Page 12 – NYFA

Guardians of the Galaxy Debuts in Theatres with Connections to NYFA

Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3, the final film in director James Gunn’s Guardians trilogy and the 32^nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe opened in theaters this month! The MCU is back to the box-office monster it has become known for over the past 15 years, making $118 million in its opening weekend at the box office, and will cross $275 million before the month is over. Produced by Marvel Studios president and NYFA guest speaker Kevin Feige, the film, like the two before it, is a comedy-driven space adventure filled with creatures and aliens never before seen on the screen. The film dives into the past of fan-favorite character Rocket, a space raccoon, which allows for introductions to all sorts of new and interesting aliens.

To bring these creatures to life, Gunn uses a combination of computer-generated images (CGI) and animatronics, real-life models that move like robots. Part of the technology used to create these animatronics was AnimServo, an animation software used to develop movement and expressions in physical models. Created by NYFA chair of 3D Animation & Visual Effects Craig Canton-Largent, This technology was developed at AT&T Shape, an immersive event showcasing technology in entertainment, which NYFA had the privilege of being a partner at their 2018 event!

AnimServo is the Latest Advanced Technology for Some of Hollywood’s Biggest Blockbusters

AnimServo was created to provide a more straightforward plug-in animation service to use facial motion capture to control animatronic puppets. Working with Autodesk Maya, a powerful animation tool, AnimServo has access to high-end animation software and a strong talent pool of animators, which will allow AnimServo to control more than just facial expressions in the near future!

What does all this mean? Basically, the creation of imaginary creatures is becoming more realistic than ever with the help of this technology. AnimServo was created by VFX legend Craig Caton-Largent, who has worked on creating creatures for movies for almost four decades, providing puppets and creating animatronics for movies such as Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, Batman Returns, E.T., and more. With this advance in technology, both real models and computer-generated models are able to look more realistic—Craig has recently used his knowledge of artificial expressions to work on animated blockbusters like Tangled and How to Train Your Dragon 2. Craig has been a proud member of NYFA’s faculty as the chair of 3D Animation & Visual Effects, and we’re lucky to have such a talented artist guiding our animation students! Check out a video of AnimServo creating expressions for a creature used in the Hobbit trilogy and learn more about the technology here.

NYFA at the AT&T Shape Fair

In 2018, NYFA was a sponsor at AT&T Shape, where AnimServo first premiered. Working in the technology of our own, NYFA’s booth at the fair involved visual effects just as AnimServo does. Guests to the fair could come to the booth and create their own VFX video, using a green screen we had set up and visual effect programs. Guests could select different VFX from a list as well as virtual costumes. Examples included a King Kong costume, where guests could pick a virtual city and record themselves destroying it, and then have it sent over to them. Media organization Bionic Buzz was one of the guests and recorded themselves in that specific situation.

The Shape fair provided guests and NYFA students with a unique look at some of the most advanced technology of the time, including a 360 projection dome VR experience, a motion capture process through KUKA Robotics, and advanced content on the RED Hydrogen One smartphone before it was released to the public. The event also had a large amount of visionary speakers, including Ava DuVernay, CEO of Intel Brian Krzanich, 2017 Best Visual Effects Oscar Winner for Kubo and the Two Strings Brian McLean, and NYFA alum Issa Rae. Through these exciting technological advancement displays and guest speakers, NYFA students were at the forefront of the future.

AnimServo In Guardians of the Galaxy

To create an entire universe of extra-terrestrial beings, director James Gunn opted to use a combination of CGI and animatronics to give the film both an other-worldly but also grounded feel. With many scenes involving creatures that look nothing like human beings, the puppet and models need to look realistic and lifelike. Much of the plot of the film involves experimentation on animals to make them more human, thus creating a Utopia world. AnimServo was used for these animals as kids to emote these talking, small animals for the flashbacks, including animals like a baby raccoon, walrus, otter, and rabbit. Later in the film, we meet a planet of beings with animal faces that stand and act like humans, including examples like a Panda wearing jeans and driving a car.

These animals are unique in their mechanical parts and human qualities, unlike anything seen on screen before. Since we aren’t actually able to film a lizard cooking dinner for its family, this is where AnimServo comes in, able to take these puppet and animatronic animals they are actually filming and give them the realistic human expressions and movements that are required for the story. Through the animation software that AnimServo uses, it is able to program these animatronics to move and look like they are real. With James Gunn using practical effects for the animals, he creates the reality even more, by filming tangible objects in the camera, and giving the main cast of human actors something to work off of, rather than adding in the animals as fully CGI in post-production, the interactions feel more genuine, and the story is more believable.

3D Animation and VFX at NYFA

A lot of roles on a film set go into creating a realistic-looking creature, including the directors, production designers, and costume designers, but none are more important than the VFX artists. With Craig Caton-Largent as the chair, you can check out all the different degrees, programs, and workshops offered in the 3D Animation & VFX School here.

A Conversation with Award-Winning Actress Carey Mulligan

New York Film Academy (NYFA) recently had the honor of hosting a live video Q&A with award-winning actress Carey Mulligan to discuss her career with NYFA students and alums. Tova Laiter, director of the NYFA Q&A-list series, moderated the event.

Two-time Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan began her acting career in a film adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. Although she had expressed an interest in acting during her teenage years while attending an all-girls school in the British countryside, Mulligan’s parents insisted that she was not meant to become an actress. During a hiatus from school at age 18, Mulligan applied to several prestigious drama schools in London, but unfortunately, none accepted her. However, a dinner with Julian Fellowes would change her career trajectory.

Mulligan had first met Fellowes while she was still in school. Following her rejection from drama schools, she wrote a letter to him, asking Fellowes, “What’s your advice to someone who’s been rejected from all the drama schools?” Fortunately, Fellowes received the letter, and shortly thereafter, he and his wife hosted a dinner for Mulligan and eight to ten of her peers at a restaurant in London.

Here, the couple shared that a new film version of Pride and Prejudice (2005) was about to begin production. Mr. and Mrs. Fellowes told Mulligan that the film’s producers were looking for up-and-coming actors “who [hadn’t] necessarily acted much before” and thus would be making their film debuts if selected to appear. Mulligan auditioned and subsequently landed a role, marking her first on-screen appearance. She later went on to star in films such as An Education (2009), Suffragette (2015), Wildlife (2018), Promising Young Woman (2020), She Said (2022), and others.

Laiter noted that both of Mulligan’s Academy Award nominations (Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Promising Young Woman and An Education) were for films directed by women. She continued that it is quite rare at that time, for female directors to receive such nominations and for actors to have faith in women directors. Mulligan responded that if actors were to receive a script from a female director, there would be “about five more hoops to jump through, at least” than if the director were a man. Therefore, Mulligan has taken films directed by women more seriously, claiming that “the standards have to be higher” for female directors than their male counterparts.

Mulligan also commented that she was delighted to work on films like Promising Young Woman, calling the production process “a really wonderful kind of collaborative experience” for her. Mulligan described the script for Promising Young Woman as risky, noting that if the film’s direction were in the wrong hands, it would have spelled disaster. Fortunately, after striking up a conversation with the film’s director Emerald Fennell (The Crown, Call the Midwife), Mulligan knew she was in good hands. Mulligan described Fennell as “one in a million” and said “that she could deliver a bold, powerful movie.”

Then, Mulligan shared how she adds her own personal touch to characters based on real-life individuals, describing the process she went through to portray her character Megan in She Said (2022). Including painstakingly trying to emulate her pattern of speech. Although she wanted to know as much as possible about each character’s specific behaviors and mannerisms, Mulligan’s main approach was to distill the essence of her character, Megan. She frequently asked herself, “How can I portray her as safely as possible without trying to mimic her]?”

During the student Q&A portion of the conversation, Mulligan answered a variety of questions from NYFA students. One student, Lily, praised Mulligan for her performance in Promising Young Woman before asking her about crucial next steps to eliminate sexism in the film industry. Mulligan replied by expressing her hope “that [she] would look around [a film set] and see things the way they should and should have always been,” without any distortion. She said that films produced and released in the past year had shown a “remarkable array of female characters, female directors,” However, Mulligan commented that “baby steps are happening” to combat sexism in the film industry and that this approach must “start with the right people being given opportunities at a very early level,” namely at the start of their careers.

Mulligan answered another question from NYFA Los Angeles student Fatima, who also praised Mulligan’s performance in Promising Young Woman before asking Mulligan how best to prepare for auditions. Mulligan said that she can often tell that audition scenes “go to nothing” despite her best efforts. She pointed out that although she would be privileged to be offered the audition for a given scene, Mulligan treated every scene she filmed as an audition.

Mulligan described herself as a perfectionist on set, claiming she needed to get everything right on day one of filming. Recalling her recent experiences filming Promising Young Woman, Mulligan hated every single take for a scene, becoming so frustrated that she broke down emotionally. She continued that her character was placing her life on the line to seek revenge and serve justice, the stakes of which – like auditioning and shooting the film itself – cannot be underestimated. In short, Mulligan’s experiences demonstrate the importance of preparing well for every audition and applying that same mindset during filming.

Another student at NYFA Los Angeles asked Mulligan about her approach to character, namely the first steps she takes after reading a script for the first time. Mulligan replied that it varies from one film to the next. For example, Mulligan appeared in the film Wildlife, where the director and co-stars were old friends, her preparation simply involved flying to Montana to begin filming. On the other hand, Mulligan and Bradley Cooper recently costarred in the Netflix biopic Maestro (2022) about famous composer Leonard Bernstein. To prepare for this film, Mulligan and Cooper traveled to Philadelphia and co-narrated one of Bernstein’s operas to better understand his works. In short, Mulligan reiterated that her preparation varied with each film.

Once Mulligan had answered questions from a few additional students, Laiter mentioned that Mulligan’s husband is a successful musician and asked whether Mulligan OR her husband had more fun with their job. Mulligan laughed and declared that her husband has a way more fun job but also that she could never become a musician herself. She recalled attempting to sing on stage during a performance with the Coen brothers, only to fail miserably. Mulligan called the experience “the worst five minutes of my life,” stating that she would not attempt to sing even if offered substantial sums of money.

Laiter closed the conversation by thanking Carey Mulligan for the discussion and the students for their time. New York Film Academy would like to thank Carey for sharing her time and experience with NYFA students, faculty, and alumni.

Chinese Vice Minister of Education Visits New York Film Academy

On April 24, 2023, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) hosted a distinguished delegation led by Mr. Chen Jie, the Vice Minister of Education of the People’s Republic of China. The delegation, which included representatives from the Chinese Ministry of Education and the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York, aimed to strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and China.

The visit was marked by a harmonious and friendly atmosphere as attendees engaged in lively conversation. Both parties participated in constructive discussions centered around potential educational and cultural exchange initiatives, primarily focusing on student and faculty exchange programs, workshops, and collaborative film production projects.

*NYFA President Michael J. Young (left) with Vice Minister of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Chen Jie (right)*

NYFA President Michael Young delivered a speech reflecting the institution’s decade-long presence in China. During his speech, President Young highlighted the achievements of NYFA in the country over the past 12 years, showcasing the success and growth of the academy in China. He expressed his pride in the accomplishments of NYFA’s Chinese alumni, who have become leading voices in China’s education and creative arts fields.

Dr. Joy Zhu, the Executive Vice President of the China Region, also delivered a speech at the event. In her remarks, Dr. Zhu emphasized the close partnership between NYFA and its Chinese counterparts in nurturing talented film professionals through various programs.

Vice Minister Mr. Chen thanked NYFA for educating thousands of Chinese students and acknowledged the fruitful collaboration between NYFA and Chinese universities and colleges. He also expressed enthusiasm for future cultural and educational exchanges between NYFA and China to advance the Chinese film industry further. The delegation appreciated NYFA’s efforts in nurturing the growth of film, media, and performing arts education in China.

*Vice Minister of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Chen Jie (right), visited NYFA’s New York City campus.*

The NYFA representatives provided a comprehensive tour of the New York campus, showcasing their state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and classrooms. The delegation was introduced to various academic programs offered by NYFA, encompassing filmmaking, acting for film, and photography. The campus tour incorporated visits to photography and filmmaking classes, offering the delegation firsthand insight into NYFA’s hands-on teaching method. The delegation also attended a musical theatre rehearsal by NYFA students in the campus theater, demonstrating the diverse range of talents and disciplines available at the academy.

*NYFA President Michael J. Young (left) and Vice Minister of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Chen Jie (right), with NYFA students in a photo opportunity*

The Chinese delegation’s visit to NYFA in New York marked a significant milestone, with both parties expressing their enthusiasm to collaborate on future initiatives. They agreed to maintain open communication and work jointly to explore further opportunities in education.

NYFA Welcomes Ukrainian Documentary Filmmakers

Ukraine has a rich and diverse history in the arts and is known for innovative visual artists, including Maria Prymachenko, Taras Shevchenko, and Victor Sidorenko. The creative crafts of Ukraine extend to filmmaking, with a range of fiction and nonfiction works for audiences to choose from. Today even, despite unimaginable challenges, Ukrainian filmmakers continue to make their mark and find ways to elevate Ukrainian stories, spreading their message worldwide during the current time of war.

In March 2023, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) welcomed a group of Ukrainian filmmakers working on various documentary films to NYFA’s New York City Campus. The filmmakers—who were on the final leg of a two-week U.S. film industry tour facilitated by Cultural Vistas — spoke on a panel with faculty and students from NYFA’s Documentary Filmmaking Department, sharing and discussing the ongoing challenges they face throughout the production process.

Ukrainian Film in a Time of War: NYFA Welcomes Ukrainian Documentary Filmmakers

From Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965) to The Earth is Blue as an Orange (2020), there are a range of Ukrainian films for cinephiles to explore. Some of the greatest examples of Ukrainian films are their stories of perseverance and survival through the turbulent times the country has experienced throughout history.

During the panel with Ukrainian filmmakers, NYFA students and faculty shared firsthand what it takes to create these emotional and impactful films.

Filming in a War Zone

Filming in a war zone has always presented risks to visual storytellers. Despite this, films such as This is Congo (2017), and The Last Men in Aleppo (2017) delivered authentic stories about some of the most dangerous conflicts in modern history. For Ukraine, the experience of filming in a war zone is no different, as filmmakers must consider their own safety and the safety of others as they capture the war.

“We are people who are risking our lives all day to get this truth and deliver it to the international community,” says Andrii Lytvynenko, one of the visiting filmmakers from Ukraine.

In addition to the proximity to conflict, filmmakers also have a number of considerations to make from a storytelling perspective. During the roundtable discussions and subsequent interviews with the filmmakers, NYFA learned of the dedication they have to present Ukrainian stories ethically and responsibly while delivering their messages.

“Being a filmmaker right now is a big responsibility,” says Andrii. “We need to stand against Russian propaganda and present truth in this world, against a ballistic policy of different countries and politics.”

The Ukrainian Experience Told By Ukrainians

What does it take to tell a story about the war in Ukraine? For NYFA’s guests, it’s about Ukrainians telling their own stories.

“We live in our circumstances. So I think that makes us unique,” Andrii shared with NYFA. “There are lots of people who don’t go deep. They just come for three days and then come back.”

I think the only way to ethically tell the story about places like Ukraine that have historically, and are presently, being heavily influenced by unwanted colonial forces, is to support Ukrainian voices in telling their own tale,” adds Jacob Beard, Program Officer for Cultural Vistas, the nonprofit exchange organization that promotes global collaboration and understanding, and which facilitated the filmmakers’ trip to the United States.

“And so in that way, I think that groups like this are uniquely qualified to ethically tell the story of what’s happening in Ukraine because it’s happening to them on their land, to their culture, in their history.”

Building a Bridge with American Audiences

For our Ukrainian friends, one of the most important steps in creating their film is connecting with audiences worldwide. During their trip to the United States, Cultural Vistas arranged for the filmmakers to stop not only in New York City but various cities across the country, including Raleigh, North Carolina, and Los Angeles. The journey gave the filmmakers a number of opportunities to share their experiences and learn more about connecting with an American audience.

“This project was created, in part, to explore how to get an American audience to feel the emotional impact of our visitors’ work,” says Jacob. “A lot of our resources have given us really good advice about how to do that.”

“In some cases, American experts have told our visitors, ‘Well, you know, giving some kind of hopeful narrative, or drawing a silver lining around your film would be one way to engage an American audience,” Jacob shared.

“But obviously, everything is so raw for them, and it’s still happening to them, not every other day, not every other week, but every second of their life. They’re dealing with things that an American moviegoer just really can’t relate to. A life under siege, you know.”

