New York K 486: Recognizing Lisa Cortes for her valuable contributions to the film, television, music, and entertainment industries

Bill Text

Bill Search and Legislative Information | New York State Assembly 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Skip to main content 

 New York State Assembly

 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

 --> 
 --> 

 --> 

• 
 Assembly Members 

• 
 Legislative Info 

• 
 Public Hearings 

• 
 Speaker's Press 

• 
 Assembly Reports 

• 
 Committees & More 

• Bill Search Home
• Laws
• Legislative Calendar
• Public Hearing Schedule
• Assembly Calendars
• Assembly Committee Agenda 

 Javascript must be enabled to properly view this page. 

 - This bill is not active in this session.

 Bill No.: 

• Summary 
• Actions 
• Committee&nbspVotes 
• Floor&nbspVotes 
• Memo 
• Text 
• LFIN 
• Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript 
K00486 Summary:

BILL NOK00486 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORReyes

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSRBichotte Hermelyn, Hyndman, Jackson, Walker

&nbsp

&nbsp

Go to top K00486 Actions:

BILL NOK00486 

&nbsp

05/13/2025introduced

05/13/2025adopted

Go to topK00486 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topK00486 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topK00486 Text:

Assembly Resolution No. 486

BY: M. of A. Reyes

 RECOGNIZING Lisa Cortes for her valuable
 contributions to the film, television, music, and
 entertainment industries

 WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this Legislative Body to recognize
and acknowledge those distinguished citizens who, by means of their
knowledge, passion, and dedication, reach admirable levels of success in
their careers, while simultaneously strengthening the cultural fabric of
this great State and Nation; and

 WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
recognize Lisa Cortes for her valuable contributions to the film,
television, music, and entertainment industries; and

 WHEREAS, An alumnus of New York Film Academy, Lisa Cortes is a
Grammy-nominated and Emmy Award-winning director and producer renowned
for her bold and empowering art that brings important stories often
hidden out of view to the forefront of the media industry; and

 WHEREAS, Originally hailing from Milford, Connecticut, Lisa Cortes
grew up participating in piano recitals and children's theater
productions--both of which instilled a deeper level of confidence and
appreciation for storytelling which have been a valuable foundation for
her illustrious career; and

 WHEREAS, After graduating from Milford Academy as valedictorian,
Lisa Cortes attended Yale University where she earned a Bachelor of
American Studies degree with a focus on Black literature; and

 WHEREAS, One of Lisa Cortes' great interests includes music; working
her first job at the recording label Def Jam during an era when hip-hop
music was growing fast in popularity allowed her to learn and prosper;
she went on to become the vice president of A&R at Mercury Records; and

 WHEREAS, A trailblazer at heart, during her tenure with A&R at
Mercury Records, a division of PolyGram Records, Lisa Cortes developed
new recording artists and launched her own music recording label known
as Loose Cannon Records; this monumental achievement solidified her as
the first African American woman with her own label with a major record
company; and

 WHEREAS, Following many rich life experiences and a rediscovered
love of storytelling, Lisa Cortes became the founder and president of
Cortes Filmworks--a New York City based multimedia production company
committed to telling complex, powerful stories from new perspectives,
elevating the talent often overlooked by the mainstream media; and

 WHEREAS, Cortes Filmworks, under the able and insightful leadership
of Lisa Cortes, aims to produce scripted and unscripted properties
spanning music, social justice, crime, and other notable topics; and

 WHEREAS, The portfolio of films by Cortes Filmworks include: "Little
Richard: I am Everything"; "The Space Race"; "Invisible Beauty"; "The
Melt Goes on Forever"; "All In: The Fight for Democracy"; "The Apollo";
"The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion"; "The Woodsman"; and "Precious"; and

 WHEREAS, Lisa Cortes' film productions have received over 80
international awards and nominations, and in 2023, the Black Film
Critics Circle selected her for its Pioneer Award; and

 WHEREAS, In acknowledgement of her admirable talent, Lisa Cortes has
been featured at world-renowned film festivals, including Sundance Film
Festival and Tribeca Film Festival; the masterful works she helped
direct and produce--"Little Richard: I Am Everything," "Invisible
Beauty," and "The Space Race,"--were honored at Sundance with the former
film being chosen as the opening night selection in the U.S. Documentary
Competition--a highly prestigious and commendable accomplishment; and

 WHEREAS, Lisa Cortes co-produced "The Woodsman," starring Kevin
Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick (2004); produced "Shadowboxer," starring Helen
Mirren and Cuba Gooding Jr., (2005); and "Tennessee," starring Mariah
Carey (2008)