Page 175 – NYFA

NYFA Faculty and Students Screen Work at 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 alumni and one faculty member who will be showcasing 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 Kler will both screen 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”).

We had a chance to connect with NYFA alumna Ana as she prepares to screen “The Drummer.” Read on to hear her thoughts on the exponential speed of technology, what surprised her most at NYFA, and why she’s excited about Jump Into VR Fest.

NYFA: First, can you tell us a little bit about your background and what brought you to NYFA? What drew you to VR?

AS: I am a 36 year-old journalist, digital media content creator and now VR Filmmaker. In Brazil, where I was born, grew up and built my career, I have 12 years of background in television. In the last five years I’ve been creating website and social media content to the largest mass media group of Latin America (Globosat/Grupo Globo). I also had work experience as a reporter, producer, editor, director and screenwriter during the six years that I was an employee of the main public television in Brazil (TV Brasil). After I studied journalism, I attended a film school. After that I started to work in personal projects, such as a music video of the Brazilian singer Iara Renno (2014) and a short documentary about Burning Man (2011), both as a director. As an editor, I worked in a short film named “Tradução” (2008).

The exponential speed of technology has been transforming all the fields and leaving behind professionals who don’t update their careers. Journalism and cinema changed after the internet and keep changing once new technologies affect the communication between people. Since I became a journalist and filmmaker I’ve been learning how to use different tools to do my work. That’s why I decided to attend the VR program at NYFA. Now, I am totally focusing on 360/VR.

NYFA: Can you share any detail on how your film “The Drummer,” which is screening at Jump Into VR Fest, was made as a part of your NYFA studies?

AS: The film which was selected for the Fest was a class exercise. They asked us to go to Union Square and find a story to shoot in 360. I was the director of my team. I had two colleagues in my group: Andrew O’Leary, doing the production sound, and Carolina Sang operating the camera.

We saw this good drummer with disability and he said yes when I asked him if I could make an interview with him. (By the way, he said many students have done the same before but he never saw anything. I think I should email him!)

Basically, “The Drummer” is a short documentary about this street artist named Jesus. He talks about his life, why he is there, his thoughts, etc. He is always in Union Square. People pass by but have no idea about what he is going through. As a journalist and filmmaker, my goal was to go there, talk to him and transform all the information into entertainment, informing but also offering a nice way to hear from him.

NYFA: What kind of equipment did you use?

AS: The Samsung Gear 360, zoom recorder and ambisonic mic.

NYFA: What surprised you the most about your narrative VR course at NYFA? Would you recommend it to others?

AS: Definitely, the course was better than I expected! Surprised me how intense it was (many hours of class and projects). Also, the number of professionals from the market they brought to talk to us and how we had easy access to the equipment.

The experience was really great. Location, teachers and coordinators were really nice. 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.

NYFA: Can you tell us about your experience with Jump Into VR Fest experience so far?

AS: I am really excited about the Festival! It is a great opportunity to have a VR film that I directed and edited showcase here in New York.

Besides “The Drummer” I made two more films. “Undone.” my final project, is more hybrid. It is an adaptation of an art performance about Muslim women. The VR experience is to be surrounded by six muslim women and hear their stories. I believe in the power of virtual reality, known as the empathy machine, to change people’s minds.

My third VR film I made for an exhibition in a Art Gallery in Lower East Side. The idea was to give to people the experience to see the creative process of an artist: you see the painting in the gallery, you take the VR headset and when you put it on you are in his studio in upstate New York in the middle of the woods, hearing and seeing a stream, and you see the artist painting and talking about his work. The opening was great. People loved it.

“The Drummer” was also selected to be showcased at FoST Festival along with Ana’s final NYFA project, “Undone.” The New York Film Academy would like to thank Ana for taking the time to share about her experience with Jump Into VR Fest with the NYFA community.

Netflix Releases NYFA Documentary Faculty Work “Heroin(e)”

A new Netflix original short documentary entitled “Heroin(e)” premieres today, Sept. 12, and a New York Film Academy instructor was instrumental in its production. Kristen Nutile, who teaches filmmaking and editing at NYFA, served as editor during the making of the film.

“Heroin(e)” focuses on three women in Huntington, West Virginia, attempting to reverse the devastating, years-long cycle of the opiate epidemic. The film was directed by Peabody-awarding winning documentary filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon who is a native of West Virginia. Her unique, local viewpoint allowed for a more empathetic and passionate portrayal of the issue as opposed to the many outside news outlets that have attempted to cover the epidemic.

