NYFA
Faculty Directory

Faculty Directory

Jennifer Swiderski

Jennifer Swiderski is a Broadway actress, director and choreographer, educator, coach, advocate, and proud mom — though not always in that order, and rarely all on the same day.

As a performer, she has appeared on Broadway, at Lincoln Center, and on National Tours in both leading and featured roles. Her career has taken her to stages around the world, earning her a few awards, plenty of playbills, and a lifetime of stories.

Her curiosity and love of collaboration naturally led her into teaching and directing alongside performing. Today, when she’s not directing and choreographing in New York and regionally, Jennifer can be found coaching Broadway actors (and the ones about to
be) or teaching the next generation of performers at New York Film Academy and other leading conservatories.

Her extensive stage experience also earned her the honor of serving as a Tony Award voter for more than a decade. Jennifer is known for creating spaces that are supportive, collaborative, and joy-filled — empowering artists to stretch past their own expectations
while appreciating the wonderment of shared empathy.

Andrea Swift

A cinematic storyteller with more than 20 years experience, Swift has served as executive producer and director of PBS’ Emmy-nominated documentary series, In the Life. Her films have screened at the United Nations Earth Summit and festivals worldwide, including Berlin International Film Festival (Best Short Film), Raindance Film Festival (Best of Festival Selection), CIFF, and Chicago International Film Festival (Silver). She has created content for AMC, History, WE, the NY Knicks and Madison Square Garden; and has directed and written for top talent including Oscar winner Susan Saradon, nominees Laura Linney, Patricia Clarkson, and Lesley Gore, and Tony Award and Emmy Award winners including Alan Cumming, Ossie Davis, Harvey Fierstein, Cherry Jones, Denis O’Hare, and RuPaul. Currently, Swift focuses on writing, story producing, and creative consulting. MFA, Columbia University.

John Tona

John Tona is a photographer and artist based in New York City. He uses photographic portraiture to investigate human nature and consciousness. His work employs strategies ranging from social-documentary, tableau, and reinterpretations of the portrait.

His most recent and ongoing project, (A)typical Typology, depicts pairs of people from each country of the world without cultural elements such as clothing, makeup, or other man-made products, leaving only the individual as the unique identifier. As a result, the lines of race and culture are de-emphasized, leaving us to consider the subjects more simply, as members of the human race.

In addition to publications in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, his work has been exhibited at Art Space Artion, The Canson Gallery, and the Jeonju International Photo Festival in Seoul, South Korea as well as Art Basel in Miami Florida and Photoville in Brooklyn New York.

John is a graduate of the one-year photography conservatory at the New York Film Academy.

Hernán Toro

A visionary Director of Photography with over three decades of experience crafting powerful, emotionally resonant visuals for film, television, and commercial productions. Born in the colorful city of Caracas, trained in London, and based in New York since 1995, Hernán Toro’s work bridges the cinematic traditions of Latin America, Europe, and Hollywood.

With over 20 feature films, 850+ commercials, and numerous award- winning feature films, shorts, documentaries, and music videos to his credit, Toro brings precision, passion, and a painter’s eye to every frame. His unique voice as a visual artist has been recognized internationally, from the streets of Caracas to the screens of Cannes. In addition to his film work, Hernán is an accomplished still photographer and mentor, committed to educating the next generation of cinematographers at the New York Film Academy. He is currently serving as President of the Society of Venezuelan Cinematography (SVC).

By Gregg Brilliant

Maxine Trump

Maxine Trump has directed both short and long-form documentaries for TV networks including TNT, Sundance Channel, BBC and Discovery. She worked for the BBC in London for seven years as a development executive for scripted comedy before emigrating to the U.S., working as a TV commercial director and producer for eight years. She won BDA awards for her work on numerous commercial and branded entertainment projects for clients such as AMC, National Geographic, PBS, BBC America, Animal Planet, Comedy Central, American Cancer Society, L’Oreal and Oreos. Trump is on the selection committee for DOC NYC and Nantucket Film Festival; a Manhattan chapter leader of the non-profit film group Filmshop; and the author of the documentary guide “A Documentary Roadmap” (Focal Press 2017). Her film “Musicwood” was a New York Times Critics’ Pick, and “To Kid Or Not To Kid” is due for release in 2018. She lives in Brooklyn and continues to direct her own feature documentaries as well as producing and editing for feature documentary clients. MFA, London Metropolitan University.

Charley Tucker

As a teaching artist, Mr. Tucker has worked at New York University (co-teacher with Phylicia Rashad), American Globe Theatre (Shakespeare First Folio Technique), University of Texas/ Austin, Muhlenberg College, Penn State University and New York Film Academy where he is currently teaching Scene Study and the Meisner Technique.
HEDDA GABBLER (American Globe), UNCLE TOM’S CABIN (The Drama Dept.- Workshop Co.), MISALLIANCE (Pennsylvania Center Stage), DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS (American Stage), SIX DEGREES OF SEPERATION (Florida Studio Theatre), and AMERICAN BUFFALO (Asolo Conservatory Theatre- guest artist). Film and T.V.: CURDLED (Miramax), AMY SCHUMMER SHOW (Comedy Central), TENNESSEE (Lee Daniels Entertainment), and several television and radio commercials. Currently Mr. Tucker has 2 films in production.