Delivering a Message of Hope and Freedom

The visit was an important reminder that filmmaking is a powerful and effective tool in spreading awareness, amplifying suppressed voices, and inspiring audiences to be proactive. By creating a film that tells an honest story about the Ukrainian experiences during the war, the filmmakers can express their continued hope that the conflict in their country will end.

“It was truly an honor and privilege for NYFA to host these courageous and passionate creatives,” stated Jim Miller, NYFA Vice President of Strategic Initiatives who organized the event. “The afternoon brought us all together as filmmakers, and as human beings, in solidarity for the struggle that our Ukrainian colleagues are facing day in and day out. One moment that will last with me forever is when one of our guests face-timed his mother, who is in Ukraine, and with a tremendous smile, showed her the view of the Statue of Liberty from the window of our campus; he declared to her that one day they will come to visit New York together. It was a moment of pure joy and resolute hope between a mother and a son.”

NYFA is also looking forward to working with Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity, the organization European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE), as well as the Ukrainian Film Academy and House of Europe to provide support to Ukrainian filmmakers and television creators. NYFA will host a two-day digital post-production workshop to train producers and post supervisors in best practices for overseeing post-production on films and series.

“The main thing for Ukraine is freedom. And the Ukrainian heritage is freedom. That’s it,” says Andrii. “And we can live with the challenges, without electricity, [it] doesn’t matter, but we cannot live without freedom.”

Chinese Cultural Counselor Visits New York Film Academy

On Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, two representatives from the Cultural Section of the Chinese Consulate General in New York visited NYFA’s New York City campus. The delegation was composed of Ms. Jiyuan Shang, who was recently appointed as the Cultural Counselor, and Ms. Yang Hui, Consul.

During their visit, Ms. Shang met with NYFA President, Michael J. Young, and Executive Vice President for the China region, Dr. Joy Zhu, to discuss cultural affairs between the United States and China. The leaders also discussed potential future collaborations between the two organizations. Also in attendance was Mr. Sheng Lai, NYFA’s Coordinator for Global Programs.

Chinese Cultural Counselor Visits New York Film Academy

Both representatives from the NY Consulate and representatives from NYFA expressed a shared interest in cultural exchange to emphasize that art knows no country boundaries.

Following the meeting, the Consulate representatives were given a tour of the campus building at 17 Battery Park, including the school’s classrooms and theater that has held many guest speaker events. The visit concluded with an enjoyable luncheon, which further invited discussion from both parties for future potential collaborative opportunities.

NYFA Welcomes MA Producing for Executives Graduates

NYFA’s Los Angeles staff, students, and faculty welcomed five graduates of the MA Producing for Executives Program. As part of their trip to the United States, the graduates traveled from China to visit NYFA and met their professors in person. Launched in 2022, the MA Producing for Executives Program provides innovative online learning experiences for professionals in China’s art and cultural industry. In January, NYFA held a virtual event celebrating the students’ graduation.

Five graduates expressed their gratitude during their visit and presented traditional gifts to NYFA’s faculty and staff. Students met and chatted with Dr. Joy Zhu, Executive Vice President for the China Region; Sonny Calderon, Vice President of Academic Affairs; Dr. Mary Samuelson, Dean of General Education; Jenni Powell, Chair of Producing; Heather Ritcheson, Senior Producing Coordinator; Anne McCaffrey, Faculty; Mark Ritcheson, Faculty; and Erni Chen, Academic Affairs Officer.

“During this virtual program, I have learned a lot through NYFA’s famous learn-by-doing approach. Now I am applying all the tools and knowledge I got from this program to my work. This learning experience gave me a new perspective on film and the film industry in general,” said Mr. Wang Song, Chief Product Officer and Senior Vice President of China’s NetDragon Websoft, a leading innovator and a creative force in online gaming and mobile internet industries.

NYFA congratulates these recent graduates and wishes them success in their future endeavors!

NYFA Celebrates Women’s History Month 2023

March 23^rd at NYFA Los Angeles’s Riverside auditorium, students gathered to celebrate Women’s History Month in a very special way: by telling their stories.

About 30 students from across short-term and long-term programs—came together in an intimate, celebratory space for our annual Women’s History Month Story Slam. This night’s story slam showcased students telling stories about a special woman who impacted their lives.

