Page 16 – NYFA

NYFA Los Angeles Filmmaking Faculty: Interview with Ed Timpe

One of the most powerful aspects of filmmaking is the fact that it truly takes a village to get a movie made. There are many moving parts, all operating in concert, each bringing a unique craftsmanship and artistic sensibility to the table.

Ed Timpe, Chair of Filmmaking at NYFA’s Los Angeles campus, has had his hand in nearly every stage of filmmaking. Since getting his Master of Fine Arts in Film Production with a concentration in Cinematography from Chapman University, he’s spent time in almost every department of the discipline, crafting a well-rounded resume.

NYFA Chair of Filmmaking (Los Angeles), Ed Timpe

Ed Timpe

Ed is a member of RooLALA Productions and has been involved in films that have screened across the world. He worked in the camera and electrical department on Closet Secrets (2006), Latter-Day Fake (2008), Jackson (2009), Fiasco (2009), and More Money, More Family (2015).

He served as Cinematographer on Tracing the Edges (2006), Vibrator (2010), Zombie Amore (2010), and on the TV series Bad Love (2010) and Semi-Dead (2010). He recently took his first foray into producing The Miseducation of Bindu (2020), made with the Duplass brothers and starring David Arquette.

We talked to Ed about how he got started in filmmaking, his favorite projects, and advice to prospective filmmakers.

NYFA: How did you first get interested in filmmaking?

ET: I was in my 2nd year of college and struggling to find my place. I had declared my major going into school and was really feeling stuck. I enrolled in a class that looked fun and was within the structure of my minor, Film Studies. It was a general overview of movies/filmmaking. In one of the early sessions, the instructor broke down Casablanca. She spoke so eloquently about the movie and the process that I was in love. Over the rest of the semester, I realized that I didn’t want to pursue my original degree anymore, but rather I wanted to pursue filmmaking. My school didn’t have that as a major, so I switched my minor to Film Theory and went on to get my Master’s once my BS was over.

NYFA: What have been your favorite projects/productions to work on to date?

ET: I recently produced my first feature film. I had set off in this industry as a Cinematographer, so it was a big swing. We made the movie in conjunction with the Duplass Brothers. It was a new experience and a massive education in making movies. I thought I really knew what went into every aspect of the process, and it has been great learning about new facets of making and selling movies.

David Arquette has a small role in the film, so it was also meeting one of my childhood favorites from the Scream movies.

NYFA: Tell us about your time at NYFA.

ET: I’ve been at NYFA for a little over ten years. I’ve worked in just about every capacity you can at the school. I came in as a teacher, worked in the Cinematography and Producing departments as a coordinator, was the Director of the High School program for several years, and have been the Chair of the Filmmaking Department for the past five years.

NYFA: What are your favorite courses to teach?

ET: My favorite is Cine I. It’s been a long time since I’ve taught it, but I really loved watching students come in and be shy with the cameras and gear and then get to watch them learn it and become more and more comfortable with it. I also really love teaching Production Workshop as you get to see the students cut their teeth in production.

NYFA: How would your students describe your teaching style/methods?

ET: Full disclosure. I’ve not taught in a couple of years because the administrative load has grown too large to manage and teach at the same time. My methods previously had always been getting the gear into the students’ hands as much as humanly possible. Have them shoot as much as we can in class so that we have both good and bad footage to look at and compare.

NYFA: What are your favorite aspects of the film community in Los Angeles?

ET: How robust and all-encompassing it is. LA is a city that is built around and for making movies. Everyone has a deep love for the craft, and you don’t have to look far to find very talented people to collaborate with.

NYFA: Who do you believe have been some of the most significant individuals in filmmaking?

ET: There is no way to do this without leaving people out. What I can tell you are the people that I think have had the most influence on me as a filmmaker (and I will probably still end up leaving some out).

Steven Spielberg – his blocking, camera movement, and ability to engage an audience are unrivaled.
Wes Anderson – his view of the world has made me reevaluate and understand my own.
Roger Deakins – his ability to adapt to each story he is telling is unmatched.
Charlie Kaufman – His ability to take the world you know and understand and to jumble it and mix it around inspires me to write.

I know that I am missing many, many names here, but these are what I came up with in a quick moment.

LISTEN: The Backlot Podcast with NYFA and Guest Speaker Steven Spielberg

NYFA: What are some of your favorite films?

ET: Jaws, Jurassic Park, Pulp Fiction, Celebration, The Life Aquatic, The Goonies, Dead Poets Society, A Clockwork Orange, Adaptation, Alien, Boogie Nights, Big Fish.

NYFA: What advice would you give a prospective student looking to get started in filmmaking?

ET: Watch as much content as you possibly can. Surround yourself with all of the voices of the filmmakers you love, and then take away the parts you are able to and apply them to your own work.

Create Your Own Films at NYFA

Want to learn how to create your own films? Check out our film degrees, certificates, and workshops!

NYFA Miami Filmmaking Faculty: Interview with Mark Mocahbee

You may not think there’s much of a throughline that connects King Lear and The Brady Bunch, but for an actor, they’re both examples of a craft that’s required to tell any kind of story on stage or screen. Both were also inspirations for Mark Mocahbee, NYFA Miami Chair of Acting for Film, as he began his own discovery of life as a thespian. For over 25 years, he’s worked in both performance and behind-the-scenes roles in film, television, theater, and radio, developing an extensive resume full of experience he now shares with acting students at NYFA’s Miami campus.

NYFA Chair of Acting for Film (Miami), Mark Mocahbee

Mark achieved nationwide acclaim directing for the stage with the premiere of Brad Fraser’s Poor Super Man, which Time Magazine named one of the Top Ten Plays of 1994. Over the course of his 25+ year career in theater, film, and television, he’s worked with such luminaries as Edward Albee, Rebecca Miller, Lee Blessing, Michael Weller, Brad Fraser, Dustin Hoffman, Joe Pesci, Stanley Tucci, Keanu Reeves and more. He has appeared in a number of short films, including This Evening’s Discourse, The Essential Man, Finding Grace, and Play/House, as well as directing and acting in Interconnected and Captain Incredible.

He holds a B.S. and MFA from the University of Miami and has served on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Xavier University and Miami University at Oxford. On stage, he’s been a member of the Stage Group Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Shakespeare & Company, and was the Resident Director of the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati. We talked with him about his influences and how he works to guide those studying performance.

NYFA: How did you first get interested in acting?

MM: Watching the Brady Bunch kids on TV as a child and thinking that looks like fun, I could do that. Then I began to read an old copy of King Lear by myself, acting out all the parts, and I fell in love.

NYFA: What have been your favorite projects/productions to work on to date?

MM: Hamlet, Rain Man, Poor Super Man, The Public Eye, The Miami Improv Festival, and Side Man.

NYFA: Tell us about your time at NYFA.

MM: I started as a part-time instructor in 2015 and was promoted to Associate Chair in SB in the spring of 2016. In the Fall of 2016, I was promoted to Chair. It has been a deeply rewarding experience helping the Miami campus grow and develop. Watching our students change while they are here is phenomenal.

NYFA: What are your favorite courses to teach?

MM: Performing Shakespeare, Period Styles, and Technique and Scene Study

NYFA: How would your students describe your teaching style/methods?

MM: Patient, exploratory, physical, detailed, and challenging.

NYFA: What are your favorite aspects of the film community in Miami?

MM: The diversity.

NYFA Miami

NYFA: Who do you believe have been some of the most significant actors/actresses in film?

MM: Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Denzel Washington, Robert DeNiro

NYFA: What are some of your favorite films and performances?

MM: Meryl Streep in Sophie’s Choice, Soumitra Chatterjee in The World of Apu, Denzel Washington in Malcolm X.

NYFA: What advice would you give a prospective student looking to get started in acting?

MM: Look at the world around you and allow it to absorb you. Read, learn and listen. Breathe. Work on monologues and stage plays, and make short films with your friends. Watch as many movies and plays as you can, and study every performance. What makes you love them? How and why do their characters move you? Study and stories and how they unfold. Take classes and study this art form formally and deeply. Learn techniques, and then practice them over and over and over. In addition to acting classes, take singing, speech, voice, movement, dance, and clowning classes. Be disciplined and determined, and have fun. Above all, be kind to yourself and others around you.

Learn How To Make Films at NYFA

Want to create your own short films? Check out our film degrees, certificates, and workshops!

Our Interview With Rising Artist Scholarship Winner Samantha Rosinski

In the Summer of 2022, NYFA welcomed Samantha Rosinski, a recipient of our Rising Artist Scholarship for Teen Camps (RASFTC), to our 1-Week Filmmaking Workshop for teens at NYFA’s New York campus. An aspiring young filmmaker, Samantha was introduced to the art of filmmaking and wrote, directed, shot, and edited a short film project.

“The New York Film Academy’s Rising Artist Scholarship for Teen Camps is a wonderful way for NYFA to recognize emerging student artists for their achievements in the Performing and/or Visual Arts,” says Roger Del Pozo, Senior Executive Enrollment Specialist and RASFTC Selection Committee Member. “It provides the selected winner the opportunity to explore their craft in an advanced and immersive environment at NYFA.”

Meet Rising Artist Scholarship Winner Samantha Rosinski

Following the completion of the 1-Week Filmmaking Workshop, we wanted to hear all about Samantha’s experiences at NYFA and her favorite memories while studying at our New York City campus. The RASFTC winner gave us the opportunity to hear about her experience making new friends, learning the essentials of directing, and living in the “Big Apple,” the home of major filmmaking and television studios, for an entire week.

New York Film Academy (NYFA): How did you feel when you heard that you were selected for the Rising Artist Scholarship for Teen Camps?

Samantha Rosinski (SR): I was incredibly surprised since I had only been experimenting with film for about a year and was grateful my teacher sent his recommendation to the NYFA for this opportunity. Also, I found out I was the scholarship winner the day before my birthday, so it was the ultimate birthday gift!

NYFA: What did you learn during your 1-Week Filmmaking Workshop at NYFA that you have applied to your life?

SR: A few girls were knocking on dorm doors on our first day to meet those on my floor. I realized how beneficial it is to put myself out there to meet people with similar aspirations. To become an open-minded filmmaker, you must remain curious. Coming to this hub of all different cultures, I have learned more about unique individuals and will be able to apply this to the character of my future film endeavors.

NYFA: What was your biggest challenge while studying Filmmaking at NYFA?

SR: Learning to work in a short time frame, for instance, utilizing just two hours to shoot your entire short film. In the end, this boosted my confidence in my abilities when I was able to meet that deadline successfully.

NYFA: Did you have any worldly experiences while studying at NYFA in New York City?

SR: I met people from all over the world, but one sticks out the most. I spoke with an aspiring photographer from France, who didn’t speak as much English as I did, however, we were able to communicate due to our shared knowledge of cameras. Going to another country for the four-week program is admirable! I follow his photography account on Instagram and can see his determination has truly paid off through his current work.

NYFA: What was your biggest takeaway from studying directing?

SR: I learned a lot about blocking and how it relates to which characters are dominant. I already understood how camera angles can have this effect, but I never realized how much went into feature films where character movement is specifically coordinated to add to this.

NYFA: Are you considering pursuing filmmaking/directing as a future major in college?

SR: Of course! I plan on majoring in film production in college.

NYFA: What was your favorite thing about living in New York City for a week?

SR: Being within walking distance of discovering all varieties of food with all my new friends remains unrivaled in my experience. The Eastern Nova Bagel from Leo’s Bagels was my favorite!

NYFA: What advice do you have for other teens considering our programs?

SR: Prepare as much as possible for your film to get the most out of the program. Make connections with the people in your class quickly (especially during the one-week session!).

NYFA: Be honest, would you recommend our camps to your friend or family member?

SR: Yes, I think it was a program that would be useful for any skill level. It was great to hear from professionals in the industry, and I would recommend living in the dorm to prepare for college.

NYFA congratulates filmmaking teen camp alum Samantha Rosinski on her achievement and wishes her the best of luck in pursuing film in the future.

How to Nominate a Student For NYFA’s Rising Artist Scholarship

Designed for teen visual and performance artists, NYFA’s Rising Artist Scholarship provides students with the opportunity to attend a teen camp or workshop at NYFA. Teachers, counselors, employers, and mentors may nominate teens to attend in person at our New York or Los Angeles campus or complete an online program. All submissions must include a brief essay written by the nominator on why the candidate should be considered. To learn more, visit our Rising Artist Scholarship for Teen Camps page.

NYFA New York Producing Faculty: Interview with Neal Weisman

Our NYFA Producing programs teach students all the critical aspects of making a film or television show from start to finish, educating them on the realities and challenges of bringing a production to life. This hands-on approach is supported by our faculty of active industry professionals, such as our Chair of the Producing department at NYFA New York, Neal Weisman. Neal believes his mission is to teach the next generation about the art and craft of producing.

NYFA Producing Chair, Neal Weisman

Neal’s producing credits include The Politician’s Wife (1995), which won a BAFTA and Peabody Award, as well as an International Emmy Award for Best Drama Serial; Seeing Red (2000), which won a Christopher Award; and My Kingdom (2001), starring Richard Harris in his last leading role. He also produced Let’s Talk About Sex (2009), a documentary that was broadcast on TLC.

In addition to his producing career, Neal is also the Vice President of Edward Pressman Film Corporation, which is responsible for producing films like David Byrne’s True Stories (1986), Wall Street (1987), Talk Radio (1988), Kathryn Bigelow’s Blue Steel (1989), and Barbet Schroeder’s Reversal of Fortune (1990), to name a few.

An award-winning film and television producer with over 20 years of international experience, we spoke to Neal about his favorite projects, his time at NYFA, and what advice he’d give to those looking to get started in producing.

New York Film Academy (NYFA): How (and when) did you first get interested in producing?

Neal Weisman (NW): I initially wanted to become a writer-director. While earning my Master of Fine Arts degree in Cinema, I wrote and directed so many films that I realized I did not want to direct as a career. I worked out my directorial aspirations early in life! I wanted to keep making films, so it was a natural transition to producing.

NYFA: What have been your favorite projects/productions to work on to date?

NW: This is like asking a parent which is your favorite child! I have a special affection for “my first child in the film industry,” True Stories (1986), co-written and directed by David Byrne, with music by Talking Heads. It has become a true cult hit, was recently remastered, and is available on Criterion. The cinematography is by Ed Lachman, a true master.

NYFA: Tell us about your time at NYFA.

NW: I love sharing my experience and knowledge in the education of new producers. It is very gratifying to mentor the next generation of content creators. I am on a mission to spread the answer to the important question, “What Does a Producer Do?”. One of the great strengths of the New York Film Academy is the diversity of the student population. It is invigorating to meet and work with students of all ages and ethnic and gender identities who come to study at NYFA from all over the world. It not only enriches the students’ experiences but those of the faculty as well.

NYFA: What are your favorite courses to teach?

NW: Producer’s Craft because this is where I get to answer, “What Does a Producer Do?”. We explore the entire producing process, from identifying ideas to working with writers in the development of scripts, assembling commercially viable packages, raising finance, and looking at all aspects of pre-production, filming/shooting, post-production, as well as marketing, and distribution. It is a very comprehensive overview of producing.

NYFA: How would your students describe your teaching style/methods?

NW: I have a lot of information to give to our students, so I do a lot of talking! The students, in turn, ask a lot of questions, so there is a good give and take. As we are very hands-on, students apply what they are learning in lectures to their own individual case studies, which are shared in class. I encourage as much participation, discussion, and interaction as possible.

Executive Producer John Giura with NYFA Producing Co-Chair Neal Weisman at a NYFA Q&A Session

NYFA: What are your favorite aspects of the film community in New York?

NW: New York City is the greatest backlot in the world! Think of all the fantastic films that have been set here. It is so exciting to create work in the Big Apple. There is a fiercely independent and entrepreneurial spirit in New York; so many motivated people making everything from low-budget indies to amazing documentaries to huge Marvel movies. From Martin Scorsese to Spike Lee, everyone and everything is here!

NYFA: Who do you believe have been some of the most significant individuals in producing?

NW: Saul Zaentz was an incredible producer. He operated primarily outside the studio system, based in San Francisco, and was able to make truly significant work – movies like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), The English Patient (1996), Amadeus (1984), The Mosquito Coast (1986), and The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988).

The British producer Jeremy Thomas has made a host of amazing films working with great directors like David Cronenberg, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Terry Gilliam. Also, Jason Blum is awesome, making lower-budgeted horror films like Insidious (2010-2018) and The Purge (2013); and moving on to movies like Whiplash (2014), Split (2016), Get Out (2017), BlacKkKlansman (2018), Glass (2019), and Us (2019).

Of course, I can’t forget Edward R. Pressman, who was an important mentor and responsible for such movies as Wall Street (1987), To Sleep with Anger (1990), Reversal of Fortune (1990), The Crow (1994), and American Psycho (2000).

NYFA: What are some of your favorite films?

NW: Many of my students know that I consider Citizen Kane (1941) to be one of the most influential and important films of all time. That said, I confess to The Wizard of Oz (1939) as being my favorite film for a multitude of reasons (not just Judy Garland). The music is timeless, the performances are superb, but most importantly, it is a classic hero story. I often cite it when speaking about crafting screenplays.

NYFA: What advice would you give a prospective student looking to get started in producing?

NW: Learn all the basics and fundamentals of producing first and foremost. Once you have these concepts, strategies, and skills in your toolbox, you’ll be able to follow your passion wherever it takes you, confidently knowing what you are doing!

Produce Your Own Short Films and Content at NYFA

Ready to produce your own content and short films? Check out our degrees in producing, as well as our certificates and workshops!

Allan Ungar on Directing ‘Bandit’, an Ode to Toronto

Allan Ungar on Directing Bandit, an Ode to Toronto

Five years ago, NYFA Teen Filmmaking alum Allan Ungar, a new director at the time, was sent scripts for films “people thought [he] wanted to make.” Ultimately, these scripts did not resonate. Ungar, a Toronto native, was searching for a way to incorporate his hometown into his work. “I always wanted to find bold and audacious stories to tell that … [had] some connection to that “home.” He continued to work on developing his skills as a director while searching for that story. “With a country so rich in its history, I felt that it was only a matter of time before I would come across a story that had all the right elements to make a powerful and convincing film that people could relate to.”

In Bandit, Ungar found a story that captured the essence of his home country and captivated him. Bandit is based on the exploits of Gilbert Galvan Jr., an American who escaped from a Michigan prison and crossed the border to Canada. Upon arriving in the northern territory, Galvan, alias Robert Whiteman, planned and executed 59 heists in banks and jewelry stores in almost every province from Vancouver to Halifax. The director shared that he read the Bandit script in one sitting. “I called my agent that night and said, ‘I have to make this film.’

Allan Ungar, the mastermind behind Uncharted: Live Action Fan Film, has always been a fan of the heist genre. The classics “employed an inherent and organic ability to entertain, thrill, and excite audiences. Whether there was action, drama or romance involved, I always felt that there was a heightened sense of authenticity that was relatable.” With Bandit, Ungar found a film that possessed all of these qualities. “It had heart,” he said. In the film, Gilbert Galvan Jr. (Josh Duhamel), turns to robbing banks and jewelry stores after falling in love with a woman (Elisha Cuthbert) whom he cannot provide for. As it turns out, love is what motivated one of the most notorious heist-men in Canadian history. “It was a story about a real human being who had a dream and went for it. No matter the cost.”

Bandit gets its title from The Flying Bandit, the book by Robert Knuckle with Ed Arnold that inspired the screenplay by Kraig Wenman. Gilbert Galvan Jr., was dubbed “the Flying Bandit” because he was a member of a frequent flyer program; and under the pseudonym Robert Whiteman, a computer salesman, Galvan would fly first class to different cities across Canada to rob up to 3 banks in the same day before flying back home to his wife. Galvan was one of the most productive heist-man and still holds the record for most consecutive robberies in Canada’s 155-year history. In his three-year spree, he amassed over $2 million.

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A post shared by Allan Ungar (@allanungar)

The Toronto native would have preferred to film Bandit in and around Canada, but 2020 had other plans for Allan Ungar and his crew. Due to the pandemic, Ungar was forced to relocate. He had to “recreate 1980’s Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton all in modern-day Georgia.” The task was no easy feat, but Ungar affirms it was “one of the most … rewarding experiences of my career.”

Bandit was purchased at the Cannes Marché du Film, the business counterpart of the legendary Cannes Film Festival, earlier this year. As the world’s largest film market, Marché du Film is where producers, directors and distributors from all over the world gather in droves looking to buy and acquire the rights to the next big film. Highland Group closed on an array of international deals and sold the rights for Bandit to Signature Entertainment for distribution in the UK and Scandinavia, Originals Factory for France and French-speaking Switzerland, Eagle Films for the Middle East and many more distributors.

“I can’t wait to see the way it resonates with [people]. Because at the end of the day, that’s why we make movies.”

Bandit will premiere in theaters on September 23, 2022.

New York Film Academy congratulates Allan Ungar on all of his work and success!

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.

NYFA New York Photography Faculty: Interview with David Mager

From Diane Arbus to Robert Mapplethorpe, New York has been home to a range of innovative photographers. At NYFA New York, we always add our Chair of Photography, David Mager, to the list. As a native New Yorker and commercial photographer, David has worked in the industry for over 20 years, mainly in the publishing market. His previous clients have included top brands and companies such as Disney, DK, Der Speigel, McGraw-Hill, Parents Magazine, Park Place Magazine Penguin, Scholastic, and Time Out NY.

NYFA CHAIR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (NEW YORK), DAVID MAGER

An Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop Lightroom, David received his Master of Professional Studies from the School of Visual Arts. He also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University (NYU). We spoke to David about his start in photography, experience, and teaching at New York Film Academy.

NYFA: How (and when) did you first get interested in photography?

It started for me in high school. I had a math teacher who also photographed Ballet. He taught me the basics of darkroom work, and I started working for him, running contact sheets.

NYFA: What have been your favorite projects to work on to date?

I am currently working on a project called 2nd Amenders; it’s a series of portraits of gun owners in NJ. The process has been very eye-opening for me and allowed me to have very interesting conversations with these individuals about the reasons they own firearms.

NYFA: Tell us about your time at NYFA.

I have greatly enjoyed my 10+ years at NYFA. It has been very rewarding to watch and participate in the growth and development of the photography programs. It is also amazing to experience the diversity of ideas that come from the photography students.

NYFA: What are your favorite courses to teach?

Photo II (studio lighting) Imaging I (lightroom).

NYFA: How would your students describe your teaching style/methods?

Open, friendly, fun, tough, but fair.

NYFA Photography

NYFA: What are your favorite aspects of the photography community in New York?

The incredible diversity of work styles.

NYFA: Who do you believe have been some of the most significant individuals in photography?

Richard Avedon, Gregory Crewdson, Irving Penn, Herb Ritts, Erwin Olaf, Latoya Ruby Frazier, Nan Goldin, Lori Nix

NYFA: What are some of your favorite films?

City of Lost Children, Groundhogs Day, Star Wars (Episodes 4,5,6), The Incredibles, My Octopus Teacher, Strictly Ballroom, Cinema Paradiso.

NYFA: What advice would you give a prospective student looking to get started in photography?

Photography takes not only passion, but hard work, commitment, and dedication. Find your passion first, and then bring your A-game every day.

Learn New Photography Skills and Techniques at NYFA

Ready to get started in photography? Check out our hands-on photography programs today!

NYFA Miami Filmmaking Faculty: Interview with Herschel Faber

It may seem a bit of a no-brainer that the chair of a filmmaking department’s biggest recommendation for people interested in film would be to… go to film school. But for Herschel Faber, Chair of Filmmaking at NYFA’s South Beach campus, it just makes sense. It’s not even the access to free equipment and quality instruction; this writer-director-producer knows it’s an opportunity to forge creative partnerships that will both inspire and support you in your filmmaking journey.

Over the course of his own career, Herschel has come to appreciate those partnerships and champions their value as he works with the up-and-coming generation of filmmakers at NYFA.

NYFA Chair of Filmmaking (South Beach), Herschel Faber

Herschel Faber

Herschel received his Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from Columbia University; while there, he won the “Zaki Gordon Award” for screenwriting. He wrote the 2012 comedy Mac & Devin Go To High School starring Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa; he wrote, directed, and produced Cavemen, a comedy featuring the likes Jason Patric (The Lost Boys, Speed II), Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill) and Camilla Belle (The Lost World: Jurassic Park, When a Stranger Calls). He recently executive produced the short film Malik (2019) and also oversees Love, JD, a web series that is currently 130 episodes strong.

We spoke with Herschel about his career, the unique qualities of being a filmmaker in South Beach, and some of his biggest influences.

NYFA: How did you first get interested in filmmaking?

HF: The very last class of my undergraduate studies was a screenwriting class taught by esteemed playwright Claudia Johnson. She chose my short screenplay for a table read with actors from the Asolo Theater. Hearing my words come out of the mouths of professional actors and seeing the effect they had on the audience was intoxicating. I started applying to film school right after this experience.

NYFA: What have been your favorite projects/productions to work on to date?

HF: My favorite project would be Cavemen, the feature film I wrote, directed, and produced, which came out in theaters in 2014. The film stars Skyler Astin (Pitch Perfect), Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill), Camilla Belle (10,000 BC), and Jason Patric (The Lost Boys). Head to Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, etc., and stream it now! (Always be closing!)

NYFA: Tell us about your time at NYFA.

HF: I started my career at NYFA as an instructor focusing on screenwriting, directing, and producing while also balancing my life as a working filmmaker. After four years, I became Chair of the Filmmaking program, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I get great satisfaction from being able to guide students through their filmmaking journeys, and I love it when their finished films get into major festivals.

NYFA: What are your favorite courses to teach?

HF: Feature screenwriting and Film aesthetics.

NYFA: How would your students describe your teaching style/methods?

HF: I think they would say I create a very relaxed atmosphere in which to learn. There are no “dumb questions.” I’m very approachable and interactive in the way I teach, encouraging students to participate as much as possible. I learn as much from my students as they learn from me.

NYFA: What are your favorite aspects of the film community in South Beach?

HF: As opposed to Los Angeles (where I moved from), you can have a certain anonymity as a filmmaker in Miami, which is nice. Filmmaking is a relatively novel pursuit in Miami, and the network of filmmakers is very tight- knit. When I set out to make a film, my peers get very excited about it and will jump through hoops to help me realize my vision. It takes a village to make a movie and South Beach is an amazingly supportive place to work and live.

NYFA South Beach

NYFA: Who do you believe have been some of the most significant individuals in filmmaking?

HF: My list of filmmaking heroes: Billy Wilder, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ron Shelton, Harold Ramis.

NYFA: What are some of your favorite films?

HF: I’m all over the place: Cinema Paradiso, Bull Durham, Stripes, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Field of Dreams, The Natural – there’re a lot of baseball movies for some reason.

NYFA: What advice would you give a prospective student looking to get started in filmmaking?

HF: Perhaps this is a bit on the nose, but I would recommend going to film school. For me, film school was the perfect place for me to learn all facets of the craft of filmmaking. It was a safe, nurturing environment where I had direct access to the latest and greatest in gear, as well as working professionals at the top of their collective games. I was also able to connect with other like-minded students and forged both friendships and creative partnerships that have stood the test of time. Having that network of friends from film school has been invaluable to me during my career.

