Nina Yang Bongiovi
{{short description|American film producer}}
Nina Yang Bongiovi is an American film producer and Associate Chair of the Peter Stark Producing Program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.{{Cite web |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=2021-07-15 |title=USC Film School Names Ed Saxon Chair of Peter Stark Producing Program |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/usc-film-school-ed-saxon-peter-stark-producing-1234982579/ |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} In 2010, she partnered with actor Forest Whitaker to create Significant Productions; together, they have produced Fruitvale Station (2013) by Ryan Coogler, Dope (2015) by Rick Famuyiwa, Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015) by Chloe Zhao, Roxanne Roxanne (2017) by Michael Larnell, Sorry to Bother You (2018) by Boots Riley, and Passing (2021) by Rebecca Hall. She is married to Anthony Bongiovi, the younger brother of musician Jon Bon Jovi.{{cite magazine |last1=Sperling |first1=Nicole |title=Sorry to Bother You's Secret Weapon: a Powerhouse with an Eye for New Talent |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/08/sorry-to-bother-you-nina-yang-bongiovi-forest-whitaker-boots-riley-producer |magazine=Vanity Fair |publisher=Condé Nast}}
Career
Bongiovi received her graduate degree in Entertainment Management at the University of Southern California.{{cite web|url=http://cinema.usc.edu/events/event.cfm?id=15035|title=Dope|publisher=USC School of Cinematic Arts|accessdate=September 6, 2015}} She spent the first decade of her career working in the United States and Hong Kong film industries.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/5-secrets-of-success-from-the-badass-women-who-produced-selma-dope-the-hunger-games-and-the-walking-dead-20150618|title=5 Secrets of Success, From the Badass Women Who Produced 'Selma,' 'Dope,' 'The Hunger Games' and 'The Walking Dead'|publisher=Indiewire|last=Gupta|first= Shipra Harbola|date=June 18, 2015|accessdate=September 6, 2015}} During this time, she was involved in productions including China Strike Force (2000, Hong Kong), Mail Order Wife (2004, U.S.), Confessions of an Action Star (2005, U.S.), and The Children of Huang Shi (2008, China). In 2010, she met actor Forest Whitaker and they partnered to form Significant Productions, a production company that produces multi-cultural feature films, documentaries, and television series.{{cite web|last=Petski |first=Denise |date=July 27, 2019 |title=Amazon Inks First-Look Deals With Connie Britton, Forest Whitaker & Nina Yang Bongiovi's Significant Prods. – TCA |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/amazon-deals-connie-britton-forest-whitaker-nina-yang-bongiovi-significant-productions-1202655378/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=November 15, 2023}}
Bongiovi and Whitaker produced the 2013 American film Fruitvale Station, written and directed by Ryan Coogler and based on the story of the shooting of Oscar Grant in 2009. Bongiovi became involved with the project after film professor at USC, Jed Dannenbaum, contacted her to introduce her to Coogler, then a student of Dannenbaum.{{cite news|url=http://creativescreenwriting.com/anatomy-of-a-production-deal/|title=Anatomy of a Production Deal|work=Creative Screenwriting|date=August 3, 2013|first=Andrew| last=Bloomenthal|accessdate=September 6, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/ryan-coogler-brings-heart-talent-to-fruitvale/214931141/|title=From USC to award-winning filmmaker, Ryan Coogler brings heart, talent to 'Fruitvale Station'|work=Star Tribune|date=July 10, 2013|first=Sandy|last=Cohen|accessdate=September 6, 2015}} Fruitvale Station met with critical acclaim, winning the 2013 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award as well as the 2013 Cannes Film Festival L'Avenir Award. For their work on the film, Bongiovi and Whitaker won the Producers Guild of America Stanley Kramer Award, which is given for films that highlight social issues.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/frutivale-station-receiving-stanley-kramer-award-from-pga-1200952745/|title='Fruitvale Station' Receiving Stanley Kramer Award from PGA|date=December 13, 2013|first=Dave|last=McNary|work=Variety|accessdate=September 6, 2015}}
In 2014, Bongiovi and Whitaker produced Repentance, also starring Whitaker, followed by the 2015 films Dope and Songs My Brothers Taught Me. Both Dope and Songs My Brothers Taught Me were selected to play at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
Bongiovi and Whitaker produced Sorry to Bother You (2018), a satire film directed by Boots Riley.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/tessa-thompson-lakeith-stanfield-steven-yeun-movie-sorry-to-bother-you-1202113786/|title=Tessa Thompson, Lakeith Stanfield, Steven Yeun To Star In 'Sorry To Bother You'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anita|last=Busch|date=June 15, 2017|accessdate=June 27, 2017}}
In 2021, Bongiovi was named Associate Chair of the Peter Stark Producing Program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1341146}}
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Category:American women film producers
Category:Film producers from California
Category:American people of Chinese descent
Category:USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni