroom.
Films
Mad Hot BallroomMad Hot Ballroom
Mad Hot Ballroom is a documentary film by director Marilyn Agrelo and writer/producer Amy Sewell about a ballroom dance program in the New York City Public School system....
: Sewell received acclaim for her debut film, Mad Hot Ballroom. Based on a feature article written by Sewell, Mad Hot Ballroom looks inside the lives of eleven-year-old New York City public school kids. Pieces of themselves are revealed along the way, as the children strive toward the final citywide competition and journey into the world of ballroom dancing. Told from the students' perspectives, the film highlights the cultural diversity that is the soul of New York City.
what’s your point, honey?: Sewell’s latest documentary, in which she partners with filmmaker Susan Toffler, puts a new face on political leadership by introducing seven possible presidential contenders coming down the pipeline. Defining where women stand now and more importantly, how what happens today shapes what will happen tomorrow, the movie takes a (sometimes whimsical) look at gender issues in America and inequalities that still exist today. Portraits are painted of seven possible future leaders, the 2024 girls, underscoring one of the main themes of the film that it is not about one woman candidate running.{
Awards
Awards bestowed upon Mad Hot Ballroom include:- The Christopher AwardChristopher AwardThe Christopher Award is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, motion pictures and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit"...
in 2006 - Best Documentary at the Karlovy Vary International Film FestivalKarlovy Vary International Film FestivalThe Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in July in Karlovy Vary , Czech Republic. The Karlovy Vary Festival gained worldwide recognition over the past years and has become one of Europe's major film events....
in 2005 - The Audience Award at the Philadelphia Film FestivalPhiladelphia Film FestivalThe Philadelphia Film Festival is held annually in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Until 2009 it was generally held during the first weeks of April....
- Satellite Award for Best Documentary FeatureSatellite Award for Best Documentary FeatureThe Satellite Award for Best Documentary Film is an annual award given by the International Press Academy.-Winners:...
in 2005
Published work
Sewell’s books include:- The Mad Hot Adventures of a Documentary Filmmaker (Hyperion 2007)
- She's Out There! The Next Generation of Presidential Candidates (2008)
Sewell’s short stories and screenplays include:
- Coming Up Seven (1993)
- Double Knots (1993)
- Collection of Short Stories: 1976–present
- The Coffee Club (Screenplay; WGA#068612-00; 1992)
Sewell has also written the following news articles:
- Their Personal Best (The Tribeca Trib, April 2007)
- Reading, Writing and Rumba (The Tribeca Trib, July 2003)
- Kindergarten Parent Volunteer Olympics (The Tribeca Trib, June 2003)
- In These Times, Mom's Role Is Warrior, Too (The Tribeca Trib, April 2003)
- Big Ideas (The Tribeca Trib, March 2003)
- SPLASH! (The Tribeca Trib, February 2003)
External links
- what's your point, honey? Official site