Create Your Own Films at NYFA

Want to learn how to make your own short films? Check out our film degrees, certificates, and workshops!

NYFA New York Acting Faculty: Interview with Josephine Wilson

Our NYFA Acting for Film faculty helps students develop practical acting skills using a hands-on approach. Josephine Wilson, Chair of the Acting for Film department in New York, uses her ten years of experience acting, directing, and teaching at the nationally-acclaimed Shakespeare & Co in Lenox, MA, where she’s a company member, to guide students and help them build confidence in their craft.

Josephine moved to New York in 2015. She’s since been teaching at NYFA and is heavily involved in a number of theatre companies, both acting and teaching in them, and has also co-created and written shows herself.

NYFA Acting for Film Chair, Josephine Wilson

During her time with Shakespeare & Co, Josephine studied under Tina Packer and dove deeply into Kristin Linklater’s work in the place where it was created and developed. Following her move to New York, she helped Lincoln Center Theatre develop its Shakespeare curriculum for schools and has taught in its programs since 2015. She is a member of The Humanist Project, a theatre company that devises new pieces rooted in the classics, and was a part of a five-person Macbeth performed at the Secret Theatre. She was also in Macbeth for South Brooklyn Shakespeare, was a part of the Shakespeare Society’s exploration of Richard III, and co-created a clown show called Quantum Fairy Tales.

She has also written and developed her own show, Psyche, which she performed at Dixon Place, and most recently, she played Dori Mae in Nathan Brewer’s short film, No Loss Here (2020). Her regional performances include Annie in Table Manners, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Miss Jean Brodie in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

We sat down with Josephine to talk about her love of acting, her favorite films and acting performances, and what advice she’d give to acting students looking to get started.

New York Film Academy (NYFA): How did you first get interested in acting?

Josephine Wilson (JW): In 4th grade, I had a teacher that was very excited about Shakespeare and would act out the plays for us in class. She encouraged me, and I began memorizing and acting out scenes in my bedroom in my free time. Out of this, I joined the Junior Musical Playhouse Company, in which I got to act in several wonderful productions. It became a passion and an obsession.

NYFA: What have been your favorite projects/productions to work on to date?

JW: My favorite project was a short film I got to work on called No Loss Here, directed and written by Nathan Brewer. It was an important story about Alzheimer’s that had a wonderful message of love.

NYFA: Tell us about your time at NYFA.

JW: I have been with New York Film Academy as both a teacher and administrator for seven years. I began in the Acting team for the Musical Theatre department and joined the Acting for Film department in 2018.

NYFA: What are your favorite courses to teach?

JW: I love teaching Acting Technique, Scene Study, and Shakespeare. I think these classes are immersive and fun.

NYFA: How would your students describe your teaching style/methods?

JW: I am most interested in playing. How can you create the game in your scene work that brings your acting to life? I also want my students to learn to be very curious about the other actors on stage with them by listening to their whole being. This is where the exciting human behavior begins.

NYFA: What are your favorite aspects of the film and acting community in New York?

JW: New York is ambitious and intelligent, but it is also fun. The film and acting community reflect the vibrancy of the city. You can find any kind of show you could possibly desire to see; turn the corner, and a film is shooting on the block. I love that there is room for creativity and that the actors in the city are highly skilled and trained. It is a wonderful place to work.

NYFA: Who do you believe have been some of the most significant actors/actresses in film?

JW: Marlon Brando and James Dean changed modern acting. Meryl Streep is undisputedly one of the greatest actors to grace the screen. Mark Rylance is the most alive actor I have ever seen on stage and on screen.

NYFA: What are some of your favorite films/tv shows and performances?

JW: I am a true nerd. I love Star Wars (1977-2019), The Princess Bride (1987), Game of Thrones (2011-2019), Labyrinth (1986), and all of the epic adventure movies and shows. I think the best films and tv shows can transport us to another world but still reflect our human needs and emotional life. As for my favorite performances, I will never forget Minnie Driver in Good Will Hunting (1997). You can literally see her heartbreak moment by moment when Will tells her he doesn’t love her. That vulnerability and moment-to-moment specificity is something to strive toward.

NYFA: What advice would you give a prospective student looking to get started in acting?

JW: Practice, practice, practice. Get curious about what works and what doesn’t work, get help from others and begin to collaborate with people who share your same passions. Acting cannot happen in a vacuum, so it takes diligent work and a community to grow.