“When I was approached by Elaine, I was very moved by this particular problem and that is why I took on the project,” said the NYFA documentary instructor. The fact that three heroines played the lead roles in the harrowing story was also appealing to Nutile, who stated, “I loved how she was following three women trying to make a difference. I love that it was female-centric.”

The film focuses on Fire Chief Jan Rader, Cabell County drug court Judge Patricia Keller, and Necia Freeman of Brown Bag Ministry, all of whom have taken it upon themselves to attempt to slow the devastating effects of opioid use on West Virginia.

Nutile is an award-winning, New York-based veteran documentary editor and filmmaker. She has worked on “The Bullish Farmer,” “Deep Run,” “Unfinished Spaces” and edited a wide range of other films, documentary and otherwise. She founded Soft Spoken Films in 2001.

Check out the trailer for the film below and watch in its entirety on Netflix. You can also learn more on the website.

UPDATE: “Heroin(e)” has made the shortlist for a 2018 Academy Award Nomination in the documentary short subject category.

[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khSO7qEKbvo”]

NYFA Gold Coast Celebrates Jan ’17 Filmmakers End of Year Screenings

Last week as August gave way to September, the New York Film Academy Gold Coast campus celebrated the January 2017 Diploma of Filmmaking Final Screenings. The two-day event held an opening reception for students, friends and family, and concluded with students’ digital dialogue screening at the Event Cinemas in Pacific Fair.

The final screenings serve as an opportunity for students, friends, family, and faculty to share the experience of watching the films created throughout the duration of the course, celebrate the students’ achievement, and come together to prepare for the transition into the industry.

NYFA Gold Coast Campus Manager DJ Stonier commented, “I was amazed by the outstanding quality of the films and the range of genres presented. These films are definitely festival circuit ready and I look forward to hearing about the journey these students will have as NYFA-AU graduates.”

Congratulations to all of our filmmaking graduates.

NYFA Alumna Meghan Modrovsky is Arya in “Game of Thrones: The Musical”

NYFA acting alumna Meghan Modrovsky is on her way to Broadway as one of the most popular characters in America: Arya Stark, the littlest assassin on HBO’s “Game of Thrones” is now a rapping, singing assassin in “Game of Thrones: The Rock Musical.”

Modrovsky was interviewed via email by NYFA Correspondent Joelle Smith to talk about the monumental task of playing Arya and what it’s like to be a part of something with such a large fanbase.

NYFA: Can you talk a little about the audition process? Did you go in for Arya or were you surprised by the casting decision?

Modrovsky: I applied for the part of Arya via Actor’s Access in October of 2016. The audition itself was the same as any other. I had to prepare 16 bars and a scene, but there was one big exception.

The role of Arya required the actor the rap. While I’m a fan of the genre, I had never rapped for anyone other than my cats. I prepped my song, my sides, and my 60 seconds of rap and went into the audition that day fully expecting to make an *ss out of myself.

As I was sitting in the waiting area about to implode from anxiety, a wave of calm washed over me and I just started smiling. I’m sitting here about to rap a frickin’ Eminem song so I can hopefully play Arya Stark in a “Game of Thrones” parody musical. As soon as I accepted how ridiculous the whole situation was, I was ready to go. This was a rare audition. I felt really, really good afterward, so I was just elated when they called to offer me the part.

NYFA: Are you a fan of the book or the show? Who is your favorite character?

Modrovsky: At this point in time, I prefer the books to the show. Once the show ran out of George R. R. Martin’s source material and started bending towards fan fiction, the carefully constructed character logic started getting sacrificed for sake of the plot and the show has suffered as a result. Yes, I’m that person.

My favorite character has always been Cersei. She is vile, vindictive, power-hungry, murderous, and her blowing up the Sept is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen on television. What’s not to love?

NYFA: Did you base your characterization off of the book, the show, a mixture of both, or just use the script you had? Why?

Modrovsky: I stuck to the script we were given almost exclusively for Arya’s portrayal. Our show’s plot focuses on season one of “Game of Thrones,” with some well-placed spoilers, and Arya wasn’t a big player in the story yet. We are first and foremost a parody musical, so the writer decided to play with Arya’s arc and make it a running gag. I don’t want to give too much away, but in our show, you see Arya go through hilarious phases and stages of adolescence as she tries to figure out who she is.

