This past week the faculty and staff at the New York Film Academy’s Los Angeles campus held their annual holiday party with the theme of “Casino Night.” The gambling may have been pretending, but the fun was real. A photo booth, crap tables, and an ugly sweater contest were the highlights of the evening.
Copious amounts of food including cakes and fruit lined an entire wall of the Burbank Studio. A dance floor complete with DJ kept happy feet busy all evening. The photo booth even had a gif-making feature.
“It is always nice to put on your ugly sweater and get to know the people you work with outside of a working environment,” said NYFA LA Marketing staff member Ekaterina Terekhovich. “We danced, we laughed, we got to have a fun time. I met new and interesting people from departments I don’t interact with on a regular basis. I think we should get together more often!”
The ugly sweater contest was a huge success with many members participating. The winners were:
1st Place – Christina Tchamkertenian (Human Resources)
2nd Place – Travis Holder (Acting)
3rd Place – Anthony Cook (Cine Dept. Faculty and Coordinator)
A huge thanks is owed to the Animation Department for creating gifs of party attendees. The New York Film Academy would also like to thank all faculty and staff who made this party possible, and wish a happy holiday to all.
From November 28 through December 4 YouTube hosted “Russian Cinema Week.” During that period more than 200 Russian films were available in to watch in full. To launch that project Google has partnered with multiple production companies and distributors.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the list of featured movies included the Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning film “Leviathan,” Timur Bekmambetov-produced, New Year’s themed franchise “Yolki” (Christmas Trees) and one of Russia’s all-time box-office champions a Nikolai Lebedev’s hockey biopic “Legenda Nomer 17” (Legend No. 17).
NYFA is pleased to announce that the short film, “Suka” — created and produced by New York Film Academy alumni, producer Maria Rogotskaya and director Cyril Zima — was chosen to be a part of the short selection of the site. It is now the film with the most views!
“Suka” previously won Best Foreign Film Award at the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival and was renowned at many others film festivals including San Jose, BUSHO, and Sapporo Short Fest.
producer Maria Rogotskaya and director Cyril Zima
Rogotskaya and Zima are currently working on a feature noir / Sci-Fi thriller called “Charon,” which takes place in present-day Los Angeles. As a former crime journalist, Zima uses his huge investigating experience to work on the story development. Without giving away any spoilers, the film is a very deep physiological drama.
“When Maria and I came to NYFA to obtain our Master’s Degree, we already had a solid background in the field, but we had no experience working in Hollywood. NYFA was a good transition; we obtained a lot of practical experience and met a lot of collaborators who we continue to work with after graduation,” said Zima.
New York Film Academy students worked with survivors of homelessness to present a spoken word and musical performance at the NYFA Theater at the Los Angeles campus. Urban Possibilities is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring the homeless and working poor. Urban Possibilities’ alumni performed spoken word pieces about their lives developed during one of UP’s writing workshops. NYFA acting students Fernando Sambora and Roman Arnaize performed a musical interlude for the full house of enthusiastic NYFA students and faculty.
The next day, NYFA screenwriting, filmmaking, and documentary students participated in a unique daylong workshop facilitated by Urban Possibilities. NYFA students were paired with Urban Possibilities students to interview one another and share their personal stories. After an hour of heart-to-heart conversation, each person was asked to write a profile of the person they’d been speaking to. Touching, surprising and sometimes extraordinary bonds between the pairs were revealed. One NYFA student called it “an unforgettable day of learning and feeling and writing a truly original piece.” Another said, “I loved it. It was enlightening, inspirational, transformational and eye-opening.”
Eyvette Jones Johnson, Founder and CEO of Urban Possibilities said, “When we exchange our stories, bonds are created and biases begin to melt away no matter what our zip codes may be. That’s important in a world often violently divided by race and class — one that our students navigate daily.”
The New York Film Academy Industry Lab shot a short film with director Ina Rose Farestad entitled “Stand by Her.” The Lab members involved were Alejandro Talens, Hans Sternward (swing gang) Gary Kent( steadi cam op), Kseniya Yorsh (producer), and Ferid Hasburn (Director of Photography).