NYFA staff and faculty Barbara Weintraub, Andrew Eisenman, and Michael Sandoval welcomed the students over pizza and soda. Eisenman’s acting students jump-started the event by delivering powerful theatrical monologues from a diverse array of writers—from Margaret Atwood and Julia Cho to James Baldwin.

Energized, students one by one came up on stage, weaving stories about mothers and grandmothers. One theme that emerged was the vitality of support mothers provide through trying times.

Acting students delivered a second series of celebratory monologues from movies. Afterward, students came to the microphone. One student narrated how his mother supported him in his film career when he almost gave up. Another student—a young woman from the Tsakhur people in southern Russia, sang a beautiful song in her native language in honor of her grandmother.

All in all, it was a moving, uplifting evening!

Featured Image by Library of Congress on Unsplash

NYFA Alum James Friend Wins the Best Cinematography Oscar for All Quiet on the Western Front

Continuing success for NYFA alumni is always something to celebrate—and this year, Cinematographer and NYFA alum James Friend won the Academy Award for best cinematography for his work on All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)! “It’s not my birthday, but I feel like it is,” Friend said in his acceptance speech, which was the first of four wins for the Netflix-distributed German film.

All Quiet follows a young German soldier during World War I, excited to join the fight, who encounters terrible distress on the front lines. James Friend is now a multi-award-winning cinematographer through this film and capped off award season by winning the Oscar in his first nomination. Friend attended two programs with NYFA in 2004, and we’re thrilled with his success and his recent win.

NYFA Alum James Friend Wins the Best Cinematography Oscar for All Quiet on the Western Front

Even though Friend’s first Oscar nomination was this year, he was no stranger to the awards stage. Friend has been the cinematographer on many high-profile television series throughout the last decade, including Emmy-nominated shows such as Victoria (2016), Patrick Melrose (2018), the recent Disney+ series Willow, a sequel to the 1988 cult classic by the same name, and Your Honor (2020) starring NYFA guest speaker Bryan Cranston.

Friend won his first BAFTA in 2017 for his Photography & Lighting work on the British series Rillington Place (2016) and won his second for All Quiet this year. He joined the British Society of Cinematographers in 2013, which has awarded him with three BSC Awards, including this year for All Quiet, and joined the American Society of Cinematographers in 2019, when he was awarded an ASC Award for his work on Patrick Melrose.

This Season’s Cinematographers Were a Prestigious Group

James Friend wasn’t necessarily the favorite to win going into the Academy Awards this year. He was nominated alongside four other incredibly-shot films. Friend won the Oscar over Darius Khondji for Bardo (2022), False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (2022), Mandy Walker for Elvis (2022), Florian Hoffmeister for Tár (2022), and Roger Deakins for Empire of Light (2022). Although a majority of the group was first-time nominees at the Oscars, all five have acuminated numerous awards between the group.

Roger Deakins alone has been nominated for sixteen cinematography Oscars, winning two of them for Blade Runner 2019 (2017) and another recent stellar World War I film, 1917 (2019). Friend’s win and Deakins win at the 2020 Oscars mark two out of the last four Best Cinematography winners going to films depicting World War I.

All Quiet Picked Up a Total of Four Oscars

All Quiet on the Western Front won the second-highest amount of awards on Oscar night, only following the former NYFA summer camp counselors directing pair The Daniels’ film Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022), which won Best Picture. After James Friend kicked off All Quiet’s wins with Cinematography, the film won Best Production Design, Best Original Score, and Best International Feature Film. Made in Germany, it was the only non-English language film nominated for Best Picture this year.

All Quiet on the Western Front is a remake of the 1930 American film All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). The film won Best Picture at the 3^rd Academy Awards in 1931, where it also won for Directing and was nominated for Cinematography (the other awards that the recent remake won were not yet categories in 1931, including International Film, Original Score, and Production Design). In 1979, a made-for-television remake of All Quiet was released, making the one James Friend won for the second remake. All three films are based on the 1929 book of the same name. The book was written by a German author, making this most recent film the first to return to the original German storytellers.

War Movies Have Typically Excelled at the Academy Awards

All Quiet at the Western Front is the latest in a long line of war films recognized by the Academy for its achievement. In recent years, Academy voters have gravitated toward films depicting the brutality of war, focusing on one protagonist who becomes overwhelmed seeing the horrors on the battlefield. In the last few years, films like Hacksaw Ridge (2016), Dunkirk (2017), Jojo Rabbit (2019), and 1917 (2019) have been nominated for Best Picture, and all have the same overarching message: war is terrible.

That theme has been prevalent in All Quiet on the Western Front since the original novel. The newest film depicts war more brutally than ever before, with modern technology and filmmaking styles. This way of filmmaking has made the film feel more realistic than previous war films. Friend’s cinematography emphasizes it especially well, with close-ups of the frightened soldiers and gorgeous landscape shots showcasing the scope of the battle’s production. “We wanted it to be as realistic as humanly possible. And we wanted it to almost have a documentary approach, but not necessarily in the photography, but in the overall filmmaking, you want everything to feel as authentic as possible,” Friend told Gold Derby.

James Friend’s Success Continues in the “Star Wars” Universe

Following his Oscar win and his recent work shooting on the Disney+ series Willow, Friend will take his talents to another Disney+ show, The Acolyte. Set in the Star Wars universe, the show will take viewers to a new group of characters at the end of the High Republic era and stars a talented pool of actors, including Jodie Turner-Smith, Amandla Sternberg, Carrie-Anne Moss, Manny Jacinto, and Lee Jung-jae. Friend also has two feature films in development that he will shoot, both with plots kept under wraps.

NYFA is always happy to see our alumni succeeding, and we congratulate James Friend on his Oscar win and are very excited to see his upcoming work! If you’d like to attend a program like Friend or are interested in learning about our other programs offered at NYFA, including filmmaking, acting, and more, request additional info today!

Q&A-List Series Welcomes Legendary Actor And Comedian Kevin Nealon

New York Film Academy (NYFA) had the honor of hosting a live and very funny video Q&A with legendary actor and comedian Kevin Nealon to discuss his career, his recently released book “I Exaggerate: My Brushes with Fame,” and his video/podcast series Hiking with Kevin, with NYFA students and alumni. Tova Laiter, director of the NYFA Q&A-list series, moderated the event.

Kevin Nealon rose to fame as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. During his nine-year run on the show, Nealon played iconic characters like Mr. Subliminal and hosted the popular Weekend Update segment. Nealon then went on to star in the sitcom Weeds, another long-running show, where he not only showed his comedic talent but demonstrated the breadth of his on-screen abilities. Recently, Nealon started the Hiking with Kevin podcast, where he hikes the trails near his Los Angeles home with celebrity guests. He also recently released a book, “I Exaggerate: My Brushes with Fame,” which not only describes his experiences as a comedian but also showcases caricatures he has sketched through the years.

While it is easy to believe that Nealon took a few shortcuts on his road to comedy stardom, that is not the case. In his words, “there are no shortcuts in comedy.” Nealon began his comedy career performing at open mic nights in Los Angeles. During his time at the Improv in L.A. as both a standup comedian and a bartender, Nealon met and learned from legendary comedians, including Andy Kaufman, Jay Leno, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, and Steve Martin. Nealon performed night after night to hone his skills to “quit [his] bartending job and go out on the road and be a standup.” He “studied a lot of different comedians, and [he] tried a lot of different things” to determine which ones worked best. Although Nealon initially desired to focus solely on a career as a standup comedian, he received a phone call from Dana Carvey that would change his career.

Already an established presence on SNL, Carvey explained to Nealon over the phone that he (Nealon) was being considered for a role on the show. Carvey also mentioned that Steve Martin, whom Nealon admired, was part of the cast as well. It was also during this time that Nealon appeared alongside Martin in the film Roxanne. Although he only appears briefly during the film’s opening scenes, Nealon thoroughly enjoyed his three weeks of filming, often riding mountain bikes with a fellow actor while off-set. Returning to the SNL audition process, Nealon continued by stating that Carvey had personally recommended him. He then noted that Lorne Michaels, the show’s executive producer, was searching for “chemistry between the cast and synergy with the writers” because a lack thereof had nearly caused NBC to cancel the show.

Fortunately, Nealon and Carvey possessed such chemistry, having become close friends while living in Los Angeles. Nealon then described his most famous SNL character, Mr. Subliminal, whom he originated in a standup routine before shifting emphasis to his sketch-writing experiences with SNL.