NYFA: What was it like performing at Comic Con? Do you have a favorite memory from this performance?

Modrovsky: San Diego Comic Con was an absolute madhouse in the best possible way. We had eight shows over four days and we were all sick and exhausted by the end. The audiences loved it though. My favorite memory happened after our final show.

We went out into the lobby to take photos with people and after some time, I headed backstage to change out of my sweaty costume. As I rounded the corner to the entrance of the theatre, I heard someone shriek, “Arya!”

It was a group of audience members from the last performance. They rattled off how much they loved the show, how much they loved what I did with Arya, how much they loved my rap sequence and a slew of other incredibly kind words. We all hugged and they went on their merry way, but man, that was a truly amazing way to end a crazy week. That alone is one of the coolest things that have ever happened to me.

NYFA: Is there any fan interaction with the show? What has that been like?

Modrovsky: There is! Not so much with famous lines, but during the transition from the opening number to scene one, we normally start singing “Peter Dinklage” to the tune of “The Game of Thrones” theme song. It always gets a good laugh. At Comic Con the crowds participated loudly and enthusiastically. They loved booing Joffrey and even started singing the chorus with us for “Things I Do For Love.”

NYFA: What’s the most exciting part about taking the show to NY?

Modrovsky: The most exciting part is being taken to NY as an off-Broadway production. This is not the normal fate of most theatre productions, and we are very fortunate to have this opportunity. I’ve been doing theatre since I was 13 and the notion that in one short month I’ll be playing several doors down from some of the biggest names on Broadway is mind-boggling.

NYFA: Has the cast and crew watched this season of “Game of Thrones” together?

Modrovsky: Yes! Several cast members would regularly organize screenings and good portions of the cast would get together to watch. Sadly, I don’t know about any fun reactions. I haven’t been present for any of the viewings for two reasons. One, my fiancé would be very upset if I watched it without him. “Game of Thrones” runs deep in our relationship. Two, I am incapable of shutting the heck up during an episode. I didn’t want to inflict that on my friends.

NYFA: What’s your favorite song to sing in the musical?

Modrovsky: Definitely “Stronger.” “Stronger” is our feminist power ballad where all the women of Westeros including Daenerys, Sansa, Arya, Catelyn, and Cersei come together to say, “Yes, our current circumstances suck, but we possess the strength to rise above and conquer.” The song is about empowerment and overcoming the odds of your situation. We’re a parody show, so this number is particularly special as it’s our one serious moment.

NYFA: What did you learn at NYFA that helped you with this role?

Modrovsky: It wasn’t specifically something that helped me with the role; rather it helped me land the role. I learned to never make the casting director’s choice for them. I was so nervous the morning of the audition that I seriously considered canceling my time slot. I’m so glad the logical side of my brain told the emotional side to shut up.

It’s not your place as an actor to decide if you’re right for the part. That’s the casting director’s job, and your speculation on the whys and why not’s are irrelevant and a waste of your energy. Focus on being prompt, prepared, likable, and leaving a good impression in the room.

NYFA: Why do you think fans have flocked to the show?

Modrovsky: “Game of Thrones” has a ravenously devoted fanbase. People have flocked to ”Game of Thrones: The Rock Musical” for the same reasons they flocked to ”A Very Potter Musical.” They love these characters and story so much and they want to share their love of it with their fellow nerds.

You can watch “Game of Thrones: The Rock Musical” at The Jerry Orbach Theater on 50th and Broadway in midtown Manhattan. The show runs from October 13 – 29.

NYFA Broadcast Journalism School Updates Sept. 7

How can you effectively convey the scope, and the human tragedies, associated with a natural disaster like Hurricane Harvey? Last week, in the middle of all of its traditional coverage, the digital edition of The New York Times had one of the most effective, and frightening, infographics I have ever seen.

Please, take a moment and look at it. Each red dot is a rescue. Each dialog box contains the words off an actual emergency call.

Even as coverage of the impact of Hurricane Harvey continues, news organizations have a responsibility to look beyond today’s headlines. The Nieman Lab at Harvard has posted a fascinating study of ways to cover ongoing climate change with urgency and creativity. Audiences think they have “heard it all before.” Journalists have to convince them that they haven’t. That takes skill and “smarts.”

