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New York Film Academy Narrative Theory Students Explore IMAX VR Centre

https://youtu.be/vOoU5pz4lAU

The Narrative Theory Course is a part of the New York Film Academy’s Game Design curriculum. The class focuses on storytelling methods in gaming. Virtual Reality (VR) provides an entirely new way of looking at how to tell stories. Without the control limits of a two-dimensional screen the ability to direct a player’s eye-line is no longer an option. A whole new set of rules has to be developed. This new frontier of technology brought NYFA students to the IMAX VR Centre in Hollywood, CA.

For many students, this was their first experience with VR. “I had a really great time at the VR Center,” said student Kamen Marinov. “The moment I put those Oculus ‘goggles’ on my head I felt this strange feeling — that I was inside someone else. It was like I was seeing through another person’s eyes. It felt odd at first, but when I got used to the visuals and the game mechanics I had an amazing experience.”

Students were able to experience a ton of games that are new to the market. The new “Justice League” game based on the Warner Brother’s film allows players to drive the Batmobile or take out Steppenwolf’s lackeys with Cyborg’s arm cannon. This is just one of the many games currently on display. Set up in an arcade style, students can could jump into several cinematic worlds including “John Wick,” “The Mummy,” “Deadwood,” and the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises.

Some students choose to play two first-person shooters “Raw Data” and “John Wick.” Jeffery Lay found the experience both taxing and informative: “In ‘John Wick,’ I was hiding behind a bar, watching my six, as enemies come from everywhere. A big vase covering an area of my view-making forced me to me lean around it, or jump to shoot over it, even though in reality, nothing is there.” 

“VR had a lot more movement than I expected,” said Lay. “I probably changed between standing and crouching about 50 to 100 times in a row.” 

Nathan Hales wasn’t just having fun. He learned a lot. “The level of immersion offered by virtual reality is really something that one cannot explain but must be experienced,” said Hales. “I felt like I was living within these virtual spaces. I was cutting down robots in ‘Raw Data,’ instead of the usual extra degree of separation offered from a traditional TV or computer monitor setup. Moving forward with the knowledge I gained from experiencing the capabilities and limitations of virtual reality, I can now envision games for the medium.”

This is important because VR is a hot commodity in the entertainment industry. Since Nonny de la Pena’s VR project in immersive journalism entitled “Hunger in Los Angeles” premiered at Sundance 2012, there’s been a lot of buzz around the future of VR, yet there were many unanswered questions about the possibilities the new technology held at the time. Facebook set a new precedent when it acquired Oculus Rift in 2014. Since then, we’ve seen the development of both VR recording technologies and creative endeavors rapidly accelerate.

Overall, the day was a rousing success. The New York Film Academy would like to thank IMAX VR for giving our students an opportunity to glimpse the future of gaming.

SHANGHAI FILM WEEK 2018 IN NEW YORK CITY

On Jan. 9, 2018, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) co-organizes two celebratory events as a part of the 2018 Chinese New Year festivities. Chinese Cultural Performances will be shared directly before the opening of Shanghai Film Week, with both events taking place at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in downtown New York.

SHENQI (‘AMAZING’) TRAILER

Events include:

Chinese Cultural Performances
Jan. 9, 2018 at 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Safra Hall Theater, Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Shanghai Film Week Industry Panel & Film Screening: “Amazing”
January 9, 2018 at 1:30-6 p.m.
Safra Hall Theater, Museum of Jewish Heritage

Shanghai Film Week
January 10-12, 2018
New York Film Academy TheatreThe Spring Festival-themed Chinese Cultural Performances will feature presentations by a variety of Shanghai-based cultural and educational institutions, while Shanghai Film Week will feature an Industry Panel of filmmakers, critics, and educators discussing the future of internationally collaborative cinema. Shanghai Film Week will continue as the New York Film Academy will screen seven well-received Chinese films, which have won numerous accolades and awards in China, at the NYFA Theatre at its Battery Park campus throughout the week.

With the approaching Chinese Spring Festival ushering in Chinese New Year, the festival’s Chinese Cultural Performances will feature performances around the theme of “joy, harmony, sharing, praying, and auspiciousness.” The East China Normal University, Shanghai Theatre Academy, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Film Art Academy, and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine will all make presentations in a range of art forms from folk dance to martial arts.

Following the performances, Shanghai Film Week will offer screenings — and several well-received Chinese films with English subtitles as well as the Industry Panel.

The Chinese film industry began in Shanghai, and was projected to become the world’s largest and — despite hitting a plateau in growth in 2016 — may still surpass Hollywood in the coming years. Reuters has reported that 2017 will see three times 2016’s rate of growth, for a total Chinese box office take of 55 billion yuan ($8.31 U.S. billion). Six of China’s 2017 top-10 box office performers were Hollywood-made, highlighting the fact that, as ScreenDaily points out, the relationship between the Chinese and American film markets is “mutually dependent.”

With this in mind, Shanghai Film Week’s opening day Industry Panel, moderated by New York Film Academy President Michael Young, will investigate the theme of the “The Present and Future State of the U.S. and China Film Collaboration.”

Confirmed panelists include:

  • Film critic for the Christian Science Monitor and NYFA Instructor Peter Rainer
  • NYFA Chair of the Broadcast Journalism Bill Einreinhofer
  • NYU’s Tisch Undergraduate Film & Television Associate Professor and award winning textbook author David Irving
  • Film Director Sherwood Hu (胡雪桦)(“Amazing”)
  • Vice President of the Shanghai Film Group Corporation Xiaojun Wang (王小军)

Following the Industry Panel, the New York Film Academy will screen Shanghai Film Week panelist and acclaimed film director Sherwood Hu’s film “Amazing.” The film features NBA superstars Scottie Pippen, Mel Chude, Dwight Howard, and Carmelo Anthony.

The New York Film Academy thanks its partners in organizing the Chinese Cultural Performances and Shanghai Film Week: the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV, Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Information Office of Shanghai Municipality, and Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York.

To RSVP for the Chinese Cultural Performances and Shanghai Film Week’s Industry Panel and screenings, click here.

New York Film Academy Broadcast Journalism School’s Last Weekly Update of 2017

As this is the final Weekly Update for 2017, I wanted to tell you about what some of the NYFA Broadcast Journalism graduates have been doing recently…

Celina Liv Danielsen is one of the hardest working people I ever met, and that hard work has apparently paid off. I heard from her last week via Facebook: “I have been working at the Danish television company TV2 for a year now, and I just found out that I’m among (together with a colleague) a nominee for the Best News Story of the Year at the award show ‘TV Prisen 2018.’ I just wanted to thank you and the school for teaching me so much…”

Congratulations, Celina! Not bad for one year on the job…

 

 

Meanwhile, more recent alum Melissa Aleman is now working on “Somos Texas,” a series that airs on Azteca TV. And her most recent story has a definite holiday theme: “Don’t miss out on the best location to take your selfie this Christmas! Today I’ll be showing you the place that has more than 4 million Christmas lights! Don’t miss a brand new holiday edition of #SomosTexas only on #azteca.”

Want to find out about the plot of the next blockbuster film in the Jurassic Park series, “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”? NYFA grad Daniella Gemignani interviewed director A.J Bayona for Globo TV in Brazil.

Bryanna Reynolds recently interviewed international entertainment legend Kylie Minogue at the Melbourne premiere of the “Swinging Safari,” which Bryanna describes as “an Australian comedy.”  It’s a coming-of-age film that takes place in the 1970s.

When Elina Mukherjee went to Times Square to report a NYFA student project earlier this year, she had no idea it would turn out to be a job interview for TV Asia USA. Someone from the New Jersey-based programming service saw her doing her stand-up, and he was so impressed he offered her a job as a freelance reporter after she graduated. Her first assignment is the Global Healthcare Summit taking place in India. Then she will be reporting stories from Long Island, which is a suburb of New York City. Congratulations, Elina!
Finally, on a personal note, it was an amazing year. I never dreamed I’d be asked to participate in the international version of a major CCTV cultural history series … and end up as the host. The six-part documentary series is headed to the MIPTV international TV market in Cannes next April.
Have a wonderful holiday, whatever tradition(s) you follow, and I’ll be back next year with more news about the NYFA Broadcast Journalism department.
Until then, stay tuned!

New York Film Academy Photography Student Tanne Willow Lights Up Profoto

While most students only fantasize about having their artwork promoted by a major industry player while still in school, New York Film Academy (NYFA) 2-Year Photography Conservatory student Tanne Willow lived the dream recently with her feature on Profoto.

Known for decades as a cutting-edge leader in crafting fine light-shaping and flash tools for professional photographers, Profoto is a Swedish company that recently won rave reviews throughout the photography community for their first on-camera flash, the A1.

Profoto features Tanne Willow and her images in their Local News section. The article, titled “Rising Light: Tanne Willow’s Journey from Dance to Film to Digital,” discusses Tanne’s toolkit of choice, her style influences, and her time at the New York Film Academy Los Angeles campus as a 2-Year Photography Program student.

“My preferred way to work is with people in motion,” Tanne told the NYFA Blog, “Whether it’s fine arts or commercial photography.”

