WIFVNE is pleased to announce four new Board members.
Yael Beals began her career producing for television at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics where she worked on a series called ESSENTIAL SCIENCE FOR TEACHERS, a science program for teachers; a documentary called INFLUENCING COLLEGE SCIENCE SUCCESS; and Digital Video Science Library. The work was exhibited at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. As an independent filmmaker, she created several films for the CityLab program at the Boston University School of Medicine, including THE SCIENCE OF OPPORTUNITY and SUMMERLAB. (CityLab provided underprivileged students the opportunity to start a career in biotechnology.) In addition, Yael has worked with Errol Morris, the documentary film and commercial director, in developing concepts for books and films. Beals is also developing the limited TV series, BILLION DOLLAR MOLECULE based on the book with the same name by the award-winning author Barry Werth. This is also a collaboration with award-winning Executive Producer Norman Stephens, award-winning screenwriter John Pielmeier, and Executive producer Julie Snyder. She is also developing a limited TV series, HOOK’s TALE based on the book with the same name by John Pielmeier and Executive Producers Norman Stephens and Ken Atchity. Beals is Co-Producing a feature documentary film about Jewish Resistance to the Nazi Regime during Holocaust with Emmy award-winning Executive Producer Paula Apsell. Beals earned her Master’s degree in film and television from Emerson College and a B.A. in photojournalism from Ohio University. She studied science at Harvard University and is trained as an EMT.
Kristen Falso-Capaldi began her career at TV stations in Providence, RI and Boston, where she was a writer/producer for promotion, advertising and short-form programs, one of which earned her a Boston/New England Emmy nomination. After pursuing her masters degree and spending several years as a public school teacher, she wrote, directed and edited a short film, You Weren’t Afraid at All, which ignited her passion for filmmaking. Falso-Capaldi works as a production designer for shorts, features and television and is currently working on a short film and co-writing a TV pilot script. She was a 2021 finalist for the New England Film Star Award and was chosen for the 2022 WIFVNE Director Shadowing Program. She is among the speakers at the 2023 TEDx conference at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI. Falso-Capaldi is also a novelist, a visual artist and an adjunct university instructor in literature, writing and film studies.
Heather Keith recently joined the film and television industry as a Covid Compliance Officer for feature and commercial work. Since then, she has worked as Production Supervisor on a feature and 1st AD on a short film in addition to volunteer work in Props and other roles as needed. Heather is currently finding any and every opportunity to work on set while also working on a screenplay of a historical fiction series based on a novel she’s writing. In her previous career, she had 25 years of marketing and sales management experience, building sales teams and launching products for multiple medical device companies. In 2011, she founded a start-up and raised $1.25M from investors. She previously served on the Board of MassMEDIC (Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council). Heather has volunteered for many years as an advisor, mentor, and speaker for Springboard Enterprises (sb.co), an organization that accelerates the growth of entrepreneurial companies led by women through access to resources and a global community of experts. Heather has double bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Business and received her MBA from Boston University. She plays piano, knits, and enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and rowing.
Marilyn Swick’s passion and creativity for the film industry have been the fundamental drive in every avenue of her life. Starting as a teenage model and actress in Columbus, Ohio, she appeared in commercial print ads, moved into theatrical performances and the rest is history. Today, she is an accomplished award-winning producer, director, screenwriter, songwriter, acting coach, and SAG-AFTRA actress. Marilyn is also a proud member of ASCAP as a songwriter and a publisher under Sleep On It Productions. She is a long-standing member of Women In Film and Television in LA, Houston, and New England. Marilyn earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and attended the New York Film Academy.