Sticking with the Nieman Lab, which is a great journalism resource, Time magazine, one of the great institutions of 20th century American journalism, is fighting to remain relevant (and in business) in the 21st century. Nieman tells the story of one common-sense technique to engage audiences by getting them to participate in the fact-finding process. Something as simple as an online survey can pay big dividends.

One of the mainstays of the news business are “follow-up” stories. You might remember an item I wrote awhile back about the new partnership between NBC News and Snapchat. The goal is to reach audiences that traditional NBC News programming don’t. Axios reports that the early results are impressive, as the daily news program NBC distributes via Snapchat — which does not look, or sound, like anything else NBC does — seems to be a resounding success.

Friday was graduation day for the 8-week Summer Session students. They leave having created some impressive stories, as well as developed and deepened a wide range of production skills. One graduate had a job interview before she graduated. That says a lot about how hard our students work.

Congratulations!

Instructor Zack Baddorf continues his “sabbatical” in central Africa. Currently he in Kaga Bandorio, which he describes as “a town held by rebels way out in the bush in the Central African Republic.” Zack is shooting video for the International Rescue Committee, which is fantastic organization. He is documenting health, child soldier reintegration and women’s socioeconomic activities in a place where it is brutally hot, and not enough power for a fan let alone an air conditioner.

Which is a good excuse to go whitewater rafting on the Nile…

The Weekly Update is briefly going on hiatus, as I am going to China where I am wrapping up my on-camera work for a cultural documentary series, shooting material for another documentary project, as well as representing NYFA. (In fact, as you read this, I am likely on the very long plane ride from New York.) The Weekly Update will be back on September 18.

NYFA Graphic Design Instructor Keith Godard Releases “Book Mates”

by Keith Godard

NYFA Graphic Design Instructor Keith Godard’s newest publication “Book Mates” brings a charming story to life.

The book is a bilingual story in French and English that tells about the friendship between a paper book and a digital book. It’s a unique publication in that the pages can be scanned to view the antics and animations of what a digital book can do as opposed to the page-turning possibilities of a printed work.

With an iPhone or a tablet, a free app will enable readers to experience the book electronically, as well as reading the text off the flat page.

My approach to the work aims to delight and thrill children as well as pleasing the adult reader. The concept is a publishing breakthrough that combines static printed images with electronic content that moves.

Keith Godard is a faculty member in the Graphic Design Program at The New York Film Academy.

NYFA Acting Instructor Miguel Cruz Inks Deal with FOX International Productions

NYFA’s Acting Department Senior Instructor and Director of Fulbright Initiatives Miguel Cruz recently signed a development deal with FOX International Productions to supervise the Spanish adaptation of the Argentinian rom-com hit “Permitidos” (“That’s Not Cheating”).

Cruz will direct and produce the adaptation, and will be working with top Spanish scriptwriters Marta Sanchez (“Thi Mai”) and Antonio and David Sanchez Olivas (“Villaviciosa de Al Lado,” “Off Course”). Production is expected to receive the green light for shooting this spring in Spain, with Madrid and the Canary Islands as its main locations. This will mark Cruz’s return to comedy, as well as his first project for a U.S. studio after a long career in the Spanish TV industry.

Cruz’s relationship with the American film industry dates back to 2006, when he attended the Filmmaking program at The New York Film Academy on a Fulbright Scholarship. After his graduation, he went back to Spain to direct the sitcom “Aida.” The show was Spain’s most popular show at that time and aired for over 10 years.

His experience and hands-on training at NYFA helped inspire him to write, direct and produce his first feature length film, “Vulnerables,” a psychological thriller starring the popular Spanish actress Paula Echevarria. This independent film was released internationally and later broadcast on Sundance Channel. He is currently developing an English language daptation of “Vulnerables.”

In 2013, Cruz came back to Los Angeles to launch his career in the American industry. Since then he has combined his professional and academic careers: while pitching his next projects to major studios, Cruz has taught at NYFA in Los Angeles and held lectures abroad in places like Argentina, Colombia, and Senegal.

In his words, “There is a great opportunity in Hollywood right now for international filmmakers that aim to produce projects in local language with an universal narrative and Hollywood production standards. Each day more, local movies get greenlit in Hollywood, and knowing the industry and its ways, has been crucial for me in the development of a global career.”

NYFA Students & Alumni to Exhibit Work at Brooklyn’s Photoville

Photoville, the popular photo festival at Brooklyn Bridge Park, is returning for its sixth consecutive year. The event will take place between September 13-17 & 21-24 and will again include an exhibition of art taken by 23 different New York Film Academy Photography students and alumni who represent a diverse range of cultural identities around the world.