Industry Lab on set of “Stand by Her”
Farestad’s film is about Nina — a girl who feels very lonely and rejected after she finds out that her ex-boyfriend cheated on her. When the story starts, she is sitting in a coffee shop with her best friend and having a difficult time getting over him. Her friend is a very strong and opinionated person with a more sober outlook on love than Nina. She stands up for her friend and is not afraid to say things the way they are instead of sugarcoating them. Every girl can relate to both of these characters. Being the one suffering from rejection but also the one who’s been there for your best friend.
“I wrote this because I wanted to celebrate friendship and because I wanted to defy the notion of being ‘alone’ in society, if you don’t have a romantic partner,” said Farestad. “By the end of the short, Nina realizes that just because she doesn’t have a boyfriend it doesn’t mean she’s on her own. She has other people in her life, even strangers, that look out for her.”
The film also deals with our tendencies as people to choose not to get involved when we see something that isn’t right. What would it be like in a world where this behavior isn’t enabled and protected? What would it be like if people stepped in? That’s what the people in the coffee shop do. They have all heard the girls talking, so when the ex-boyfriend unexpectedly shows up, they all get involved.
“Ina Rose Farestad and I met last year on the set of a short film I was producing,” said producer Kseniya Yorsh. “She was one of our actors, and we kept in touch after that film finished. Then, earlier this year, she contacted me and mentioned she was planning to write and direct her first film in the fall. Sure enough, half a year later, I received an email from Ina saying that her script is ready and that she would like me to produce it. That was very exciting because, first of all, I love it when people say what they wish or plan to do and then circumstances align in the way that allows them to fulfill it. And secondly, the script was very good. It was funny, light-hearted, but also very sincere and personal. So I was in as soon as I read it.”
From the aesthetic viewpoint, the film is beautiful thanks to director of photography, Dhruv Lapsia, who was able to capture the mood of the story and transmit it visually in a gorgeous way.
“We want to honor that and the hard work of the talent and crew who brought the film to life and do a festival round for the film,” said Melinda Graves, NYFA’s Diversity and Industry Lab Coordinator
While currently based in Jaipur, India, New York Film Academy Photography graduate Nipun Nayyar has been gathering a mix of landscapes, portraiture and street photography from his travels in the US, India, Pakistan, Nepal and the Dominican Republic. Now, his photographs will be on display in his own solo exhibition called “Of Miles and Me” that will take place at the India Habitat Center in New Delhi from January 1 – 5, 2017.
photo by Nipun Nayyar
“My major goal through this exhibition is definitely making the industry influencers, like photo editors or art directors, more aware of my imagery and content,” said Nayyar. “I’m also expecting this exhibition will help streamline my print selling, commercially, in a more structured manner as my prints would also be up for sale at the exhibit. I plan to initiate selling of my prints more professionally in times to come.”
Nayyar says that his experience at NYFA is one of the primary influences on his photographic learning, knowledge and exposure. “They [NYFA] played such a substantial role in refining my art,” he said. “Not just my exhibition, but also my photography work, in general, will always have me deeply thanking them.”
Nayyar has his own personal blog, which provides insight into his travels and his photography. To check out more of his work, visit nipunnayyar.com/blog.
On Sunday, December 11, the New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing Arts Veteran Students enjoyed an afternoon at the LA Memorial Coliseum to watch the Los Angeles Rams host the Atlanta Falcons. This opportunity was made possible by a generous ticket donation from the LA Rams organization, which is a proud supporter of military servicemembers and veterans.
Veterans enjoyed the afternoon experiencing the game — and simply being with their fellow veterans. A few of the NYFA veteran students stated that this was the first live NFL game that they’ve ever attended. Veteran Services Coordinator Michael Kunselman, a U.S. Navy veteran, stated, “It feels great to be able to provide these social opportunities to our veteran students… and seeing how much they enjoyed the game feels great. The NYFA courses are intensive and require a huge amount of focus, time, and energy; this is a great way for everyone to blow off steam and relax together.”
The LA Rams fell to the Atlanta Falcons with a final score of 42-14.
The New York Film Academy is extremely grateful for the support that the Los Angeles Rams organization provided to our military, and to the veteran students at NYFA.
Attendees visited the sets of The Today Show and NBC Nightly News and gained deeper insight into how a major news network provides content for its viewership.
“Every time I set foot on a professional set, I get chills! This is why I came to NYFA! I want to be on television!” exclaimed U.S. Navy veteran, Julia Velasquez, Acting for Film graduate, upon seeing the giant production set as the group walked into the MSNBC studio.
