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Where Are They Now? Spotlight On New York Film Academy Summer Camp Alumni

Long before the final school bell rings every year, kids and teens around the world are dreaming of a camp where they can do what they love all day, every day. At the New York Film Academy, camp means storytelling in the visual and performing arts. Since 1996, the visual and performing arts stars of tomorrow have found their way to NYFA, where we’ve welcomed thousands of young artists, performers, filmmakers, and designers from all over the world at our many international locations. Our campers collaborate with working industry professionals while creating their own original art, and the creative excitement can last a lifetime.


Even after summer ends and our campers go home, many take their passion for the visual and performing arts to the next level as they forge their own pathways as rising artists. Check out these incredibly inspiring stories from some of our NYFA summer camp alums.

Aubrey Plaza

Made famous by her breakout performance as April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation with Amy Poehler, Aubrey Plaza, attended film camp at NYFA — and even returned to the school as a Guest Speaker in 2015. Since then, she has skyrocketed from success to success, going on to astound audiences with her riveting performance as Legion to winning an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature for Ingrid Goes West in 2018.

Lily Buchanan


Child actor Lily Buchanan recently had a starring turn in Syfy’s dark comedy series, Happy!, a dark comedy series that stars New York Film Academy Guest Speaker Christopher Meloni. The young actress has also stolen scenes in 2018’s Real Love and The After Party.

Eve Hewson


Eve Hewson may come from a famous family, but the daughter of U2 rock star Bono has carved out her own space in the entertainment industry through hard work and talent — which she honed in NYFA’s summer camps for acting! Since her studies, Eve has acted opposite Sean Penn and Frances McDormand in This Must Be the Place, opposite James Gandolfini in Enough Said, and opposite Clive Owen in Steven Soderbergh critically acclaimed series The Knick.

Michael Gallagher

New York Film Academy summer camp grad Michael Gallagher started out making hundreds of shorts on YouTube channel TotallySketch before going on to realize his dreams as a director. His directing credits include TV mini-series Interns, How to Survive High School and The Station. He’s also produced films Smiley, The Thinning, and Internet Famous. Despite being so busy, Gallagher found the time to return to NYFA as a Guest Speaker for a special screening of his film The Thinning in 2016.

Bex Taylor-Klaus

An alum of NYFA’s filmmaking camps, Bex Taylor-Klaus now stars in the hit MTV TV series Scream — though savvy viewers may also recognize her from her appearances in popular shows like House of Lies, The Killing, and Arrow. And if you listen closely, you’ll be able to tell that Bex also voiced the character of Katie “Pidge” Holt in Netflix’s Voltron: Legendary Defender.

Jonathan Morgan Heit

After attending NYFA camps both as a kid and a teen, Jonathan Morgan Heit has gone on to great fun as the voice of Disney Junior’s Cubby and in commercials for Comcast, Zales, Dodge, Wal-Mart, Publix and Barilla Pasta. But you’ll also recognize him from TV smash hits including How I Met Your Mother, ER, and Close to Home, as well as films films Disney feature In Search of Santa Paws, Date Night, and Valentine’s Day.

Pati Amoroso

After wrapping up NYFA’s musical theatre camp in 2010, Pati Amoroso starred as Sophie in Brazil’s production of the Broadway smash hit Mamma Mia! And in 2018, she is expanding her work from stage to screen, with production of first pilot, Don’t Dig.

Learn more about NYFA’s many summer and youth camp offerings here.

Life is Beautiful for New York Film Academy Acting for Film Alum Giorgio Cantarini

Not many aspiring actors get to spend childhood performing alongside Russell Crowe and Roberto Benigni in international megahits like The Gladiator and Life is Beautiful, but New York Film Academy alum Giorgio Cantarini did.

You may recognize Cantarini as the spontaneous, cherubic child actor who not only held his own but represented the emotional heart of each of those acclaimed films, but Cantarini has grown quite a bit since then — including in his acting technique. Wrapping up his studies at the NYFA New York Acting Conservatory, Cantarini sat down to share some of his insights with the NYFA Blog. Check out his incredible story.*

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*This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

NYFA: You’ve been acting since you were 5 years old in Life is Beautiful, can just tell us a little bit about how you came to that film?

GC: There was an article in the newspaper with casting description of the kids that they were looking for, and my uncle saw the description and was like, “Giorgio it’s the same as you, you have to go to the audition,” and so we went.

… At the auditions I never acted. Roberto Benigni just wanted to talk with me and see how I reacted. And then of course on the set they explained to me the scene, what was happening.

NYFA: From the time that you were working on Life is Beautiful through school, did you do any kind of school work involving acting?

GC: After Life is Beautiful, after The Gladiator, growing up I didn’t want to be an actor because my role in Life is Beautiful was really attached to me … but then after high school everyone told me how talented I was, so I said to myself, okay, let’s see if really I have this talent. I went to Rome to enter a very selective school. Every year like 700 people try to get in and they choose 12: six girls and six guys. So when I was admitted I was really happy.

I started acting because someone choose it for me, but now it was my choice, and this was a very big step for me to continue, and to discover that I’m good, and now I could study to be a professional, complete actor.

NYFA:  How was your time studying with the New York Film Academy?

GC: I had a really great month at NYFA, one of the best experience in my life — for the city, for everything, for New York, for the people.

The standard is very different than the teaching approach in Italy. It is very different. It’s smart to direct small groups, and just do it, don’t think about it — do it, just do it!

I really like NYFA a lot because of the action, and the professors too. The energy! I think that they have a lot of students every month, every year, a lot of different students — but every day they come in the class with the with a great energy, to work with you and do the best for you every single day. Seeing teachers every time have good energy, positive energy, and smiling, was inspiring.

NYFA:  When you’re looking back at your experience at NYFA, is there anything you learned that you feel you’re going to take with you in your future career?

GC: The technique from NYFA instructors Blanche Baker, Peter Allen Stone, and Victor Verhaeghe, and the scene analysis — truly, the class most important for me was Alison Hodge’s technique.

NYFA: What inspires your work? Is there a specific film or actor that you always go to?

GC: For me, Dustin Hoffman. Dustin Hoffman is ideal. When I watched The Graduate, I thought, “What a movie! What an actor.” I was impressed with Dustin Hoffman, he is my idol now and before. He’s a special actor…

 

NYFA: Can you tell me a little bit about your film Il Dottore del Pesci (The Fish Doctor)?

GC: The story is about a guy that has a fish shop, but he doesn’t sell the fish; he takes care of the fish. If someone goes out of town, the people can leave the fish with him and he’ll take care of them. His life is with the fishes. One day an American person from a TV network meets him and thinks he is perfect for a show about the the weirdest jobs in the world, like a freak show. My character’s English isn’t great, so he confuses the question and says yes without realizing what he’s signing up for.

Life changes for him. He used to talk to a lot of people in a really, really small city, with a lot of old people. He has no family. And suddenly he’s in the U.S. and he’s really emotional. And I can’t tell you the finale but it’s so lovely.

NYFA: Overall is there any advice that you would give to people that are interested in going into acting?

GC: If you want to be an actor, you have to study a lot. Especially now, because with Netflix and YouTube and the web, a lot of people want to be an actor. Anyone can put his work on on the web, but that’s not a real actor. You bring the art with you.

It takes a lot of study to understand and know who you are. To be a great actor, you have to know who you are. That’s the main reason that I am here in New York — I want to see when I leave home, and speak in another language with other people, who am I?

It really was different here. I was different. I don’t know why, but this city or this situation with the school and the feeling with the classmates really gave me a new energy. New perspective, you know? New experiences. To be open and always beautiful. I love it.

NYFA: What’s next for you?

GC: I’m returning to Italy to start the second part of my scholarship, a theatre production that works with the people that were in prison, to be an actor and assistant director.

Then, my next project will be to move to New York after the summer. I’m starting the process.  I want to come here now because, while I have an agent in France and Switzerland, I’d like to start a new journey in New York.