“White is My New Green” by Nipun Nayyar

The alumni and student work conveys a wide range of emotions and aesthetics from beauty and sensuality to pain and hardship. It also serves as an example of the variety of ways NYFA students effectively convey their photographic expression — from fine art to fashion, commercial work to photojournalism.

Faculty at the photography school is also focused on preparing students to apply what they have learned in class and their coursework to the real world. With the support of the faculty and their peers, our students have created a public art exhibit of exceptional freshness, quality, and breadth.

Alongside traditional treatments of portraiture and still life, this group of artists has also experimented with abstraction, digital manipulation and a number of other possibilities. These experiences enrich their versatility and vision as they work to find their own distinct styles within the world of photography.

“The Twins Identity” by Ana Paula Tizzi

NYFA alumna Ana Paula Tizzi’s work was selected for the second consecutive year. “The Twins Identity” focuses on the relationship between the Brazil native’s mother and aunt, Denise and Dayse, who are identical twins. Tizzi was drawn to “our inability to distinguish, accept, and celebrate our differences.” Over the years, a certain mythology and mystery surrounded the relationship between the two, and Tizzi, a current teaching assistant at NYFA, sought to capture this.

As an artist always striving to find personal connections and sync personal feelings with whoever she’s shooting, her close family made for ideal subjects. In many ways, Tizzi feels she has been shooting this particular series her whole life. Finding commonality was a key theme and inspiration as the artist shot “The Twins Identity” and this is brilliantly conveyed throughout each photo in the series.

“Untitled” by Nitin Doppalapudi

Los Angeles BFA student Nitin Doppalapudi will be showing a nature-inspired piece of Mount Everest. During a 20-day trek up and around the majestic peaks, Doppalapudi said patience was essential due to the unpredictable nature of the climate at such heights.

“As an artist, my goal is to visually capture the essence of the environment and communicate my vision of the natural world by transporting the viewer to the destination.” The series shows clean near silhouettes of the towering peaks taken at various times throughout the course of day and night.

“Bodily Confessions” by Natalia Rudenko

NYFA LA 1-year MFA alumna Natasha Rudenko’s series “Bodily Confessions” explores the artist’s femininity, national identity, and gender politics as a Russian-born, white woman living in the United States.

“Through Bodily Confessions I place myself into the feminist discourse,” the artist explains. “These images are sort of evidence of self-empowerment and of regaining control of my absence and presence, my past, my identity and my representation.”

“Untitled” by Arthur Hylton

NYFA 1-year student Arthur Hylton’s series is all about where the artist is mentally in the moment. “My artwork is about giving the viewer a look into the my mind as i am evolving as a person,” Hylton states.

Opening night for Photoville will be on September 13th from 4 to 10pm. NYFA will be in container #15.

The full list of the students and alumni exhibited:
Nilangana Banerjee
Juliane Buensche
Pierre Crosby
Karyna Dobrykava
Nitin Doppalapudi
Stephany Fernandez
Pernille Brekke Hanssen

Jon Henry
Arthur Hylton
Adam Kasali
Rutvik Katuri
Di Wu
Qingjian Meng
Manuela Montenegro
Nipun Nayyar
Natalia Rudenko
Monika Sedziute
Marshall Sharp
Hanno Schatz
Adi Tarkay
Ana Paula Tizzi
Huimin Zhang

Vote for the People’s Choice Award below!

NYFA Gold Coast Celebrates January ’17 Screenwriters End of Year Showcase

NYFA Gold Coast was pleased to celebrate with the Class of January 2017 Diploma of Screenwriting students at their End of Year showcase this August. The End of Year Showcase for the graduating diploma students was held in the Southport Campus theatre.

Screenwriting lecturer Rachael Morgan McMurray stated, “The graduating screenwriters’ showcase was a complete success, with Adam and Markus’s’ work brought to brilliant life both by our talented acting students and also on screen.”

As a part of NYFA Australia’s commitment to hands-on education, the end of year showcase offers graduating students an opportunity to share their work with invited guests.

“Family, friends and fellow students delighted in their success,” continued Rachael Morgan McMurray, “Laughing in all the right places and impressed by the quality of their writing. It has been a pleasure to teach both of these writers and see them eagerly taking on feedback and committing to their craft so fully. We wish them well as they head out into this exciting industry.”