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NICOLE CLEMENS, PRESIDENT OF TELEVISION AT PARAMOUNT & PARAMOUNT+, TALKS LEGACY IP’S AND INDUSTRY TIPS

New York Film Academy (NYFA) had the honor of hosting a live video Q&A with Nicole Clemens to discuss content acquisition and studio production with NYFA students and alumni. Tova Laiter, Director of the NYFA Q&A-List Series, curated and moderated the event.

Nicole Clemens serves in the dual role as President of Paramount Television Studios (PTVS) and Paramount+ Original Scripted Series. She joined PTVS in 2018 and added the Paramount+ position to her portfolio in 2021.

Clemens’ primary responsibility at Paramount+ is to shepherd original series and formulate programming strategies for the streaming platform. Paramount+ projects include the global hit series Halo for which NYFA alum Andor Zahonyi was a Visual Effects Artist, The Offer, Star Trek franchises – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Discovery , as well as Seal Team, Evil, The Good Fight, and The Game. Some of Paramount+’s upcoming series include Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Fatal Attraction, Rabbit Hole, and Criminal Minds.

In addition, as President of PTVS, Clemens oversees a robust slate of shows for buyers across multiple platforms, including Emmy-nominated Station Eleven, created by NYFA Guest Speaker Patrick Somerville, Reacher and Jack Ryan for Amazon Prime, American Gigolo for SHOWTIME, Defending Jacob, Shantaram and Time Bandits for Apple TV+, and The Haunting anthology series for Netflix.

Before coming to Paramount, Clemens was a producer at Anonymous Content. Previously, she served as Executive Vice President and Head of Series Development for FX Networks, with a roster of original series including Atlanta, Snowfall, Better Things, You’re the Worst, Baskets, Tyrant, Mayans MC, and The Strain.

Clemens is no stranger to the world of content and production, as she was a partner and Head of the Motion Picture Literary Department at ICM Partners for 16 years, a position preceded by tenures at Rod Holcomb Productions and as a television executive at Spelling Television.

The NYFA Guest Speaker shared with the NYFA community that she is in a unique position as “both a buyer and a seller” at Paramount Television Studios and Paramount+. Working at a television studio has afforded her the opportunity to “buy, sell and make things”. At PTVS, the studio can buy their own material, greenlight original pitches, make deals with screenwriters, directors and producers, then sell to either broadcast or streaming platforms. “It is very rare that a show can go everywhere,” says Clemens, so PTVS finds the content a fitting home where it has a real chance of getting made and seen by the target audience.

Paramount’s own streaming platform, Paramount+, is a broader and bigger canvas for a variety of audiences rather than coastal or niche ones, such as 1883, The Wolf of Wall Street, Spongebob Squarepants, and other “crown jewels” that Clemens has sworn to protect.

The “crown jewels” are the legacy IPs. Among them is a groundbreaking film that was produced by Paramount during an uncertain time and catapulted the production studio to great heights, The Godfather . Clemens jokes that as keeper of the jewels, she has sat through more “Godfather 4” pitches than she could possibly share. But meeting with producer Al Ruddy and hearing how the movie got made inspired the series THE OFFER. The series is a hit with audience and critics alike, and Clemens could not have been prouder!

The cultural impact of The Godfather cannot be understated; The Godfather won ‘Best Picture,’ ‘Best Actor’ (Marlon Brando), and ‘Best Adapted Screenplay’ (Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola) at the 1973 Academy Awards. The film also won several Golden Globes that year, including ‘Best Motion Picture – Drama,’ ‘Best Director,’ and ‘Best Motion Picture Actor – Drama’. The Godfather trilogy has been lauded as the best and most influential film of all time and influenced Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas and David Chase’s The Sopranos – but it was almost never made. The story behind the legendary film and how it almost didn’t make it to the screen is what Nicole Clemens pitched and turned into The Offer.

Clemens also shared insider information about how shows get made and how to break into the industry. She shared that even if aspiring screenwriters send studios work, the studio does not and legally cannot accept unsolicited or unrepresented work. She suggested that writers seek out agents and, better yet, managers for representation. “Everyone wants to find the next big thing,” Clemens said, and agents and managers are looking for new talent to represent. Clemens also encouraged students and alumni to take jobs at agencies to acquire knowledge about the industry, stating that there is great value in work that may, at times, seem unrelated to entertainment but, in fact, is the center of how shows get put together.

She also recommended making as many contacts as possible, especially if, like her at the beginning of her career, you don’t have a direct connection to someone in the industry. The NYFA Guest Speaker shared that “there’s a lot of rejection in this industry” but affirms that “You have to believe in what you believe and just go and go.” Eventually, something will stick. When asked what she believes got her to her position at Paramount today, she replied, “tenacity.”

New York Film Academy would like to thank Nicole Clemens for sharing her time and expertise with NYFA students and alumni.

Watch the full interview below: