NYFA
Faculty Directory

Faculty Directory

Brian Beery

Brian is a vested member of the Screen Actor’s Guild due to many years of professional acting work in TV and Film. After working at a literary agency Becsey, Wisdom, Kalajian, Brian became an assistant to Alexander Payne (Election). Brian recommended Sideways to Alexander and the movie became a financial and artistic success, earning Payne an Oscar for his adaptation.

Brian was a medical researcher on the FOX TV series Bones. His medical research was used in several episodes, detailed on their official website and published in hardcover Bones: The Official Guide. Brian worked in Post Production on several feature films and TV shows directed by Spike Lee, M. Night Shyamalan, Tony Scott, Betty Thomas, the Russo brothers, and Jim Burroughs.

Brian earned his MFA in Screenwriting from AFI. Brian won the Ellen Idelson Playwriting Award, the George Mayr Award for Excellence in Screenwriting and the Kodak 35mm Award for his script Speed Dating. Speed Dating competed in film festivals all around the world and was ranked Best of USA by FilmsShort.com. Brian sold and optioned screenplays and was hired to rewrite movies based on the recommendations of Oscar winning filmmakers. Brian directed over 50 industrials and short films.

Rosa Belerique Vice President of Institutional Research and Effectiveness

Rosa Belerique brings over 15 years of experience in higher education to her role as Vice President of Institutional Research and Effectiveness at the New York Film Academy (NYFA), a position she has held since 2017. With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Communications and a Master of Science in Student Development in Higher Education, Rosa possesses a comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics of student success and institutional efficacy. Her journey in academia has been marked by a relentless commitment to advancing research and strategic planning initiatives, as well as fostering a culture of assessment and program review.

Rosa’s leadership extends far beyond the confines of her institution. As the 2021 President of the California Association for Institutional Research (CAIR), she played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of higher education research and planning in the state. Additionally, her involvement as a WASC Fellow, an Accreditation Leadership Academy (ALA) graduate and mentor, and her service on peer evaluation teams underscore her dedication to enhancing institutional quality and effectiveness on a broader scale. With her wealth of experience and dedication to the advancement of higher education, Rosa Belerique continues to leave an indelible mark on the field of institutional research and effectiveness.

Matthew Bellows Acting for Film Instructor

Matthew Bellows is a classically trained actor with an MFA from the prestigious Old Globe. With over 50 current tv and film credits to his name, Matthew’s credits range from the professional stage in Anna Christie, The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure (and more) to Television in The Mandalorian, recurring roles on New Amsterdam and Snowfall, and major roles on FBI International, United States of Al, Brooklyn 99, as well as big studio features, The Gray Man, Captain Marvel and Hereditary to name a few.

Katy Berry

Katy Berry is a New York based comedian, writer, and musical improviser who studied writing at The New School in New York City. Her screenplay POPCORN earned her a place in the 2020 Black List and Women in Film Feature Residency and is now being produced by Gunpowder & Sky, along with her second feature, CLICK CLICK PLAY. Her feature NEG is being produced by Aperture Entertainment. As a musical comedian, Katy has traveled the world at venues including The Kennedy Center, NYC’s Town Hall with David Byrne, and multiple sold-out Edinburgh Fringe Fest runs. In addition to live performances, her original writing and videos have been featured in Vulture, Studio360, Bustle, Chortle, Reductress, The Guardian, the Magnet Comedy Film Festival, NYC Web Fest, Coney Island Film Festival, Chain Film Festival, and more. When not teaching at NYFA, she’s leading the charge as the lead of Brooklyn Comedy Collective’s musical improv program.

Kevin Berriz

Kevin Berriz is a Cuban-American Cinematographer based in South Florida. He holds a Master’s Degree in Film from the California Institute of the Arts and has lensed short films, music videos, and feature films which have won awards as well as distribution through HBO and PBS. He is a Scuba-certified Eagle scout whose passion for film- making lies in the intersection of art and science. Those who know him are well aware of his loves, ranging from the signal processing of the digital sensor to the implications of representative experiences.

Michael Bershad Acting for Film Instructor

BA, Criminology, University of MD. Trained with Stella Adler, Michael Shurtleff, David LeGrant. Series regular, 2 seasons, “Capitol”. Theatrical Agent with Stephan Gray Artists. Casting: Glenn Larson Prods, White Eagle Prods (Sylvester Stallone). Cable Ace Awards Judge, 5 years. Produced 3 films, including the feature, “Dispatch” (Netflix, Amazon), which he also wrote and starred in.

Charissa Bertels

CHARISSA BERTELS is a Broadway actress and champion of new musicals. Charissa recently toured the country in the first national tour of If/Then, starring Idina Menzel, La Chanze and Anthony Rapp. She made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway cast of Pasek & Paul’s Tony-nominated musical A Christmas Story, and later reprised her role at Madison Square Garden. As part of the singing ensemble for New York City Center Encores’ productions of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Lady Be Good, her work can be heard on the subsequent cast recordings, featuring Megan Hilty and the legendary Tommy Tune.

Charissa starred to rave reviews in her original one-woman musical, My 80-Year-Old Boyfriend, at Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT), for which she received an IRNE award for Best Solo Performance. Her newest collaboration, The Uncivil Ones (Finalist: Rhinebeck, NextFest @ Latte Da, Live & In Color; Semi-Finalist: NAMT, O’Neill), features unheard female, trans and non-binary voices from the Civil War and garnered the 2019 Special Mention for the Women in Arts & Media Coalition Collaboration Award.

