By Maria Esteves – June 22, 2014
First Time Fest 2014: The Second Time Around (FTF 2014) Opening Panel Women in Entertainment with celebrity panelists Brooke Shields, Carol Alt, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Rosie Perez moderated by Village Voice Anna Merilyn commenced Thursday, April 3, 5:00 PM at NeueHouse, New York. Presented by Royal Bank of Canada and hosted by NeueHouse, these amazing women discussed progress in recent years for women in the entertainment industry from working conditions as models to health and nutrition to discrimination and salaries.

Questions posed to celebrity panelists by moderator Merilyn included: What was the working condition like for models when you started out? How often in a casting process do you encounter directors or producers who only want you to read for just a really stereotypical role? International filmmakers, industry professionals, festival patrons and celebrity guests were in attendance.

FTF 2014 Opening Panel Women in Entertainment: Iconic Grammy Award winning recording artist Tony Bennett, center, with festival co-founder Johanna Bennett, First Time Fest, and panel guest speakers (L-R) Brooke Shields, Rosie Perez, Carol Alt, and Daphne Rubin-Vega.

FTF 2014 Opening Panel Women in Entertainment: Festival co-founder Johanna Bennett, First Time Fest, right, with panel guest speaker actress Brooke Shields.

FTF 2014 Opening Panel Women in Entertainment:  Panel guest speakers actresses Rosie Perez, left, and Brooke Shields.

FTF 2014 Opening Panel Women in Entertainment
Arrivals: Panel guest speaker actress Brooke Shields.

FTF 2014 Opening Panel Women in Entertainment
Arrival: Panel guest speaker actress Daphne Rubin-Vega.

FTF 2014 Opening Panel Women in Entertainment
Arrivals: Panel guest speaker model/actress Carol Alt.

FTF 2014 Opening Panel Women in Entertainment
Arrivals: Panel guest speaker actress Rosie Perez.