Page 173 – NYFA

A Conversation with Bolashak Scholarship Recipient, NYFA Alumnus Dias Azimzhan

New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing Arts (NYFA) MFA Alumnus Dias Azimzhan was always interested in storytelling, starting out as a blogger before deciding to pursue filmmaking. Azimzhan’s transition to a new profession wasn’t seamless and he had to spend some time working for an international airline company before attending NYFA.

Eventually, with help of the Kazakh Bolashak Scholarship program, Azimzhan was provided the opportunity to attend NYFA, and recently graduated completing the education he dreamed about. His first film, “Moments of Enlightenment,” screened at numerous festivals, taking home awards from the Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival.

NYFA sat down with Azimzhan to find out more details of his journey.

NYFA: Based on your experience, what do you recommend to those who are just planning to apply for the Bolashak scholarship program?

DA: At the beginning of the process, you may be scared and demotivated by the list of documents that you need to collect, but this procedure is also similar in other countries (including the U.S.) when applying for certain grants, so I advise you to be patient.

Look at this process as the first step of the journey to your dream. Further, during following stages, be self-disciplined and organized as possible. Plan and rationally use your time for preparing other documents and visas. It is important do not be late for the beginning of the academic year. Start dates can vary depending on the school and country.

NYFA: What was most difficult during the Bolashak application process?

DA: During the examinations, I often heard from the candidates for the scholarship that the third stage is the most difficult, that is, the last stage of the selection. In this round, the candidate surrounded by members of the selection committee (usually composed of the President of the Center of International Programs, doctors of science, professors and public figures) answers various questions. Those questions can be absolutely unpredictable — they can ask you about the constitution of the country, continuing with questions in poetry, mathematics, history, psychology, foreign languages, etc.

However, personally, for me, the most difficult stage was the second one, where the candidates who passed the first round have to take an IQ and psychological test. Additionally to logic tasks, it includes various mathematical and geometric questions. About 500 questions in total.

It’s also important to mention that each Bolashak scholarship candidate has to know Kazakh language on a very high level. Everyone will have to pass KAZTEST in the first round (analog to TOEFL and IELTS), and based on results you will either go to a second round or not.

NYFA Why did you choose the New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing Arts?

DA: It all started in 2011 when I decided to write a script. At that time I had a blog (where I was writing my thoughts and observations) and I thought that it would not be difficult for me to write a story for the movie. I installed “Finaldraft” (screenwriting software) and started. But on the first paragraph, it became clear that I did not have enough knowledge in this area. I did not know how to structure and tell the story for the screen using pen and paper. The art of screenwriting has its own nuances (for example, you can not write the characters’ thoughts as in novels, as the viewer simply does not see it). I began to look for materials and educational institutions to fill the gap.

I primarily considered the New York Film Academy because of the intensive program, with an emphasis on practice. Also, NYFA instructors are working in the film and television industry, which is important in terms of gaining new knowledge from them.

Unfortunately, at that time I did not know about Bolashak, and did not have the necessary financial funds to apply. I had to postpone my dream. And, as it turned out, everything does happen for reason: While creating a financial basis for the future, I was working in the international airline company. I saw the world and got acquainted with the culture of many countries, which helped to significantly improve and broaden my horizons and critical thinking. Those qualities are very important for the director and filmmakers in general.

Eventually, already with little life experience and certain skills, I decided to return to the realization of my dream and plunge into the creative process, which imbued the walls of NYFA.

NYFA: What is your impression of your NYFA program? Do you have a favorite subject or instructor?

DA: I was enrolled in NYFA’s MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Filmmaking, where the main emphasis is on directing, screenwriting and cinematography. You also learn producing, acting and other components of film art in general. Since this is a degree program, in the first year of study we simply do not have time for anything else besides school. The world of cinema becomes a part of your life (if not all life), whether you like it or not.

I would like to highlight screenwriting instructor, Lee Gordon. In his class, I gained knowledge on structuring story and the ability to apply this knowledge directly to the shooting process. Also, a thank you goes out to directing instructors Steve Morris and Michael Sandoval, for teaching me working with actors and listening and feeling every member of the crew. All these years, Carl Bartels taught us the art of cinematography. In his classes, we learned different cameras, lenses, compositions and how to feel the visual components of the frame. I also want to highlight Mark Horowitz, who shared his huge experience in the film business and content promotion.

NYFA: Your short social drama “Moments of Enlightenment” has won many awards at various film festivals. Tell us how the idea for this film was born?