She can be seen in two of NYFA’s original musical films: “Gingerbread House” and “It Is What It Is”.

www.charissa.nyc

Sophia Bilynsky

Sophia is a respected leader in the design world with over 20 years of experience reshaping brand and business strategies across multiple sectors. Known for her innovative thinking, she blends classic design principles with new technologies and contemporary social insights to create branding that truly connects in today’s world. Growing up in Philadelphia to immigrant parents, Sophia weaves together global perspectives on art, identity, and culture to transform everyday ideas into meaningful experiences that speak to diverse clients and students alike. Throughout her career, she’s partnered with major companies, non-profits, and educational institutions to craft unique visual narratives that prioritize sustainability, accessibility, and ethical design—values she believes are crucial for preparing the next generation of creative talent.

Oscar Bleetstein

Oscar Bleetstein brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services sector, where he has held a number of senior positions at some of the most prestigious global financial institutions, including Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch, AIG and Chase. While Oscar has developed expertise in a wide range of financial areas, his core focus has been on alternative asset classes, commodity derivatives, and trading strategies. His client base consists of hedge funds, mutual funds, sovereign wealth entities, family offices and ultra-high net worth individuals. A native New Yorker, Oscar previously lived in Asia and in Europe, and has traveled extensively.

Thinking globally and acting locally is a motto he puts into practice every day. Oscar is on the advisory board of a.i.r. NYC, a Harlem-based, non-profit organization dedicated to keeping asthmatic children and adults healthy, active, and out of the hospital.

Oscar holds a degree in international relations from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and holds a Certificat d’Etudes Politiques from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences-Po).

Joseph Bonier

An active Sound Mixer and Sound Designer, Joseph graduated with a BA from the University of Maryland. Joseph also has a degree for Recording Engineering from the Recording Connection. He has worked as Boom Operator and Sound Mixer for numerous features, TV shows and shorts. He also worked as an Engineer at Avalon studios in Washington DC and Matrax productions in Philadelphia, PA.

Kyle Branzel

KYLE BRANZEL is a highly sought-after musical theatre coach, trusted by some of Broadway’s most thrilling performers. Drawing from a wide variety of theatrical experience as Director, Music Director, Actor, and Pianist, Kyle empowers actors in NYC and around the world to develop their artistry holistically and navigate their careers with integrity. His innovative approach to physical acting training and physiological vocal coaching have helped many clients and students book roles in films, TV shows, Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, national tours, regional productions, and cruise ships. Current teaching appointments: Musical Theatre Instructor at New York Film Academy, Musical Theatre and Movement Instructor at Jen Waldman Studio, Guest Lecturer of Musical Theatre at Western Illinois University, Head of Acting at Omaha Conservatory of Music’s SoundWaves Summer Institute. Previous: Hartt School of Music, Roosevelt University. Founder: Rock U, a comprehensive and dynamic approach to performing popular music. Member: Actors’ Equity Association. BFA Musical Theatre: Roosevelt University. kylebranzel.com

Lauren Ann Brickman

As an actor Lauren has appeared on screen in such projects as FBI: most wanted, Bull, Gloria Bell, Alterlatino, Stuffed with Lisa Lampanelli, and much more including being a former house performer at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade & a company member of The Story Pirates. As an educator Lauren has worked at Adelphi University, Montclair State, CUNY City Tech, CUNY Queensborough, and the University of Iowa where she earned her MFA in acting. Lauren is also a published writer for periodicals such as Glamour magazine & freelance director. She is also the 1/2 of the comedy duo we Stan together.

John Briscoe

Editor of multiple commercials broadcast both in Western Pennsylvania as well as Los Angeles. Worked as a freelance contractor on various independent films, webisodes and commercials. Editor of an 8-episode “war time” style documentary independently and aired locally in Los Angeles. Director, Producer and Editor of various segments airing on Pennsylvania television including a commercial for Hyundai, as well as various local food establishments and businesses.

Lizzy Brooks

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Lizzy is an Actor, Singer and Screenwriter. BA: Columbia University- Art History. MFA: Brown/Trinity Repertory (Acting, Directing and Playwriting). Select credits include Broadway: Macbeth (u/s Lady Macbeth, Banquo); Regional Theater: As You Like It (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), Julius Caesar (The Hanover Theater) and Shoebox: A Roadside Picnic (ASF). Film and TV: The Storied Life of AJ Fikry (Hulu/Amazon Prime), New Amsterdam (NBC) and Hostages (NBC)

Todd Bruno

Todd Bruno is an award-winning actor and producer, and a native of South Florida. He is a graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater in New York and has a Theater degree from Vanderbilt University. Best known for Stratagem (2017), Palace (2018) and Proximity (2013), he is a veteran of more than 40 film productions and 50+ stage productions. Todd is on faculty at New York Film Academy, and his latest film Corona Camp is set to release this year.

Amanda Brzezowski Associate Chair of Filmmaking

Amanda Brzezowski received her MA in Film Studies from Columbia University. She has presented papers at multidisciplinary conferences held at Emory University in Atlanta and the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City. Previously Amanda worked at POV, the longest-running documentary series on PBS, screening documentaries in consideration for the series, and coordinating the annual Editorial Committee Meeting with programmers and independent filmmakers. Since 2013, she has screened documentary films in consideration for festivals including DOC NYC, Camden International Film Festival, and Tribeca Film Festival. Amanda has also directed short documentaries for local nonprofits to help raise money for community programs supporting children, seniors, cancer survivors, and musicians. Currently, she teaches in the Documentary Traditions & Aesthetics courses for the NYFA Documentary Conservatory programs and is the Associate Chair of Filmmaking.

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