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OFFICIAL SUNDANCE 2018 SELECTIONS FEATURE WORK BY NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY FACULTY & MASTER CLASS INSTRUCTORS

Sundance Film Festival recently released their official selections for the 2018 festival, with a lineup that includes documentary and narrative films featuring the work of New York Film Academy (NYFA) faculty members and master class lecturers. Both NYFA Documentary and Filmmaking department members are represented among the selections.

Fast on the heels of the announcement from Sundance, the New York Times released “Sundance Film Festival 2018: 6 Films to Know,” a roundup spotlighting certain festival selections. Among the six films featured in the Times is “RBG,” the much-anticipated biopic on the life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. NYFA Documentary Cinematography Professor Claudia Raschke, who has been nominated for Academy Awards four times, is the director of photography on the film.

“That NYFA’s Documentary Filmmaking students work so closely with a cinematographer as accomplished and prominent as Claudia is a rare privilege and adds immeasurably to their educations,” says NYFA Chair of the Documentary Filmmaking Andrea Swift.

Still from a film featured in Sundance 2018

In addition to her work on “RBG,” Claudia is represented at Sundance in the 2nd Units of two more films: “The Game Changers” (World Premiere) and “The Price of Everything” (U.S. Doc Competition).

Claudia is not the only NYFA connection at Sundance 2018. The official selections for January also include NYFA Documentary Master Class instructor Hilla Medalia’s “The Oslo Diaries,” which she produced, as well as the narrative film “The Tale,” which features NYFA Filmmaking instructor Debbie de Villa’s work as production designer.

For more information, Variety, Deadline, Entertainment Weekly, and Screen Daily have also reported fully on the the official Sundance 2018 selections.

Spotlight On: New York Film Academy Los Angeles Environmental Club

This academic year, a new club has joined the ranks at the Los Angeles campus of the New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles. The Environmental Club has already undertaken two incredibly important projects — a trip to the Burbank Recycling Center and planting trees with Tree People.

Environmental Club member Kasey Weldon and advisor Michael Zelniker spoke with NYFA Correspondent Joelle Smith about their recent experience of giving back to their community in collaboration with Tree People. Check out what they had to say about this exciting episode from NYFA Los Angeles student life.

NYFA: On your recent excursion with Tree People, what was the goal for the day?

Zelniker: The goal was to work with Tree People, an organization that supports students and educators to take responsibility for urban environments. Trees are one of the great hopes we have to reverse the carbonization of our atmosphere. Trees take in carbon dioxide and return oxygen to the atmosphere. Planting trees is an important step in our efforts to reverse the effects of fossil fuels on our planet.

Weldon: On our first trip out, we were watering the baby trees that were already planted and pulling/cutting invasive weeds that could harm the tree’s growth. On the second trip out, we planted new trees in Calabasas, which was a lot of hard work but so well worth it and rewarding.

NYFA: Los Angeles has had really hot weather lately. How did you guys prepare for the manual labor, and how did everyone fare on the day?

Zelniker: We drank plenty of water. Everyone wore pounds of sunscreen. We had to cover up with appropriate clothing. Everyone fared very well. No problems at all.

Weldon: Everyone did really well. We stayed hydrated, wore our hats to protect ourselves from the sun, and the SoCal breeze is always nice.

NYFA: What was the most surprising thing about the trip?

Zelniker: I was surprised at just how profoundly satisfying it is to simply dig a hole in the soil and put a tree in the ground knowing that the tree you’ve planted, over the course of its life, will absorb tons of CO2 and produce tons of oxygen. It’s empowering.

Weldon: The unity really surprised me. Everyone is there with a goal in mind and a desire and passion to give back and create a better tomorrow. There were no strangers. We are all a team.

NYFA: You guys are a new organization at the school. Was this a bonding experience for the new members?

Weldon: Of course. We are all friends already from school, but to be able to bond over something that has such meaning and truly seeing the difference we have made at the end of the day, it just roots our friendships even deeper. Some people I met for the first time, and it’s like I’ve known them forever.

It’s an amazing feeling to be around people who strive for the same things, work toward it with you, and, at the end of the day, you share the successes together. It’s a truly special friendship with Earth and human beings coming together as one.

Zelniker: We’ve been a NYFA club for more than six months now. Over that time we have held several events. All of the events have served to create stronger bonds between us as we come together in our shared commitment to do whatever we can to lighten our carbon footprint, while at the same time spreading the word on how important it is to conserve energy, water, and resources in general, to our individual communities at large.

NYFA: What other trips are you guys planning in the future?

Zelniker: We intend to do more tree planting, hiking, a beach clean up, and another trip to Burbank Recycling Center, as well as another bake sale fundraiser. We’re also talking about the “Adopt a Highway” program.

The New York Film Academy is proud of the success of the Environmental Club for their incredible efforts to help protect and preserve the Earth.

Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros” Produced by New York Film Academy South Beach at Miami Theatre Center’s Sandbox Series

In the midst of Art Basel and Miami’s busiest art season of the year, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) South Beach will contribute to the thriving international celebration of art and culture through Art Talks at SPECTRUM, a partnership with PULSE — and a thought-provoking production of Eugene Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros” at the Miami Theatre Center’s Sandbox Series.

With artists visiting Miami from around the world to examine the meaning and state of contemporary art, revisiting this classic existential play could not come at a more perfect time.

“Rhinoceros” explores the apathetic Berenger’s metamorphosis from a disconnected, depressed and isolated individual to a hero motivated by unconditional love and responsibility for his fellow man, in the midst of an epidemic where weak-willed people are inexplicably turning into rhinos.

Ionesco wrote the play as a response to WWII, examining not only the psychology behind Fascism and Nazism but also the human need to imbue life with meaning by following a cause.

The surrealist piece is to be mounted by the New York Film Academy South Beach’s Fall 2015 class of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting for Film program as an end-of-semester production that includes each and every student from the cohort. The cohort includes:

Diana Urbano

Azarias Daniels

Domonic Licciardello

Jeremiah Rivas

Michaela Downes

Miguel Lara

George Fernandez

Andre Morrissette

Cassandra Rosado

Christopher Croley

Jhaneal Hector

Nothando Palesa Xulu

Directed by veteran NYFA instructor Paul Tei, known for his work in a dozen TV shows including Netflix’s “Bloodline,” “American Horror Story,” and “Burn Notice,” this adaptation of “Rhinoceros” exposes how relevant Ionesco’s questions on man’s search for meaning and the nature of interpersonal responsibility and connection are still extremely vital to contemporary art, and beyond.

Paul Tei received his MFA in directing from the prestigious Theatre School at De Paul University, and his BA in theatre from Barry University. He is the artistic director and founder of The Mad Cat Theatre Company, where he has directed numerous productions and world premiers. Paul’s directorial work outside the company has been seen in New York, where his production of “BUMP” had a sold-out run at The Henry Street Settlement, as well as in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New Hampshire, Vermont, and across the pond in Manchester and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for Mad Cat Theatre Company’s premier production of “Going Green the Wrong Way.”

The New York Film Academy South Beach, like all NYFA locations, focuses its programs on the philosophy of learning by doing. Acting for Film students learn to act for film by actually performing in films, while also training in the essential acting techniques and skills rooted in theatre. The end-of-semester performance of “Rhinoceros” is a part of their Play Production Workshop, a course focused on developing the skills and techniques of live performance as a foundation for their craft.

Demo Reels Demystified with New York Film Academy Broadcast Journalism Chair Bill Einreinhofer

As much fun as it can be to watch contestants struggle on “American Idol” or “The Voice,” we never want to experience that kind of rejection in our own real-life “auditions” for in the news industry. Broadcast journalists know right off the bat that the most important tool in a job search — besides strong instincts, cutting-edge skills, and hard work — is a persuasive demo reel that demonstrates the outstanding talent and skills you can bring to an organization.

But in a deeply competitive market, what makes a broadcast journalism reel truly fantastic? How can broadcast journalists set themselves apart? At the New York Film Academy, Broadcast Journalism Department Chair Bill Einreinhofer believes in sharing precisely this kind of up-to-date industry insight with his students.

“A great reel looks and sounds distinctive,” he explains. “That separates it from the dozens of other reels someone looking to make a hire has to screen.”

Many have heard the common advice that busy news producers and station directors will probably only spend a few seconds watching your reel and then stop if they’re not hooked. So you put your best material first on the reel to get them to actually watch your, and call you in for an interview … but how do you know what material is your best material? How do you make your reel better? Who should you work with to put the reel together?

Questions like this are important for even experienced journalists to take a moment to consider when putting together their reel. Mr. Einreinhofer took the time to share some examples of great NYFA alumni reels, together with insights about crafting the strongest reels with the NYFA Blog. Check out stellar reel examples from NYFA alumni Lara Gato and Alyssa Cruz, along with Mr. Einreinhofer’s advice on crafting a winning broadcast journalism reel.

NYFA Blog: What separates a great broadcast journalism reel from a decent reel?

BE: A great reel looks and sounds distinctive. That separates it from the dozens of other reels someone looking to make a hire has to screen.

You don’t save your best for the end. Rather, you put it at the very top. Otherwise, whoever is screening the reel will likely never see it. In addition, “one size does not fit all.” Just as you tailor your resume to match a job posting, your reel should reflect the elements and abilities that are mentioned in that posting.

NYFA: Can a student create a great reel on their own, or should they work with others — and who?

BE: It is always a good idea to discuss a reel with your colleagues, friends and (if you have one) your mentor. What might seem clear and easy-to-understand could, in fact, be less than obvious. “Fresh eyes” are always valuable.

NYFA: Why does the reel matter so much for broadcast journalists? What’s its purpose?

BE: The reel doesn’t get you the job. The reel gets you the interview which can get you the job. It is the ticket that gets you in the door.

NYFA: What’s the difference between a student reel and a professional reel? What do industry insiders look for?

BE: For on-air talent, the key is to be authentically yourself. Television is a personality-driven medium, and that continues to hold true even today when many people watch “television” on a variety of mobile devices, but not a television.

The one thing that makes you different from all the other people applying for the job you want if your own uniqueness. Use that to your advantage, so you will stand out from the crowd.

…

Ready to learn more about crafting an incredible reel and polishing your skills as a broadcast journalist? Apply today for the New York Film Academy’s Broadcast Journalism School.

SONY PICTURES TELEVISION SELECTS NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY FILMMAKING ALUMNA TIFFANY PAULSEN FOR DIVERSE DIRECTORS PROGRAM

Sony Pictures Television has announced its 2017 class for the competitive Diverse Directors Program, and among its chosen fellows is New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles Filmmaking alumna Tiffany Paulsen.

Tiffany completed the 12-Week Evening Filmmaking workshop at NYFA Los Angeles in 2016, and as a part of her course work she created the short film “The Swan.”

NYFA Los Angeles instructor James Rowe notes that it was the strength of this very film, which Tiffany wrote and directed at the New York Film Academy, that helped her successfully apply to the Diverse Directors Program. Tiffany has also worked as a writer on the Disney Channel original movie “Adventures in Babysitting.”

As described on the Sony Pictures Television website, the Diverse Directors Program is a prestigious yearly initiative that offers up-and-coming directors the incredible opportunity to shadow directors on set while shooting scripted Sony series.

Participants also receive mentorship and training through workshops, guest speakers, and meetings with Sony creative executives, executive producers, Directors Guild of America (DGA) directors, and producer directors. In addition, Diverse Directors Program attendees who successfully complete their assignments may be considered to direct scripted webisodes or half-hour and one-hour scripted series for Sony Pictures Television.

As an institution focused on hands-on learning and fostering a diverse international community, the New York Film Academy is proud to see our alumni taking strides to promote diversity and excellence in the film industry at large. We look forward to the work of Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors Initiative class of 2017.

New York Film Academy Broadcast Journalism School Weekly Update Dec. 4

This week we are going to take a look at what some NYFA Broadcast Journalism graduates are doing…

George Colli at News8 in Connecticut reported a truly frightening story last week about the sale of realistic looking toy guns. Unfortunately, this is the type of story that local news departments end up running all too often. It would be easy for police officers to assume that some of these toys are actual weapons. The results could be tragic.

Note that this online version of the story, in addition to full motion video, also has links to various digital platforms. Increasingly, news operations are depending on their audience to “share” postings with their friends. That’s because a story shared by a known and trusted source is far more likely to be read than something “pushed” by a news publisher. People are becoming increasingly skeptical of news reporting. But if a story is “endorsed” as it were by a friend, they feel it is much more credible.

NYFA alumna Viviane Faver was a member of my first class of 1-Year Broadcast Journalism students. And while she loves her home country of Brazil, she was determined to find a place for herself her in New York. Which she certainly has done…

Part of what she does here is report for various Brazilian publications. The most recent example is a story about women entrepreneurs, which I discovered through Viviane’s Facebook page.

Nice work, Viviane!

Staying in Brazil…

Press IDs are utilitarian, but within the journalism community they also confer status. I will never forget when I got my first NYPD Working Press card — the one that said I could cross fire lines. (That card is buried in a box, somewhere in my attic. One of my Emmy Awards is somewhere up there too.) All of which is to say “congratulations” to NYFA grad Daniel Rebelo Fideli on getting a press ID for the 2017 Brazil Formula One Grand Prix. Daniel is with GloboEsporte.com, and apparently he was very busy over race weekend.

Georgia Hammond was one of Viviane’s classmates and she, like Daniel, was working recently on a story relating the F1 racing. Only in her case, it is the story about how Guide Dogs Australia is the official charity for the 2017 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix.

Now, all of my current and former students have heard me talk about “little kids and animals,” and how viewers always respond to both. (Unfortunately, however, neither the animals or the children do what you want them to do when you want them to do it.) Georgia did a puppy story, and by the looks of this video it must have been quite an adventure…

Finally, it looks to me like NYFA grad Starla Sampaco was “ready for some football” last evening. Starla is working as a Digital Media Intern at KIRO, the CBS TV affiliate station in Seattle, Washington. I don’t know how the home team did, but Starla seems to have everything under control. Here is a wonderful report she did about Filipino Nouvelle Cuisine back when she was a Broadcast Journalism student here in New York.

Sundance 2018 Will Feature Work by New York Film Academy Documentary & Filmmaking Instructors

The Sundance Film Festival announced their 2018 slate this week, and the New York Film Academy (NYFA) Documentary Filmmaking School is once again represented among the Sundance festival selections.

As soon as Sundance released its announcement, the New York Times published the article, “Sundance Film Festival 2018: 6 Films to Know,” which spotlights the documentary “RBG.” NYFA Documentary cinematography professor Claudia Raschke is the director of photography for this much-anticipated documentary on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, “RBG” focuses on Ginsberg’s early work and how it has impacted women’s rights, tracing her evolution as an outspoken Supreme Court Justice, now popular in internet memes as “Notorious RBG.”

It’s no surprise to find Claudia behind the camera of one of the year’s most important docs. Her previous work has already been nominated for Academy Awards four times.

“That NYFA’s Documentary Filmmaking students work so closely with a cinematographer as accomplished and prominent as Claudia is a rare privilege and adds immeasurably to their educations,” says Chair of the Documentary Filmmaking Department Andrea Swift.

Claudia also shot the 2nd Units of two more 2018 Sundance-selected films: “The Price of Everything,” directed by Nathaniel Kahn (U.S. Documentary Competition), and “The Game Changers,” by Louie Psihoyos (World Premiere).

A still from “The Game Changers” via IMDB.

“The Price of Everything” turns its focus to the thriving market of the contemporary art world, while “The Game Changers” follows The Ultimate Fighter winner and special forces trainer James Wilks on a nutritional investigation.

Joining Claudia in screening work at Sundance 2018 is New York Film Academy Documentary Master Class professor Hilla Medalia, who produced Sundance selection “The Oslo Diaries.”

“The Oslo Diaries” chronicles the 1992 illegal and clandestine meeting of Israelis and Palestinians in Oslo, which impacted the course of history in the Middle East.

New York Film Academy instructor Debbie De Villa is also represented at Sundance 2018, in the U.S. Dramatic Competition film selection “The Tale,” for which she served as production designer. “The Tale” is written and directed by Jennifer Fox and stars Laura Dern, portraying a character who must reexamine her memories surrounding her first sexual relationship.

Read more about the Sundance 2018 selections in Variety, Deadline, Entertainment Weekly, and Screen Daily.

New York Film Academy Partners With PULSE Miami Beach Arts Fair

At this year’s PULSE Miami Beach art fair, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) South Beach will join forces with a global contemporary art community as the official supporter of one of the art fair’s key events: PERSPECTIVES. PULSE Miami Beach is one of the Miami art scene’s premier annual events, providing an exciting and dynamic venue for today’s thrilling contemporary art.

“The New York Film Academy South Beach is very excited to partner with PULSE Art Fair for the production of PERSPECTIVES,” said NYFA South Beach Director Elli Ventouras. “We feel that this is a natural collaboration of art and culture. Filming with PERSPECTIVES allowed us to develop a relationship with artists within the Miami art scene, and working in partnership with PULSE Art Fair will provide our students with real-world exposure to today’s contemporary artists and artwork in a truly rich and exciting context. We hope that this is the beginning of a long collaboration with PULSE Art Fair for many years to come.”

Throughout PULSE Miami Beach 2017, NYFA South Beach will have two photographers live on the scene to capture the action at PULSE Miami Beach, as the public interacts with emerging and established galleries from an international community of artists.

In addition, NYFA South Beach has partnered with PERSPECTIVES to create three original video profiles of 2017 exhibiting artists Donna Ruff, Mindy Solomon, and National YoungArts Foundation President Carolina García Jayaram. As the fair’s opening approaches, the films will be released on the PULSE Miami Beach website, and then screened as an installation for audiences at PERSPECTIVES.

PULSE Miami Beach 2017 PERSPECTIVES with Carolina Garcia Jayaram from PULSE Contemporary Art Fair on Vimeo.

PULSE began in New York in 2005, but organizers were inspired to shift their center of operations entirely to the city of Miami in 2016 to become PULSE Miami Beach. Since then, the arts fair has launched PULSE 360, a year-round events initiative focused on fostering community and engagement, and forged this new partnership with the New York Film Academy’s South Beach campus.

PULSE Miami Beach will run Dec. 7-10 in Miami. As a part of the partnership between PULSE Miami Beach and New York Film Academy, complimentary day passes are available for all NYFA South Beach students.

New York Film Academy Attends Cinema Italian Style Press Conference

New York Film Academy (NYFA) alum Sebastiano Caccetta (Oct ’13 MA, Film and Media Production) scanned the ballroom of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel where a press conference launching the Cinema Italian Style festival was taking place. Onstage stood “Alias Grace” star Sarah Gadon, Italian directors Jonas Carpignano and Francesco Bruni, and other major players in the contemporary Italian film industry. Sebastiano was at the press conference in his role promoting cinema and music for the Italian Trade Agency, one of the festival’s sponsors.

Earlier this month, Sebastiano had reached out to his alma mater, New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, to invite students to this year’s events. Celebrating its 13th year, Cinema Italian Style annually presents Italy’s official submission to the Oscars as well as other recent Italian films.

All NYFA students, faculty, staff, and alumni were invited to take advantage of free tickets to festival screenings at the Aero Theater from November 17-21. In addition, New York Film Academy students Alice Nicolini and Nicolo Azzaro were selected to attend Opening Night festivities, which included a red carpet event, a screening of Italy’s Oscar nomination, “A Ciambra,” and a gala dinner at Mr. C’s in Beverly Hills.

At the press conference, Sarah Gadon, star of Netflix’s “Alias Grace” and a citizen of both Canada and Italy, was presented the key to historic Cinecitta’ studios in honor of their 80th anniversary. A production, distribution, and film archives entity, Luce Cinecitta’ has been the home of iconic filmmakers such as Federico Fellini, Sergio Leone, and Marcello Mastroianni. When Sarah noted that the key was not actually a key but a heavy glass award, an Italian official quipped, “You will just have to come to Rome to get the real one.”

Jonas Carpignano was introduced as the writer-director of Italy’s Oscar nomination “A Ciambra,” which was executive produced by famed Italian-American filmmaker Martin Scorsese. Raised in Rome and New York City, Jonas started making films when he was an undergraduate in the US. His first feature, “Mediterranea,” debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, and his second (“A Ciambra”) won the Europa Cinema Label prize for best European film at Cannes, both impressive accomplishments.

Speaking of his festival experience, Jonas said, “It’s always an accomplishment to get into a festival. There are different approaches to getting into them. You ask the question where can the film play? What kind of credibility and momentum can this festival give us?”

When asked if he had any advice for filmmakers on how to navigate the film festival circuit, Jonas was at first reluctant to give an answer because he has made only two features. “I feel I have an infinite amount to learn,” he said. After a moment of thought, though, he came back with this: “Don’t wait for someone to say it’s okay to make your film. If you believe in your ideas and the people you’re making the film with, go do something. Shoot some scenes. Make a trailer. Just don’t wait for someone to say it’s okay.”

Meanwhile, alum Sebastiano Caccetta reflected on how he got where he is today. “I was 28 when I moved to LA to attend NYFA. The school taught me the American way of working and gave me a very strong work ethic. The teachers were so supportive, and the environment pushes you to do your best. Pitching my film ideas in front of my classmates gave me confidence. I learned about teamwork, how to network, how to build my schedule. Today my ability to work with Cinema Italian Style, it’s because of NYFA. I’m working promoting Italian cinema for the government thanks to NYFA. I’m so grateful.”