Greg Uliasz

Greg is an Equity Partner at McDonald Selznick Associates, a talent agency with offices in New York and Los Angeles. MSA represents a diverse roster of high caliber creative talent, working across the entertainment industry. Greg primarily works to help place clients on Broadway, though he has vast experience in all areas of commercial theatre, live entertainment, and New York City-based projects.

Greg is also a freelance arts educator for a variety of industry training programs. Currently, he is an adjunct professor at the New York Film Academy, in the BFA Musical Theatre program, and at Pace University, in the BFA Commercial Dance Program.

Previously, Greg worked numerous productions as the Associate Director to Tony Nominee Patricia Birch. Greg also worked as a NYC Casting Director. Notably, he cast the Drama Desk Nominated Best Musical THE LIGHTNING THIEF and served on the board of CSA as an associate member.

Greg holds a master’s degree in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. He graduated as the class Valedictorian and earned the program’s Advanced Achievement Award in a course of study that included executive leadership, negotiation and deal making, entertainment business finance, media publishing and distribution, and advanced entertainment law. His undergraduate degree is from the prestigious Theatre Arts Program at Marymount Manhattan College.

Sam Underwood

Born in England, seasoned in the USA. Began in musical theatre with dreams of being the next Gene Kelly, moved on to dramatic stage works such as ‘Equus’ opposite Alec Baldwin, eventually found himself on television playing various psychopaths and serial killers.

Kathy VanDereedt

Kathy VanDereedt is a performing artist, choreographer and dance educator based out of NYC. Her versatility has enabled her a long and varied career that spans over 20 years across multiple disciplines. Performing highlights include: multiple productions with The Washington National Opera (The Kennedy Center), Disney’s The Beauty and the Beast (Int’l Tour), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon), Bryn Cohn & Artists (Bryn Cohn), BODYART (Leslie Scott), Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and various regional productions including White Christmas, Crazy For You, The Producers, and more.

As an in-demand educator, Kathy is known for encouraging body awareness and anatomical knowledge in the classroom, where she strives to inspire dancers of all ages to be curious about and take care of their instrument. She has taught and choreographed across North America for various arts programs, top dance studios, and conventions, including: NYC’s Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, PMT House of Dance, Artists United Collective, and the former NYC-based Pre-Professional Contemporary Training Program under Pushing Progress. She has enjoyed teaching as Musical Theatre Faculty at NYFA since 2022. Her choreography has been praised
for its musicality, intricacy and storytelling, and has been presented in NYC, across the US and Canada.

Kathy knows that the journey of training and pushing to reach new levels of strength and artistry is never done, and enjoys challenging her students, along with herself, to always continue learning and growing as artists.

Vladimir Velev

Vladimir Velev grew up in Sofia, Bulgaria admiring American movies and television from afar. He has studied Latin American and Ballroom dancing from the age of six and trained with the top teachers in the competitive dance world as well as in other styles of dance. Vladimir is a former Austrian national champion and quarterfinalist of both the World and European Professional Latin Championships. Since moving to the United States, he has established himself as a sought-after instructor, performer, and competitor. He joined the Musical Theater department of the New York Film Academy in 2016.

José Venutolo Camp Director

José Alberto Venutolo Chirinos is a Venezuelan Filmmaker based in New York City since 2010, he works as a Director, Producer, Editor, DIT, Videographer, and Educator. Born and raised in Venezuela he found his way to New York in 2008 and pursued studies in filmmaking at the New York Film Academy from 2008 to 2010, he’s fluent in Spanish and English, and conversational Italian.

From 2010 to present he walked the path of freelance filmmaking as a Director, Producer, and Editor. Has worked in TV, advertisement, PSA, and independent productions and art installations, while walking a path at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) that evolved from TA, to instructor, to Youth Programs Director. He is currently the Director of the Teens’ Summer
Camps at NYFA’s New York City campus.

José has a passion for teaching and wishes to never be fully removed from the classroom, he loves incorporating his own perceptions and experiences to his teaching, and also that of an immigrant professional finding a foothold in the US media production and education businesses. He keeps connected to his freelance work which in his 15 years’ career has taken him to an eclectic range of work, from video production for both narrative and commercial products, including short and feature films, advertisement, institutional videos, PSAs, documentaries, and music videos, frequently wearing many hats on a production.

Victor Verhaeghe

Victor Verhaeghe is a writer, actor, producer and director. He has written and directed multiple award winning short films, including: COP-DOC, The Doctor Cares, The Parker, Saving Kevin and Caleb Vs. Trialagor. Victor has written, produced and acted in many theatrical projects, most recently: The Book of Shame, at the Emerging Artists Theater, a solo show written and performed by Victor Verhaeghe; and a musical Doorman, The Musical, at The NY Theater Festival.

As an actor, Victor recently worked as a recurring actor in Daredevil: Born Again. Recent films: Notice to Quit, with Michael Zegen, No Hard Feelings, with Jennifer Lawrence, Bad Education with Hugh Jackman; Bridge of Spies, with Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance, directed by Steven Speilberg. On TV: Recurring roles on the TV shows Raising Kanan – Power Book III; The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, For Life, HBO’s The Night Of, Three seasons on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and many Guest Starring appearances on Law & Order, Law & Order SVU and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Evgenia Vlasova

Evgenia Vlasova is an instructor in Broadcast Journalism, Personal Journalism and Digital Editing. In addition, in 2020 she co-taught a three-week online Journalism Summer School for 22 early career Russian journalists, and a week-long in-person media training workshop for 20 accomplished TV professionals in Kazakhstan. (Both projects were funded by the U.S. State Department.) She co-produced and edited Shanghai 1937: Where World War II Began, a feature documentary which was broadcast by 200+ U.S. Public TV stations, as well as internationally. Prior to moving to New York, for seven years she co-anchored and co-produced an award winning morning show on Channel 6TV in Khabarovsk, Russia. She began her professional career with Radio Europa Plus.

Bill Waldinger

In addition to his faculty position at NYFA, Bill is also on the faculty at The Joffrey Ballet School, Broadway Dance Center, Molloy College’s CAP 21 Musical Theater Program and the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. Certified by Luigi to teach the Luigi Jazz Technique, Bill has recently been filmed and interviewed for the recently released feature film Uprooted which chronicles the history of Jazz Dance. He has coordinated workshops bringing together the techniques of Luigi and Matt Mattox with classic musical theater choreography. Bill also frequently travels the world As a Master Teacher. He has also developed absolute beginner “Dance Classes For Singers” at The Singers’ Forum. As a performer, Bill has appeared in musical theater, concert dance, commercials, music videos, television and industrials. Highlights include regional and Off-Broadway productions of A Chorus Line (Paul in the first regional production), Carousel (Carnival Boy), Kismet, Drood, Oklahoma! (Dream Curly), A Funny Thing…, Guys and Dolls and Godspell. He was a company member of The David Storey Dance Works and Labyrinth Dance Theater. He has danced in commercials, music videos, was a featured dancer on the television show Soul Alive and appeared in videos for the Theater Dance Workshop.

Paul Warner

Paul Warner is an award-winning director and educator, whose more than 50 productions span film, theater, and opera. He most recently directed the feature film, HAMLET/HORATIO, which premiered on Amazon in June 2021, and subsequently enjoyed limited theatrical release in 2022. HAMLET/HORATIO has been the recipient of 15 international festival awards. Prior to HAMLET/HORATIO, Warner directed a new musical, RIVER OF STONE by Drama Desk nominee Peter Melnick with book by Ty Defoe which premiered at the Jaffa Festival as well as Wendy Whelan of the New York City Ballet in the premiere of WOMEN: THE WAR WITHIN, a dance-opera by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Du Yun and Obie-winning writer Matthew Maguire, which premiered at The Baryshnikov Arts Center. Film credits include the feature FALL TIME (Lionsgate) starring Mickey Rourke (nominated for The Grand Jury Prize in competition at Sundance), IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER (Sundance premiere), the disco movie musical, KAYA: TASTE OF PARADISE (lyrics and music by Anna K. Jacobs (Teeth) and book by Jerome Parker as well as David Michalek’s PORTRAITS IN DRAMATIC TIME, with Alan Rickman, William H. Macy, and Holly Hunter (Lincoln Center Festival premiere), for which he directed the actors and served as Executive Creative Consultant. Warner is a graduate of Harvard and The American Film Institute and the recipient of numerous honors including The Statue Award from the Princess Grace Foundation for sustained achievement in directing. He has served on the faculties of: NYU, SVA, and SUNY Purchase, amongst others. Currently, he is a senior instructor of Directing, Acting, and Producing at The New York Film Academy. Paulwarnerofficial.com

Barbara Weintraub Senior Director of Career Development and Industry Outreach

Barbara Weintraub has been a producer, a network executive and an entertainment career advisor. Her first job in the business was as an actor in a Martin Scorsese film, which convinced her she wanted to work on the other side of the camera.

Weintraub sharpened her production skills working with producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson on Beverly Hills Cop and Top Gun. She moved on to the senior management team and helped launch Movietime, which became E! Entertainment Television, the first cable channel exclusively programming entertainment content. During her tenure, she produced The Hollywood Reporter Executive Report with top Hollywood filmmakers including Brian De Palma and Ivan Reitman.

Launching her own production company, Weintraub produced a variety of television shows that included an NBC comedy special with Kelsey Grammer, Jason Bateman and Tony Shaloub, Diva Detective, a reality series for Women’s Entertainment Television (WE TV), 195 episodes of a game show for the USA network, and The New Adventures of Robin Hood, an action adventure series for TNT.

Weintraub is also a Founding and Board member of GreenLight Women.

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