According to Profoto, Tanne entered NYFA’s program after a 13-year career as a dancer and instructor with only a rudimentary understanding of studio lighting. She has since gone on to develop an editorial style that draws inspiration from the lyrical relationships and creative perspectives of dance: “Tanne sees many parallels between dance and photography, both of which combine factual elements – things that we know or believe to be true, with elements that are suggested or imagined and left to the viewer to interpret from their respective points of view.”

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Also highlighted in the article are many of Tanne’s photos — most created since beginning her studies in NYFA’s Photography School. In them, the conservatory student displays bold artificial lighting and a knack for combining flash with ambient light.

Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden, Profoto reports that Tanne’s next dream is to see her work showcased in her hometown’s Fotografiska Museum. We look forward to seeing more exciting work from her in the future. Congratulations, Tanne!

Mid-Year Acting Showcase Wraps Up 2017 for New York Film Academy Gold Coast

This December, the September ’17 Advanced Acting for Film cohort wrapped up their semester — and 2017 — with a Mid Year Performance Showcase. Directed by Acting Lecturer Stuart Lumsden, the students showed off both their classical training and their comedic chops with “Comedic Shakespeare.”

“Comedic Shakespeare” focused more on the humor than the tragedy of Shakespeare’s work — a lighthearted but energetic exhibition that allowed the Acting students to let loose but also show off their wittier, sillier side — which many thespians find even more difficult than dramatic acting.

“Comedic Shakespeare”

Using twisted takes on Shakespearean classics, the students had the audience roaring with laughter from start to finish. Performed at the Southport Campus creative space — an intimate setting — friends and family were able to catch every detail of the play up close and revel in jokes both subtle and broad.

Acting Coordinator Louise Lee-Mei said of the showcase, “Congratulations for such a well-rehearsed show!  They demonstrated a great range of character types and genres and handled the scenes very well for their first live performance.” Mei continued, “The team are proud of their diligence and professionalism in creating such an entertaining production.”

"Comedic Shakespeare"
“Comedic Shakespeare”

The showcase earned a well-received, warm response from the faculty and crowd that served as a testament to the hard work and dedication the students showed throughout the last semester. New York Film Academy Australia Advanced Acting for Film Diploma students receive vigorous training from day one to prepare them for a tough but rewarding industry, with hands-on training both in front of and behind the camera. Courses on their schedule include Acting Techniques, Voice and Speech, The Business of Acting, Film and Video Production, among others. More information on programs offered by New York Film Academy Gold Coast can be found here.

“Comedic Shakespeare” was the perfect outlet to finish the semester. The New York Film Academy congratulates the September ’17 Advanced Acting for Film students and thanks them for the high-brow laughs!

Mid-Year Acting Showcase Wraps Up 2017 for New York Film Academy Gold Coast

New York Film Academy Gold Coast Holds September Acting for Film Mid Year Showcase

In December 2017, the New York Film Academy Australia held the September 2017 Acting for Film student’s mid year performance showcase at its Gold Coast campus in bustling Southport.

Featuring the work of the September 2017 cohort of Acting for Film candidates, the performance was entitled, “That American Vibe.” Senior Acting Lecturer Mr. Rob Horton directed the event. The performance was held at the Southport Campus Creative Space, an intimate setting where the audience were close enough to feel like it was a part of the the outstanding performances.

“This showcase included some of the most famous scenes from popular American movies and TV series that influenced a generation of performing artists,” said the event’s director, Rob Horton. “Interpreting them in our own unique ways, there are some strong and memorable moments in this production we called ‘That American Vibe.’ For some of our diploma actors, this is their first time to create and perform on stage in front of a life audience. Bravo to every single one of them!”

“That American Vibe” exhibited the versatile range of this group of diverse acting students. The New York Film Academy Australia would like to congratulate it’s September 2017 Acting for Film cohort on their wonderful work!

ACADEMY AWARD SHORTLIST FILM “HEROIN(E)” EDITED BY NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY INSTRUCTOR KRISTEN NUTILE

With the 90th Academy Awards approaching, the entertainment industry is buzzing over the recent announcement of the Academy Awards’ shortlist of possible nominees in the Best Documentary Short category. The New York Film Academy (NYFA) is celebrating that this year’s shortlist includes a film edited by our very own Documentary Filmmaking instructor Kristen Nutile.

Nutile edited the film “Heroin(e),” which not only made the cut for Oscar consideration but has now been identified by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as one of the top 10 films in the Best Documentary Short category.

“Heroin(e)” is an original documentary produced and released by Netflix earlier this year, and was directed by Elaine Mcmillion. The film follows three women in Huntington, West Virginia, as they struggle with the city’s infamous opioid epidemic. Huntington’s overdose rate is 10 times the national average. With the United States facing an “Opioid Epidemic,” the story is as gripping and emotional as it is relevant in today’s national climate, with political and social leaders fighting a similar war on drugs across the country.

Netflix has been making headlines for its original content for just a few years, but the company’s diverse coverage of subjects and genres has brought both critical and commercial praise. Their short documentary “The White Helmets” won Best Documentary Short at this year’s 89th Academy Awards, setting Netflix up for two consecutive wins. If it’s selected from the shortlist in January, “Heroin(e)” will be the eighth documentary from Netflix nominated for an Oscar.

Before working on “Heroin(e),” Kristen Nutile edited two dozen other films, and directed six of her own shorts. In addition to her prolific professional film work, Nutile is an instructor at New York Film Academy’s New York campus, working closely with aspiring documentary students looking to tell their own stories. New York Film Academy’s lauded Documentary Filmmaking program is on The Independent Magazine’s list of Top 10 Academic Programs for Documentary Filmmakers and boasts both award-winning alumni and faculty.

The final five nominees that will vie for the Oscar during the televised broadcast will be selected from these 10 and announced along with the final nominees for all the other categories on January 24, 2018.

The New York Film Academy congratulates Kristen Nutile and “Heroin(e)” on its current success and important message and wishes them the best of luck as the Academy selects its final nominees.

New York Film Academy Establishes Graduate Student Award with Spanish Fulbright Commission

The New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing Arts (NYFA) and the Fulbright Commission in Spain recently marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a very special Fulbright Graduate Student Award to support young talented Spanish filmmakers.

The memorandum was signed by NYFA President Michael J. Young and the Fulbright Commission in Spain’s Executive Director, Alberto Lopez San Miguel, and was formally presented at a ceremony at the Commission’s office in Madrid, by the famous Spanish filmmaker, and NYFA founding faculty member, Pablo Berger.

Filmmaker and NYFA founding faculty member Pablo Berger (left) with Spanish Fulbright Commission Director Alberto Lopez San Miguel (right).

“The New York Film Academy is a proud to welcome many Fulbright students from around the world to study with us and join our diverse international community of creative visual and performing artists,” said President Young. “The NYFA Leadership greatly appreciates this opportunity provided to the College by the Fulbright Commission in Spain. This extraordinary collaboration on the Fulbright Graduate Student Award will provide truly remarkable opportunities for rising Spanish filmmakers to pursue NYFA’s Master of Fine Arts degree in Filmmaking. 

The November call-for-application announcement of the Fulbright Graduate Student Award garnered enormous attention in the Spanish visual arts community, and dozens of qualified students applied. The award covers full tuition for the NYFA two-year MFA Program, round-trip travel, a monthly living stipend and a special-project grant fund.

The selection of the awardee is in process by the Fulbright Commission in Spain, and the decision by the Commission and NYFA will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious awards programs worldwide, designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries. Fifty-three Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes; 78 have won Pulitzer Prizes.

The New York Film Academy (NYFA) is privileged to have NYFA Fulbright Program alumni as part of its faculty, including NYFA Director of Fulbright Initiatives Miguel Cruz, a former Fulbright Graduate Student from Spain who studied at NYFA 2006-2008. In the past decade, NYFA has been honored to be the host institution to more than 50 Fulbright international students from nearly 30 nations.

“Mindhunter” Screening with Guest Speaker Happy Anderson at New York Film Academy

David Fincher’s critically-acclaimed Netflix series “Mindhunter” has been described by Slant Magazine as “addictive and resonant,” and features the work of two New York Film Academy (NYFA) instructors.

In the wake of David Berkowitz (aka “Son of Sam”), Charles Manson and others, a new team within the FBI was formed to psychologically analyze the minds of killers. “Mindhunters” focuses on the early days of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as its members struggle to understand the minds of serial killers, a term which had not yet been coined. The series stars New York Film Academy Musical Theatre Master Class lecturer Jonathan Groff, while veteran actor and NYFA instructor Happy Anderson is featured in two episodes of Season 1 in the chilling role of imprisoned killer Jerry Brudos.

Jonathan Groff and Happy Anderson in a still from “Mindhunters,” via IMDB.

This week, Anderson will return to NYFA’s New York City campus as a special guest in the New York Film Academy’s Guest Speaker Series, to share insights with students and discuss his career — which has included roles on acclaimed shows such “The Knick,” “Boardwalk Empire,” and “The Deuce.” He will also be featured in “Bright” alongside Will Smith, which will be released December 22nd, 2017. Episode 7 of “Mindhunter,” in which Anderson guest stars, will be screened for students prior to a Q&A. NYFA Chair of Acting in New York City Peter Stone will be moderating the Q&A.

“Mindhunter” has recently been renewed by Netflix for a second season which was announced in a tweet by the show’s official account:

Watch the trailer for season one below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gZCfRD_zWE