Hayley Atwell visits New York Film Academy for Q&A

Hayley Atwell, star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, recently visited New York Film Academy (NYFA) to speak about her career and experiences as part of the ongoing Guest Speaker Series.

Known around the world as Peggy Carter, Captain America’s love interest and S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Atwell is a Golden Globe and two-time Olivier Award nominee. She has appeared in multiple Marvel films, from Captain America: The First Avenger to Avengers: Endgame, as well as the franchise’s two shows, Agent Carter and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

But Atwell shared that her career hadn’t always been easy. In her talk, moderated by NYFA New York Acting for Film Department Chair Peter Allen Stone, she stated that her very first acting job ended up on the cutting room floor. She remained undeterred, and eventually scored roles in period dramas like Mansfield Park and The Duchess. Following her huge success with Marvel, she scored the lead in ABC’s legal thriller Conviction, and stars in the Starz mini-series Howards End. She has also appeared in several live-action Disney films, including Cinderella and Christopher Robin.

In addition to her success in film and television, Atwell has also received numerous accolades for her stage roles, including The Pride and View from the Bridge. Most recently, she returned to the London stage in Dry Powder, a sharp and witty comedy about the people shaping the economy.

Despite her success, Atwell remains very down-to-earth. She offered a number of specific tips and insights on the nature of the acting industry, particularly on the challenges of fleshing out a fully formed character from a smaller role.

“[You should have] a clear understanding of what you’re doing but be willing to have it steered in a completely opposite direction if the director tells you otherwise,” Atwell said. “Do not be afraid to ask questions.”

Atwell also stated that she believed no director should ever give a line reading regardless of the size of the part, meaning that actors had the privilege and responsibility of embodying their character choices with enough understanding and conviction to bring originality to a role while remaining collaborative.

The New York Film Academy thanks Hayley Atwell for sharing her time and expertise with our students.

NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY WELCOMES MARVEL STAR HAYLEY ATWELL AS GUEST SPEAKER IN NEW YORK CITY

As a part of its ongoing Guest Speaker Series, the New York Film Academy recently welcomed someone very special to Marvel Universe fans: actress Hayley Atwell, Agent Carter herself. NYFA New York Acting for Film Department Chair Peter Allen Stone moderated the event for a packed house of enthusiastic acting students.

“Hayley Atwell’s discussion about the craft of acting with our students was invaluable,” said Stone. “The importance she placed on discipline and technique left an impression on our students that will guide them for years to come.”

The Q&A offered aspiring filmmakers, actors and theatre performers the chance to ask questions and learn from the experience of a prolific actress of both the stage and screen, who shared an incredible energy and enthusiasm for both her craft and her student audience:

The Golden Globe and two-time Olivier nominated actress shared with NYFA students that her very first acting job ended up on the cutting room floor. Yet Atwell was not deterred, and rose to fame while portraying Captain America’s original love interest, Peggy Carter, in the current franchise, including all three Captain America films and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. But her portrayal of Peggy Carter truly won the hearts of the Marvel community in the ABC series Agent Carter, a slick period piece that follows the character as she fights to protect the legacy of Howard Stark (yes, that Howard Stark) with his butler, Edwin Jarvis. The series ran for two seasons.

Following Atwell’s huge success with Marvel, the actress again found herself as a series lead in ABC’s legal thriller Conviction. She also starred in an episode of Black Mirror as Martha, a woman who reconnects with her recently deceased lover. More recently, Atwell returned to the London stage with the production Dry Powder, and is now starring in the Starz mini-series Howards End alongside Pride and Prejudice’s Matthew Macfadyen.

Coming soon, Atwell will be seen alongside Ewan McGregor in the feature film Christopher Robin.

With all the high profile success Atwell has enjoyed of late, she offered very down-to-earth and practical insights for NYFA students on the world of professional acting.

“I find it’s sometimes harder [having a smaller role] than if you have a bigger role,” she said, acknowledging the challenge of creating a fully fleshed character with dialogue, information, or time. No matter the size of a part, Atwell shared that she believed no director should ever give a line reading, meaning that actors had the privilege and responsibility of embodying their character choices with enough understanding and conviction to bring originality to a role while remaining collaborative.

She also emphasized that actors must always be prepared: “[You should have] a clear understanding of what you’re doing but be willing to have it steered in a completely opposite direction if the director tells you otherwise.”

Her most important advice for NYFA students: “Do not be afraid to ask questions.”

The New York Film Academy thanks Hayley Atwell for sharing her time and expertise with our students.

These guests are not faculty and do not teach at NYFA, but they have appeared to share their stories and experience with our students. As guest speakers are scheduled based on their availability, NYFA cannot guarantee whether a guest speaker will visit during a student’s attendance or who that guest speaker may be. This guest speaker forum is not part of any NYFA curriculum and attendance at guest speaker events is purely voluntary. Students should be aware that guest speaker events do not represent a job opportunity nor are they intended to provide industry connections.

Stranger Than Fiction at the IFC Center, Co-Presented by the New York Film Academy

Stranger Than Fiction
Stranger Than Fiction with IFC and NYFA

Stranger Than Fiction, the annual weekly documentary film series hosted by Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen and co-presented by IFC Center and the New York Film Academy, announces the spring season of its 14th year.

The regular Stranger Than Fiction spring season is shown at IFC Center every Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. for eight weeks, plus two Thursday night screenings, all starting April 17.

The new season’s lineup kicked off with Sara Driver’s Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat (April 17), about the pre-fame years of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat; and will close with Jason Kohn’s Love Means Zero (June 5), about the controversial tennis coach Nick Bollittieri. Other works include New York rappers Nas and Dave East in Rapture (May 1).

Legendary Queens rapper Nas
Legendary Queens rapper Nas

Each event includes a discussion with the filmmaker or special guests, followed by a gathering at a nearby bar. The full season schedule appears at the bottom of the blog. For detailed information, visit here or IFC Center’s website.

Tickets for Stranger Than Fiction screenings are $17 for the general public and $14 for IFC Center members. A Season Pass, good for admission to all 10 evenings, is available for $99 ($80 for IFC members). A NYFA ID gets you nearly a 20% discount at the door!

View the full schedule below:

Jean-Michel Basquiat from "Boom For Real"
Jean-Michel Basquiat from Boom For Real

  • April 17 – Opening Night: BOOM FOR REAL: THE LATE TEENAGE YEARS OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (2017, 78 min) Q&A w/ dir Sara Driver
  • April 19 – Thursday Special: HAIKU ON A PLUM TREE (2016, 78 min) Q&A w/ dir Mujah Maraini-Melehi
  • April 24: THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND (2003, 92 min) Q&A w/ dir Sam Green & prod Carrie Lozano
  • May 1: RAPTURE: NAS & DAVE EAST (2018, 63 min) Q&A w/ dir Sacha Jenkins & EP Ben Selkow
  • May 8: GOTTI: GODFATHER AND SON (2018, 90 min) Q&A w/ dir Richard Stratton & subject John Gotti Jr
  • May 15: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ANDRÉ (2017, 94 min) Q&A w/ dir Kate Novack
  • May 22: THE FOURTH ESTATE (2018, 90 min) Q&A w/ dir Liz Garbus
  • May 24 – Thursday Special: A JIHAD FOR LOVE (2007, 81 min) Q&A w/ dir Parvez Sharma
  • May 29: ATOMIC CAFE (1982, 92 min) Q&A w/ dirs. Pierce Rafferty, Kevin Rafferty & Jayne Loader
  • June 5 – Closing Night: LOVE MEANS ZERO (2017, 89 min) Q&A w/ dir Jason Kohn

Double Duty in Austin: New York Film Academy’s Colonel Jack Jacobs

From left to right: Stephanie Whallon, Incentive Program Manager, Texas Film Commission; Cruz Montemayor, Deputy Executive Director, Texas Veterans Commission; Colonel Jack Jacobs, Chair, NYFA Veterans Advancement Program; Allen Bergeron, Veterans Program Administrator, City of Austin; John Powers, Director, NYFA Division of Veterans Services

There was very little sleep for Colonel Jack Jacobs this past weekend when he traveled to Austin, Texas to deliver a keynote address at a special New York Film Academy (NYFA) filmmaking master class. The workshop was held for Texas military veterans, and their family members, on Saturday, April 14.

Colonel Jacobs left New York City Friday midday and upon arrival Austin was immediately whisked to the broadcast studio. He was in extremely high demand to provide live on-air commentary about the Friday launch of U.S. missiles into Syria — after all, Colonel Jacobs is the military strategist for NBC/MSNBC in addition to his role as the NYFA’s Chair of the Veterans Advancement Program.

Long past midnight Saturday, Colonel Jacobs wrapped a final segment on the Brian Williams Show before being dropped off at his hotel. At 4 a.m., he was picked up again by the studio to prepare for additional live television coverage of the unfolding events in Syria and Washington, DC. At 8 a.m. he rushed to the Austin Convention Center, where he gave an impassioned talk to the crowd of veterans

Minh Vu, Senior Marketing Coordinator, Texas Film Commission
Stephanie Whallon, Incentive Program Manager, Texas Film Commission

who were there to attend the NYFA master class workshop.

“Having spent more than 20 years in the army, some of it during active combat duty, I honed the art of doing all that duty requires — no matter how little rest I have,” stated Colonel Jacobs.  “Going to a NYFA event, and talking with the outstanding men and women who have served in the military in defense of our nation, is energizing to me!”

The April 14 NYFA workshop was held in collaboration with the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), Texas Film Commission (TFC), and the City of Austin. The Mayor of Austin, Steve Adler, proclaimed April 14 as New York Film Academy Day, and a commemorative proclamation was presented to Colonel Jacobs, who accepted the honor on behalf of the New York Film Academy leadership.

 

PEABODY AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR DOCUMENTARY FILMS BY NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY INSTRUCTOR & ALUM

The Peabody Award nominations are out for the best work of 2017, and among the nominated documentaries are two films with New York Film Academy (NYFA) pedigrees.

The Netflix original short doc Heroin(e), edited by NYFA Documentary Filmmaking instructor Kristen Nutile, has received a Peabody Award nomination following it’s Academy Award nomination earlier in the year. Directed by Elaine Mcmillion, the short doc follows three community leaders in Huntington, West Virginia, as they struggle against the city’s opioid epidemic and face an overdose rate 10 times the national average. A fire chief, a judge, and a charity worker — all of them women — work tirelessly to help rescue those in their city struggling with addiction.

A prolific editor, Nutile has worked on two dozen films as well as directing six of her own, in addition to teaching at NYFA New York’s Documentary Filmmaking school, which is on The Independent Magazine’s list of Top 10 Academic Programs for Documentary Filmmakers.

The second NYFA-related Peabody nomination is for Newtown, associate produced/associate post-produced by NYFA Documentary Filmmaking grad Laura Snow. Newtown premiered at Sundance in 2016. Directed by Kim A. Snyder, Newtown investigates the aftermath throughout the community of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six educators were murdered. In the light of the March for Our Lives movement and rallies led by youth nationwide throughout 2018, Newtown remains a tragically and searingly timely film.

In addition to Newtown, Laura Snow has produced Leave-Taking and American Takedown, with additional documentary filmmaking credits including Morgan Spurlock Inside Man, 7 Deadly Sins, American Takedown, and The Hermit.

Originally established in 1940, the prestigious Peabody Award honors the most powerful, compelling, and enlightening stories in television, radio, and online media — stories that engage people not only as consumers, but as citizens.

As Walter Cronkite once famously put it, “You count your Emmys, you cherish your Peabodys.”

The New York Film Academy is delighted to congratulate Kristen Nutile and Laura Snow for this incredible achievement.

PEABODY AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR DOCUMENTARY FILMS BY NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY INSTRUCTOR & ALUM

The Peabody Award nominations are out for the best work of 2017, and among the nominated documentaries are two films with New York Film Academy (NYFA) pedigrees.

The Netflix original short doc Heroin(e), edited by NYFA Documentary Filmmaking instructor Kristen Nutile, has received a Peabody Award nomination following it’s Academy Award nomination earlier in the year. Directed by Elaine Mcmillion, the short doc follows three community leaders in Huntington, West Virginia, as they struggle against the city’s opioid epidemic and face an overdose rate 10 times the national average. A fire chief, a judge, and a charity worker — all of them women — work tirelessly to help rescue those in their city struggling with addiction.

A prolific editor, Nutile has worked on two dozen films as well as directing six of her own, in addition to teaching at NYFA New York’s Documentary Filmmaking school, which is on The Independent Magazine’s list of Top 10 Academic Programs for Documentary Filmmakers.

The second NYFA-related Peabody nomination is for Newtown, associate produced/associate post-produced by NYFA Documentary Filmmaking grad Laura Snow. Newtown premiered at Sundance in 2016. Directed by Kim A. Snyder, Newtown investigates the aftermath throughout the community of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six educators were murdered. In the light of the March for Our Lives movement and rallies led by youth nationwide throughout 2018, Newtown remains a tragically and searingly timely film.

In addition to Newtown, Laura Snow has produced Leave-Taking and American Takedown, with additional documentary filmmaking credits including Morgan Spurlock Inside Man, 7 Deadly Sins, American Takedown, and The Hermit.

Originally established in 1940, the prestigious Peabody Award honors the most powerful, compelling, and enlightening stories in television, radio, and online media — stories that engage people not only as consumers, but as citizens.

As Walter Cronkite once famously put it, “You count your Emmys, you cherish your Peabodys.”

The New York Film Academy is delighted to congratulate Kristen Nutile and Laura Snow for this incredible achievement.

Please note: NYFA does not represent that these are typical or guaranteed career outcomes. The success of our graduates in any chosen professional pathway depends on multiple factors, and the achievements of NYFA alumni are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances.

Broadcast Journalism Alumni Reporting From CGTN Beijing, CW 33, and More!

There is no better source of information regarding trends in American journalism than the Knight Foundation. The foundation is funded by the proceeds of the sale of the national Knight-Ridder newspaper chain, which took place just before the business model for local newspapers collapsed.

Strictly nonpartisan, and rooted in the realities of journalism today, the foundation just posted a report on the impact of new media on local TV news. The summary is well-worth reading, as it explains how local TV news has — so far — avoided the dramatic decline in viewership seen by network news programs. It also exams the strategies stations are using to become cross-platform distributors of news.

Ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China have meant some very long days for NYFA Broadcast Journalism grad Grace Shao. Here is her summary of one of those days, reporting for CGTN from Beijing:
What a day! Woke up at 0500 to the White House’s announcement of a proposed tariff on 100 bln dollars worth of Chinese goods … then proceeded to do a live cross with DC at 0800, 0900, 0930 and live cross with Beijing at 1400 while waiting for the Chinese MFA & MOFCOM’s official response … at 1700 I aired a pkg summarizing the U.S.-China trade tension which was aired again at 1900 … at 2030 MOFCOM held a press briefing and I finally got to wrap up the day with the official response, finishing a final package at 2300….and now sitting on my couch, I’ve never felt more satisfied eating a tub of ice cream!
Closer to home, alum Melissa Aleman has moved from New York City to the heart of Texas — Dallas, to be precise. And after doing some freelance work, she is about to start working at CW 33.
I wanted to fill you in on the CW 33 journey. I got the job as AP for NewsFix! I’m very excited for this opportunity. I will be starting April 18! Thank you for everything you and the instructors taught me in NYFA! 
BTW, you may have seen Melissa’s picture in the current NYFA Viewbook. That’s Melissa on the right … Her classmate with the camera, Lara Gato, is now an Associate Producer at CBS News.
As for myself, I am just back from Vietnam where I was working on a joint China/Vietnam/U.S. project. It’s something of an understatement to say it was a “challenge” working in three languages, but it was a great experience. I ended up spending a good deal of time in the countryside, including up in the Central Highlands, which saw far too much fighting during what is known there as “The American War.” Da Nang, which used to be more of a small town than a city, has grown exponentially…