In June 2008, the New York Film Academy brings its filmmaking,acting, screenwriting and digital journalism summer camps to California for the ninth consecutive summer. In the high school summer camps, each student will write, direct, shoot edit, act in, or animate his or her own short films.

LOS ANGELES

Universal Studios, whose neighborhood is commonly known as Universal City, is centrally located in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles has perfect weather, a vibrant and culturally diverse population, and inseparable ties to the film industry.

From Hollywood, Malibu, and Westwood to Chinatown and the Sunset Strip, Los Angeles lives up to its billing. In past summers, group excursions have included: a cruise to Catalina Island, a trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain, surfing lessons, a beach cookout, and of course screenings at Hollywood's great movie palaces such as Mann's Chinese and the Cinerama Dome.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS BACKLOT

The New York Film Academy opens the studio's doors to the filmmakers-to-be of the world. Rather than being on the outside of the gates, peering in like tourists, students will live and breathe filmmaking within the very heart of the action.

Universal Studios sprawls over 415 acres of offices, alleys, interior sound stages and outside movie sets. Arrangements have been made with Universal Studios to shoot our in-class production exercises on their prestigious and widely used back lot, a landscape literally made up of the neighborhoods of the world. Driving around the lot, one alternately happens across a dusty Mexican villa, an imposing Roman square, a New York alley straight from the 1930's and a street whose saloons and wooden sidewalks harken back to the Wild West. Nearby one passes multiple lakes, an old New England street, and a Renaissance courtyard. New York Film Academy students will have the opportunity to direct on these same sets.

STAFF

The primary concern of our staff is the safety and well-being of our students. As in other locales, our eclectic faculty are experienced instructors and professional filmmakers who have Master of Fine Arts degrees from the most prestigious film programs in the United States. These include NYU, Columbia University, the University of Southern California, and UCLA.

SUPERVISION

All New York Film Academy High School filmmaking summer camps are supervised programs. High school students will be overseen by energetic, responsible, co-ed administrative, teaching, and counseling staff. Counselors reside in the Oakwood Apartments with non-commuting students. Many of the counselors are trained filmmakers themselves, and will act as teaching assistants supervising the students' film productions.

Please note: Parents who wish to allow their children to leave the summer camp site without supervision, must submit a written authorization to the New York Film Academy.

ENROLLMENT

No previous filmmaking experience is required. The Academy encourages enrollment of students from all backgrounds and all parts of the world. Students, however, must be prepared to live and breathe film in an intensive total immersion Camp Program. As space is limited, we recommend early application to guarantee a place in the Camp Program of your choice. Entering students are required to treat the area and the productions happening on the lot with absolute respect and professionalism.

CURRICULUM

From the very first day of class, the focus of the filmmaking summer camps is to learn through making films. Each student writes, produces, directs, and digitally edits his or her own films, and rotates among crew positions when his or her classmates shoot. Students in the Acting for Film summer camp should expect to enjoy a similarly comprehensive program.

In the Four-Week Filmmaking Camp Program, each student will make three film projects of increasing difficulty, culminating in a film of up to four minutes. Six-Week Filmmaking Camp Program students will make four films of increasing difficulty. The final film will be up to six minutes.

DAILY SCHEDULE

All programs have full-time daily schedules every week. The filmmaking program will be comprised of morning or afternoon Camp Programs, hands-on exercises in shooting and lighting, film screenings, lectures, and special activities. In addition, students shoot and edit approximately a film per person each week.

EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

Students in the Filmmaking summer camp shoot 16mm film with Arriflex-S cameras and portable Lowel lighting packages for every shoot. Students in the Digital Filmmaking summer camp shoot with digital cameras on DV tape. In both programs students edit digitally using Final Cut Pro on Apple computers.The equipment our Film Academy students use is comparable to that of the leading degree programs in the United States. Universal Studios' exclusive prop and costume collection that regularly supplies Hollywood blockbusters, will be made available for Camp Program attendees at a special rate.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Although the Camp Program's daily schedule is demanding, non-commuting students will have time to take advantage of the swimming, tennis, and gym facilities. Students will take part in organized evening and weekend activities including screenings, visits to amusement parks, and of course the beach.

HOUSING

The Academy has made arrangements with Oakwood Apartments located across the street from the lot. Students living in the complex can enjoy the use of two pools, six tennis courts and a gym, as well as bi-monthly maid service.

Students are not required to reside on campus in order to attend the Camp Program. To help us ensure their safety, commuting students must provide a letter from a parent or legal guardian, granting permission to come and go to campus.

TRANSPORTATION

NYFA staff will meet students by request at the Los Angeles International Airport. Students are also free to make their way to the campus by car.

FINAL SCREENING / PORTFOLIO

At the end of the course students will have a final screening open to actors, friends, and family. They will receive a diploma of New York Film Academy and a copy of their work.