Nealon explained that his expectations of SNL were relatively low, citing the show’s poor ratings at the time. He noted that “most comedians are very observant,” and he was and still is no exception. In Nealon’s case, he spent hours reading and watching SNL sketches to understand their general format. He said, “You have to get used to what kind of format they’re doing” in order to fully understand each comedian’s style. Nealon described the sketch-writing process during his tenure on SNL as much different from today, as writers did not use any computers back then. Rather, Nealon and his fellow writers relied on typewriters and supplemented their typed output with handwritten notes. He saw firsthand “that the sketches couldn’t be too long,“ typically “no more than eight pages,” and preferably five or six. Nealon learned his craft so well that his first submitted sketch made it to the airwaves. NYFA professor Eric Conner then noted that Nealon was the exception rather than the rule because he (Conner) did not believe “most writers or performers have that luck with their first time at bat,” especially not on SNL.

Nealon said that when he started writing sketches for SNL, he learned the nature of live comedy, particularly that the show’s sketches generally lack endings. He then described one time when he placed an ending on his sketch, much to producer Lorne Michaels’ surprise. When asked why his sketches did not have endings, Nealon replied, “It was like a painting. You can interpret the way you want, and how things ended up, I guess. And I could just be interpreting it like that.” He continued by stating that he does not watch SNL regularly anymore, admitting that he struggled to stay awake even during his time as a cast member.

Laiter also asked Nealon about his experiences filming Weeds. After a run of several failed sitcoms, Nealon received an invitation to call the show’s producers. He was initially reluctant to do so, claiming that such programs had “been done to death,” although that changed when he read the script. He then eagerly auditioned for Weeds, beating out legendary actors, including Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, and Laurence Olivier, for the role, which he later said was specifically meant for him. Nealon then recalled meeting with the show’s creator Jenji Kohan to read and discuss the script, knowing at that moment that “[he] was the one” specifically meant to play this role.

Nealon then described his experiences filming the pilot for Weeds. He endured a variety of challenges, including lightheadedness and stifling 120-degree heat, during production. One day after filming had concluded, Nealon returned home and went to bed. As he lay in his bed, with his chest and lungs unbearably sore, Nealon thought to himself, “Why don’t you risk your life for a stupid pilot that’ll never be picked up?” Fortunately, Nealon’s efforts were well worth the risk, as the pilot for Weeds was picked up. Looking back at his experiences, Nealon said, “I’m glad I risked my life for it.”

During the student Q&A portion of the conversation, Nealon shared his valuable advice for young and aspiring actors, comedians, and writers. When student Lisa Kalyani asked Nealon what advice he had for her and anyone else who wants to land a job in a writer’s room, he encouraged her to write prolifically, saying, “You’ve got to do it a lot. You do it a lot. You do it.” He continued, “Writing is rewriting because you’re always finding new avenues to improve your film or your script or your sketch or whatever it is,” placing key emphasis on constant improvement. Nealon concluded his response by encouraging Kalyani to write every day, even if only briefly, and study the shows for which she is interested in writing.

After answering questions from a few additional students, Nealon shifted gears by discussing his new book, “I Exaggerate: My Brushes with Fame.” He recalls that the book gave him a creative outlet during the COVID pandemic when he and his fellow comedians could not perform standup for two years. Specifically, Nealon describes that drawing caricatures for his new book was a “nonverbal way of getting people to laugh,” helping to fill the void from a lack of standup performances. He also mentioned that writing and drawing caricatures for “I Exaggerate: My Brushes with Fame” allowed him to spend more time with his family.

He mentioned that achieving your dreams many times means that you have to make sacrifices, including separating from your family or country.

Nealon then concluded his portion of the discussion by describing his podcast, Hiking with Kevin. He mentioned that it is “more of a mom-and-pop thing” than similarly-formatted programs like Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Nealon stated that he not only enjoyed hiking through the woods, one-on-one with his guests, but also noted that “they are so forthcoming when they’re out in the wilderness,” primarily because there is no audience present. Nealon then encouraged the students to watch his latest video release of Hiking with Kevin, featuring guest Paul Rudd, on YouTube.

Laiter closed the conversation by thanking Kevin Nealon for the advice and the hilarity he brought to the discussion. New York Film Academy would like to thank Kevin Nealon for sharing his time and experience with NYFA students, alumni, and faculty.