DA: In 2008, one of my friends lost her job. It was during the global financial crisis. By the way, I also lost my job then. I think almost everyone remembers this difficult period for many in the world. On one cloudy autumn day, I met her at the cafe, and she told me about her difficult situation, including problems in the family. I was helping her as much as I can. Part of her story remained in my head forever.

And when I had an opportunity to tell the world a small story, I decided to share that period of my acquaintance’s life (with her permission), through the prism of two immigrants living in the U.S.

NYFA: Recently, you starred in Alisher Suleimen’s “Cloud on the Roof.” Did you use behind-the-scenes experience and knowledge in acting?

DA: I think behind-the-scenes experience gives a huge advantage to the actor, not only in knowing the geography of the scene and the shooting process but also in understanding the story itself since not every actor can think like a director. But neither does every director think like an actor in terms of becoming a new character; finding and making new skills, habits, weaknesses and strengths his own.

I had the opportunity to synchronize my knowledge in both, because I already had acting experience in small projects, as well as experience in studying the art of improvisation at NYFA along with the courses I had taken in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

NYFA: What did you learn from acting as a director?

DA: Nowadays, due to lack of time and the fast pace of pre-production, not every director, unfortunately, has the opportunity for deep and detailed exploration of characters, giving preference to breaking down the story itself — which is also very important. Actors can fill that gap and breathe life into the characters, but they need to do it together with the director and screenwriter; otherwise, free interpretation can have a negative impact on the story and even ruin the project.

NYFA: What projects are you currently working on?

DA: Now is the editing process of the recently shot short “Interius: The War Within.” I think we will finish the post-production of the film by fall.

Also, we shot three music videos with Kazakh singers. One of them has already been aired on the national music channel. All of them were shot in Los Angeles, and I was responsible for the script and directing of storyline.

In parallel with the editing, I am writing a script for a feature film under the working title “Pure Society.” I write in English, but depending on where it will be shot script can be translated and adapted.

WATCH “Ulitio” Official Trailer :

NYFA: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

DA: I see myself the founder of production studios and a film school. Perhaps, the director-inspirer of the younger generation, who still has to keep building our society together with you, a society of people with an unconventional thinking and a fair approach to life.

New York Film Academy would like to thank Dias Azimzhan for sharing with us his story. We believe that his experience is truly inspiring and would like to wish him all the best with his filmmaking career.

NYFA LA’s Chinese Club Hosts the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Chinese Student and Scholars Association hosted its Mid-Autumn Festival on September 25th, 2017 at our Los Angeles campus. Coinciding with the first day of the semester, the event served dual purposes for New York Film Academy students. For new students, this was their first opportunity to experience the multiculturalism that takes place at NYFA. Senior students, meanwhile, were able to experience traditional Chinese music and food.

The Mid-Autumn festival is celebrated widely across East Asia. Families gather to gaze at the moon and remember the legend of Chang’e, the goddess of the moon:

There were ten suns in the sky. They scorched the Earth and made life unbearable for everything living on the planet. The archer, Yi, shot down nine of the suns and was rewarded with the elixir of life. Not wanting to obtain immortality without his beloved wife, Chang’e, Yi hid the elixir. However, Yi’s enemy, Fengmeng, wanted the secret to immortality for himself. In an attempt to spare the world from Fengmeng’s rule, Yi’s wife, Chang’e, drank the elixir herself. She then flew to the moon to live out the rest of time. Devastated by the loss of his wife, Yi, placed Chang’e’s favorite fruits and sweets on an altar as a tribute to her.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, lanterns float across the starlit sky. Alters are adorned with mooncakes made of either lard or vegetable oil and filled with either red beans or lotus seed paste. The sweet traditional treat is circular to represent the moon and the ideas of unity and completeness.

The NYFA celebration opened with traditional dances and songs performed at the Riverside Theater. One student performed a solo on a stringed instrument called a zither. Chinese Club President Pei Jun wanted to make sure that the nearly 300 new Chinese students that had just arrived at our Los Angeles campus had a place where they could celebrate the holiday.

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Once the performances were concluded, a packed house headed to the after-party where a DJ had already set up his turntables. He was prepared to spin the night away, or at least until ten when the building closed. The room was decorated with lanterns, and of course, mooncakes were served.

The New York Film Academy would like to thank all of the active members of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association for both helping to educate students in traditional Chinese culture as well as creating a bit of home for our Chinese students, right here in L.A.

NYFA Game Design Students Play-Test “Warhammer 40K” at Games Workshop

On August 28 students from New York Film Academy’s Game Design program took a trip to playtest a new version of the table-top miniatures game, Warhammer 40k. The version the students tested has not been released to the public. Along with their instructor, John Platten students were invited to test the Warhammer 40K game with developers of the game and provide creative feedback.

When asked why it was important for the class to test Warhammer Platten said, “Games Workshop has been successfully blending complex narratives with miniatures gameplay for years. As our class focuses on the intersection of story and mechanics, we played a game of Warhammer 40,000 to explore how the grimdark science fiction universe of the property creates a more engaging experiencing than simply following a ruleset. For our class, story matters because it provides a context for gameplay that can fire the imagination.”

Created by Games Workshop, “Warhammer 40k” is a table-top fantasy game where the players can play as humans, elves, dwarfs, and even the undead in a seemingly never-ending war. 40K finds players in the 41st millennium of a century’s long war. Created in 1983 the game has seen several updates, new additions, and storylines.

In Warhammer, the setting is dark but the payoff in the adventure players are able to experience is vast. Here’s a brief description of the world the players are dropped into:

“To be a man in such times is to be one amongst untold billions. It is to live in the cruelest and most bloody regime imaginable. These are the tales of those times. Forget the power of technology and science, for so much has been forgotten, never to be relearned. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for in the grim dark future there is only war. There is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods.”

Each time Warhammer is played it is different than the last time. New players might be surprised to discover that there is an entire galaxy and a timeline, which can be daunting for beginners. But the rules aren’t much different than most role-playing games (RPG) and once gameplay starts is relatively easy to pick up the game.

The New York Film Academy would like to thank Games Workshop for letting our students provide feedback on the design of their upcoming game. Warhammer 40K is now available for pre-order here.

NYFA Students Attend NewFilmmakers LA “InFocus” Event

On Saturday, September 16th, 2017, New York Film Academy students were invited to attend an “InFocus” event of the NewFilmmakers Los Angeles Film Festival on Latino and Hispanic Cinema. The evening was held at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study located in the heart of Hollywood.

Many of the NYFA attendees were coming directly from their Graduation ceremonies. Students were able to rub elbows with stars like Luis Guzmán (“Boogie Nights” and “Carlito’s Way”) and Jason George (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as they walked the red carpet.

Three distinct screenings were held over a five-hour period. The first program featured four short films from the United States, Cuba, and Spain. The first of these stories highlighted the elation and struggle of immigrating to another country. The next film dramatized a re-telling of the life of Venezuelan radio voice-over performer, Hernán de Béky. The third dealt with a sister coping with the loss of her older brother, and in the final film, a journalist tries to uncover the truth behind a corrupt president injured in an apparent terrorist attack.

Program number two featured short films from Peru, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala, and the United States of America. Their subjects ranged from escaping an abusive husband, a young woman fighting loneliness, a mother traversing the country of Mexico to bring her son his only birthday wish (a Donald Trump piñata), and finally, an abstract exploration of the journeys two women have taken throughout time.

The final screening was a feature-length documentary written and directed by Guillermo García López called “Frágil Equilibrio.” In it, the director takes a look at three stories that unfold in different places on earth and in different socio-cultural spheres. The film explores the delicate balance it takes to share the planet between a Japanese executive in Tokyo, a sub-Saharan community in Africa, and a family in Madrid.

One student in attendance gushed about getting to see the work of another Venezuelan, “It gave me hope,” he said. “We got to see a lot of talented Hispanic filmmakers,” another student chimed in, “but my favorite thing about today was getting a chance to network with like-minded individuals.” Yet another student spoke up about the importance of representation in cinema. “My favorite movie was “The Machine” because it’s a Cuban related film and I’m Cuban. “It was great to see immigration tackled with humor and respect.”

The New York Film Academy would like to thank New Filmmakers LA for giving our students an opportunity to see these amazing pieces of work.

“Insecure” Producer Deniese Davis Visits NYFA LA’s ABA Club

The New York Film Academy was extremely proud to have Producer, Deniese Davis, at our Los Angeles campus. She spent more than an hour with the African and Black American Film Club answering questions about the industry, her career, and how to craft great stories.

Davis said that she began her career like many of the students who currently attend NYFA, by working on short films. Soon after, however, she found herself working with New York Film Academy alumna Issa Rae on her YouTube show “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.” She was also the associate producer on the film “Burning Sands” which focused on the hazing culture within college fraternities. The film was an official selection at Sundance this year and is a Netflix Original Film. Davis continued her work with Issa Rae as Co-Producer on HBO’s “Insecure.” She is also working on a new television series titled “Minimum Wage.”

Davis had a great deal of advice for the students. “You never know who is going to be the next big actor, director, or producer…” She encouraged students to build lasting relationships with their peers and not to spend all of their energy working with established professionals.

The ABA Social Media Manager, Reed Douglass, had this to say about meeting Davis; “After speaking with Deniese I felt much more informed. I felt that I had acquired information that was useful for both my career and myself personally. I also felt like club members gained a lot from the discussion as well.”

The New York Film Academy would like to thank Deniese Davis for taking the time to speak with our students. Season two of “Insecure” is now available on HBO.

NYFA Screenwriting Alum’s “Breakfast in Bangalore” Brings American Sitcom to India

“Write what you know” is perhaps the most popular advice for aspiring writers, and NYFA screenwriting alumnus Michael Fontana has taken this lesson to heart in his latest sitcom project in his adopted country of India.

“Breakfast in Bangalore,” now in post-production in the Indian city of Bangaluru, will occupy a unique space in Indian television as a distinctly American-style sitcom in a land where Bollywood reigns supreme. Yet, the unorthodox format is pitch perfect for telling the series’ story of cultures crossing and clashing — something Fontana knows (and writes) very well.

As Fontana explained to the The Economic Times, “The premise is that a mixed couple moves to Bengaluru to raise its three kids closer to Indian traditions, only to realize that people caught in the cusp of tradition and cosmopolitanism here can sometimes be more confused about their identity and culture than NRIs [non-resident Indians].”

How did Fontana come up with the idea for his show? He’s lived it.

Fontana relocated to Bangaluru with his Indian wife in 2009, and “Breakfast in Bangalore” serves as the vehicle to explore the many interesting questions and themes of identity, confusion, and tradition that he has observed in his own experience as an expat American living and joining a family in India. To add to the dynamic mix of topics humorously approached in the show, the sitcom will include progressive elements such as exploring mixed families, gender fluidity, and more.

Fontana told The Economic Times, “We have shot the pilot and second episode, which will be aired in my Youtube channel `Laughter Unlimited.’ We are preparing for promotion and honest feedback, hoping the show will gain traction and be picked up by either TV stations like Comedy Central or video-streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime.”

NYFA Summer Camp Students Attend Special Performance of “PIPELINE” at Lincoln Center

Celebrating the end of a busy summer camp season, the New York Film Academy was privileged to share an incredible opportunity with our New York City campers to attend Dominique Morisseau’s original play, “PIPELINE,” at the Lincoln Center Theater (LCT). Morisseau is an accomplished writer whose credits include theatre hits like “Ain’t Too Proud,” “Detroit ’67,” “Blood at the Root,” “Sunset Baby” and TV’s “Shameless.” To add to the excitement, “PIPELINE” also stars NYFA Instructor Jaime Lincoln Smith, whose credits include Broadway’s “Holler if Ya Hear Me” and the TV shows “Blue Bloods” and “Elementary.”

“PIPELINE” was an especially timely and thought-provoking piece to share with NYFA’s teen students, as it portrays a mother’s hopes for her son clashing with an educational system rigged against him.

Sarah Kinsey (Youth Enrollment), Kenzie Ross (Director of Youth Programs), Jaime Lincoln Smith (played Dun in “PIPELINE” / Acting For Film Instructor at NYFA), Tyler Buckner (NYFA Liberation Diploma HS Program), Jaime Cartagena (NYFA Liberation Diploma HS Program). Bottom left: **Krystal Flores** (NYFA Liberation Diploma HS Program). Bottom right: **Lily Buchanan** (NYFA Kids Acting For Film Summer Camp Student).

To facilitate the event, Morisseau coordinated with NYFA Director of Youth Programs Kenzie Ross to arrange a special performance for a student based-audience, organized by LCT with teenagers attending from different schools and organizations all over the greater New York City area. Dominique Morisseau and Kenzie Ross had previously worked together on her play, “Blood at the Root,” and discovered their mutual passion for bringing young people to the arts.

To facilitate the special showing of “PIPELINE,” Morisseau collected personal donations during previews to sponsor student tickets later in the run, and people volunteered happily. From NYFA, three students from the Liberation Diploma Outreach Program and one student from NYFA Kids Summer Camps were able to attend, together with NYFA Youth Enrollment Admissions Specialist Sarah Kinsey and Director of Youth Programs Kenzie Ross.

“It was truly moving to be a part of an audience of young people as their voices were heard and they watched themselves be represented on stage in an authentic way,” shared Kenzie Ross. “This conversation between parent and student, particularly between young black men and their mothers, is an incredibly raw and significant one due to the climate of our education system today. To hear and feel a mother’s heartache as she watches her son float in and out of her ability to keep him safe is beautifully mirrored by seeing her son, a young black teen, grapple with his own heartache and frustration as he struggles with his own place in society and concepts of reality.”

From left to right: Tyler Buckner, Lily Buchanan, Krystal Flores and Jaime Cartagena

After the performance, students were treated to an exclusive talkback with the artists, covering many topics including like the school to prison pipeline in our country; the craft of acting; the experience of being a person of color in the entertainment industry; and how the many different perspectives from different characters in the script lend to the complexity of this issue.

NYFA camp students then had a chance after the talkback to meet with NYFA Instructor Jaime Lincoln Smith at a restaurant nearby to say congratulations and chat in more detail about his experience with the play.

NYFA PHOTOGRAPHY ALUM RUTVIK KATURI WINS RANGEFINDER CONTEST 2017

NYFA photography alumnus Rutvik Katuri has made a splash in the Rangefinder Photography Annual Contest, winning first place with his series “Holi Colors” and “Fashion Forward.” Katuri’s work “Holi Colors” had previously been published on the cover and as an editorial spread in “Imirage” magazine, while Katuri was still a student at the New York Film Academy.

According to its official website, “Rangefinder” (Rf), is an award-winning magazine focusing predominantly on weddings and portraits. Their annual contest offers immense exposure and exciting cash prizes to winners, providing a unique platform to expand their audience and forge new connections within the photography industry. Winning photos also find a place of honor in the magazine itself, which circulates to a global audience of 111,000, as well as on the official Rangefinder website.

In addition to cash prizes, Katuri’s winning photos will be featured in the September issue of “Rangefinder,” in ’The Senior Issue’ on page 66-67, as well as being showcased at WPPI conference & Expo as well as in the online gallery. The digital version of the magazine can be seen here.

Katuri’s same series will be featured in gallery exhibition at WPPI Conference & Expo 2018 that takes place in Las Vegas in the month of February, as well as appearing as an official selection of Photoville 2017.

NYFA VR ALUMNAE AND FACULTY JOIN INDUSTRY LEADERS AT INAUGURAL JUMP INTO VR FEST

For the first time in New York’s Lower East Side, the world has a chance to experience Jump Into VR Fest, a premier film festival striving to bring cutting edge VR/VX (virtal reality/extended reality) developments to light through showcases, performances, parties, workshops, product launches, demos, and panels — and the New York Film Academy is proud to congratulate two alumnae and one faculty member who showcased their work amongst the thought leaders and industry changes who are shaking the world through VR.

NYFA 8-Week Narrative VR Workshop alumni Na “Melody” Liu and Ana Paula Loureiro Da Silva both screened films made as a part of their NYFA studies at the inaugural festival (“Praying From Afar” and “The Drummer”), while NYFA VR instructor Martina Casas will also present an original film (“Hope after Devastation”). NYFA faculty member Skye Von was also doubly featured at Jump Into VR Fest, both through the premier of her interactive VR experience “No Apologies,” and as a panel moderator for the topic “Braving an Uncharted Path: A Spotlight on VR Creators.”

“I am really excited about the Festival! It is a great opportunity to have a VR film that I directed and edited being showcased here in NY,” shared NYFA alumna Ana Paula Loureiro Da Silva, director and creator of “The Drummer.” Reflecting on her studies at NYFA, Ana continued, “I wouldn’t imagine that in eight weeks I could learn and produce so many things. I was looking for something to change my life and my career. I think it was the perfect choice. I highly recommend.”

According to Jump Into VR Fest Project Manager Alexandre Girardeau, “Through Jump Into VR Festival, we aim to build momentum for experiential technologies while carving out space for critical thinking over entertainment.”

From Sept. 15-17, Jump Into VR Fest occupied Jump Into the Light’s Orchard Street location as well as the nearby Hotel Indigo, transforming the spaces into a veritable VR wonderland featuring room scale and multi-player arena VR/XR experiences (HTC Vive, Oculus, Hololens), demo booths, and a CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment), art installations, and more.