After touring the sets, students were brought to the MSNBC control room where they were treated with a very interesting situation occurring in real-time: A scheduled interviewee was late for their interview spot and the control room personnel were involved in a whirlwind of action trying to fill air space while the person made there way through heavy cross-town traffic!
Colonel Jacobs used the opportunity to provide a learning experience for the NYFA students, explaining the demanding conditions they must navigate through to provide a seamless broadcast to audiences at home.
The veterans soaked up the lesson Colonel Jacobs was instilling: Every position at the network is specialized and translates into the creation of a product that is greater than the sum of its parts when the team works together.
“Television is a collaborative production — just like filmmaking. People work together and pool their talents to create art,” mused Army Veteran and NYFA Filmmaking and Photography Conservatory graduate, Anthony Floyd.
On December 16, YouTube pioneer and NYFA alumnus Michael Gallagher screened his latest film, “The Thinning.” Following the screening, Eric Connor led a Q & A with Gallagher.
Connor was Gallagher’s TA when he attended the NYFA Filmmaking Summer Camp when he was just thirteen. He made a film where Connor was chased around the “Jurassic Park 3” set. Using forced perspective Gallagher used a toy dinosaur to chase Connor around the set. It was in this moment that Connor knew Gallagher was special.
Since then Gallagher has made hundreds of shorts, started the YouTube channel TotallySketch, directed the television mini-series “Interns,” “How to Survive High School” and “The Station,” and produced three films; “Smiley,” “The Thinning,” and “Internet Famous.”
“The Thinning” was inspired by the current political climate and Gallagher’s own fear of the SAT’s. In the film high school students are required to take an aptitude test. If the student fails they are killed. When two students discover the results are predetermined they’ll do anything to reveal the truth.
One student asked, “What were some of the things you did to advertise your earliest work?” When I first started I knew you only get so many favors. I knew the first thing that the first thing I asked, I knew it had to count. I went in with my first video. I planned it out and made this attack plan and I just carpet bombed everyone I knew asking, ‘If you ever do one thing for me promote this video.’”
Gallagher also targeted video sharing sites like Reddit and IAmBored.com. He posted his video on viral threads. Gallagher also found websites centered on themes or items featured in his video. He reached out to administrators and asked for his work to be featured. “You just have to be creative,” Gallagher said.
New York Film Academy would like to thank Michael Gallagher for taking the time to come speak with our students. You can support Gallagher’s work by visiting his YouTube page and hitting the thumbs up. “The Thinning” is now available on YouTube Red.
UPDATE (June 6, 2019):
Michael Gallagher’s latest film, “Funny Story,” is now available to rent or buy on iTunes, Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, and more! The film features critically-acclaimed performances from Emily Bett Rickards, Matthew Glave, Jana Winternitz, Pete Gardner, and Reginald VelJohnson.
If’ you’re looking for a critically acclaimed bitter sweet comedy to watch over the holidays, be sure to check out “The Edge of Seventeen,” starring Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, and New York Film Academy alumnus Hayden Szeto.
“The very first few hours on set I remember being extremely starstruck, however, this wonderful cast demystified themselves very quickly,” said Szeto, about his experience working with such a talented cast. “Major props to our director, Kelly Fremon Craig and the legendary James L. Brooks for creating such a close-knit-family feel on set where we felt safe.”
“The Edge of Seventeen,” which is reminiscent of John Hughes classics such as “Sixteen Candles” and “Breakfast Club,” earned first time director Kelly Fremon Craig a New York Film Critics Circle Award.
In the film, Szeto plays Erwin, the lovestruck classmate of Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld). Throughout the movie, Erwin tries to pursue Nadine in a variety of ways which elicits very awkward and hilarious situations.
“I remember being on set the first day and saying to myself ‘Thank goodness I went to film school.'” recalled Szeto. “They say a little kindness goes a long way in this industry and it’s very true; one thing I take away from NYFA is appreciating the crew on both sides of the camera and understanding how much a film set is an ensemble piece where nobody has superiority over anybody. We are a team. Combining the knowledge of teamwork and my education at NYFA, I was not afraid to ask questions or try new things on set. It has made me fearless and allowed me to do my job more efficiently.”
Sezto says his character is a ‘revolutionary role’ written for Asian Americans. “I’m so honored and blessed to have been given this opportunity to represent a voice that is often silenced,” he added.
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