Page 220 – NYFA

NYFA Screenwriting Students Attend Nickelodeon Writers Event

New York Film Academy Screenwriting students were invited to Nickelodeon headquarters in Manhattan to attend an entertaining and educational event with Nickelodeon show creators, executive producers and screenwriters. While nobody was slimed or got to meet SpongeBob Squarepants, students were able to meet with and learn from the writers behind-the-scenes of their favorite childhood shows. They were even given a peek into the writers’ room, which is the dream office of many aspiring screenwriters.

The students in attendance were Oluf Marshall, Heather Gil, Christopher Garro, Jianda Song, Merrill Watzman, and Thomas Cersley.

“This made me long for a writers’ room,” said screenwriting student, Thomas Cersley. “The collaboration that you get — the white board, hiring your best friends to make jokes all day — all of these guys are living out their dream. It’s certainly one way to motivate yourself.”

“I thought it was great to see how they get into their mind frame,” added screenwriting student, Christopher Garro.

For writers with completed screenplays looking to break into TV writing for kids, Nickelodeon offers an annual Writing Program that selects some of the top comedic TV spec scripts from writers of all backgrounds.

For more information, visit their Writing Program website by clicking here.

New York Film Academy Gold Coast Campus Hosts Actor Travis McMahon

Travis McMahon, best known for “Kokoda: 39th Battalion” (2006), “Cactus” (2008) and “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries” (2012 – 2015), offered his insight into the world of entertainment to eager Acting for Film students and staff members of the New York Film Academy Australia, Gold Coast campus during a Q&A session on Monday, October 31st.

Nominated for an AFI Award (now known as the AACTA’s) in 2001 for Best Actor in a Guest Role in a Television Drama on popular Australian program “Stingers,” Travis discussed how his training has helped him with his processes as an actor. These processes include that of reading the script as many times as possible when researching a new role, to gain a sense of character and story.

Now that Travis is established in the industry, he looks for good stories to be attached to and characters to be invested in. “When deciding on projects, I look for good writing because it clearly indicates whether the project will be worth it,” Travis told his keen student audience.

His advice to budding actors is to listen to themselves, listen and honor what they are wanting out of their careers, and to never compromise their vision for that of another.

MFA Acting Grad’s Award-Winning “Treintañera”

MFA Acting for Film alumna Tamara Bunker wrote, co-produced with NYFA alumna Adrenia Kemp, and acted in her New York Film Academy thesis film, “Treintañera.” Since completing the film, “Treintañera” has screened at several film festivals, having been crowned Best Comedy at the Official Latino Short Film Festival 2016, Best Student Film at the Los Angeles Movie Awards 2016, and Award of Merit Special Mention at the Latin/Hispanic – Best Shorts Competition. The film most recently screened at the Studio City Film Festival 2016.

“I learned most of what I know about film at NYFA, in the classrooms, on set with filmmaking students, and doing production workshops,” said Bunker. “I had some amazing teachers who helped me find my voice as a writer and as an actress. They made me believe in my ideas; they supported them and helped me improve them.”

The film is a short comedy about a young Mexican-American woman who lives with her Mexican Abuela (grandmother). She is torn between love and her career; she is soon to turn thirty, and is beginning to believe that there is something wrong with her because she hasn’t found a man she can relate to. She is persuaded by her Abuela to have a quinceañera party on her 30th birthday to help her find the man of her dreams – as both her grandmother and mother had done. On the same day, she gets offered her dream job.

The most challenging aspect of the production for Bunker was writing a relatable story that could be told in nine minutes, and creating empathetic characters.

“I wanted to write about something I understood — women,” said Bunker in regards to writing the screenplay. “I was inspired by women in general. I was also inspired by what it means to be a young woman today — the social pressures that still exist, the barriers, the problems women have to face in order to reach their goals. I have friends who want to get married and have children, and some who don’t. I wanted to show that women have the choice to do whatever they want, and be whatever they want to be. All paths have to be acceptable and possible.”

Bunker also wanted to express the importance of the family in Mexico, and the Mexican traditions. “I wanted to tell a funny story that would embrace these aspects of Mexican life, and would show how important they are both in Mexico as well as in many parts of the US,” she added. “The quinceañera party seemed to be a perfect setting to illustrate these varying facets.”

Bunker is currently working on the feature of “Treintañera,” writing a horror web series, and directing a NYFA acting thesis film this month.

Latin Club Celebrates Dia de Los Muertos

On Tuesday, November 1, 2016, the Latin Club led a celebration of the Mexican holiday, Dia de Los Muertos, at the New York Film Academy Los Angeles campus. The entire student body was invited to the event to learn the cultural significance of the holiday. “It’s important for me because it is a huge celebration in Mexico, and the idea was to share our Latin culture with others and to also welcome our new club members,” Latin Club Leader, Vanesa Prieto, said.

An altar was built with candles, flowers, and revered Mexican artists. Tables were lined with traditional food like chicken mole, horchata, tres leches cake, and sugar skull cookies. There was also a bevy of entertainment including a DJ and two poetry readings.

NYFA worked with the Make-Up Designory to bring in artists to apply the “sugar skull” make-up. When make-up artist Michelle Cruz was asked why she wanted to participate, she said, “I’m a Latina. I wanted to represent my culture and this make-up properly. This day is about experiencing the beauty of death and not the tragedy.” She continued, “I’m excited to see everyone with their faces done up and walking around the party.”

NYFA student, Yang Chen, stumbled into the party as she was leaving class. When asked why she wanted to join the event, she exclaimed, “I’ve never joined a school event. I know the sugar skulls but not much else about the culture. I’m excited to learn and get my face painted.”

The idea of wanting to learn the culture was prevalent amongst the guests.

New York Film Academy would like to thank the students who came out to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos with us.

NYFA Student Directed Play “Woza Albert”

The New York Film Academy’s sixth Student Directed Play is the South African play “Woza Albert!” (which means “Rise Albert”) by Percy Mrwa, Mbongeni Ngema and Barney Simon. The production is directed by Ydalie Jikmat, Fall ’15 BFA, and stars NYFA alumni Ricky Cruz and Nyeleti Khoza.

The two actors play roles of various South Africans — a vendor, barber, servant, manual laborer, soldier — receiving the news that Christ (Morena) has arrived in South Africa, where a Calvinist white elite imposes apartheid. Christ’s arrival precipitates a crisis, and the government launches a nuclear bomb against the peacemaker. In the ruins, great South African leaders in resistance to apartheid such as Albert Luthuli, assassinated president of the African National Congress, are resurrected. They play dozens of parts that involve them using many skills such as acting, mime, singing and dance. They also create images using a few words and actions.

“Woza Albert!” is a part of my anatomy as a performer and theatre-maker,” says Jikmat. “Through humor and an unparalleled energetic spirit the play mobilized people to take action against an oppressive system. It is the reason I have such a high regard for theatre as a powerful, effecting medium. Sharing this piece of my culture with my peers is a privilege and having the opportunity to direct the play is a need fulfilled. I am so grateful.”

“Woza Albert!” will be performed this Thursday and Friday at 7:30 and Saturday at 1:30 in the Kaminski Theater.

NYFA Grad Kalpana Malviya’s “Made in America” to Air on Zee TV

Kalpana Malviya is a New York Film Academy graduate who’s been blazing a trail in new television programing. Her new show, “Made in America,” is the first English language reality TV program designed for South East Asians to be shot in Hollywood. But she’s not content in just creating new programing, she’s also determined to bring the next generation of content makers with her.

“Somebody helped me. I’m not too big to help anybody,” Malviya told me under a shady tree just outside of the studio where “Made in America” was shooting a dramatic prison scene. Malviya’s passion is earnest and forthright, “(students) have fresh ideas. We can learn from them and also guide them along the way.”

Malviya credits the New York Film Academy with giving her a leg up in the industry, “I’m from India. Hollywood films really pop in India. I took what I learned at NYFA and landed a job with Zee TV.” While at Zee TV, she noticed the abundance of talent and resources and wondered why no one, anywhere outside of South East Asia, was making content for the region. She sought to change that, “I pitched them the idea. They loved it and now, here we are.”

New York Film Academy would like to thank Kalpana Malviya for taking the time to speak with us. Malviya has created two more shows for Zee TV that will begin filming shortly.

“Made in America” will release August 2017, and has been reviewed by India.com. Read more here.

An Inspirational Encounter with Street Photographer John Free

The BFA Capture to Print ll class, with Mr. Kennedy, went on a shooting practicum to the Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles to shoot street photography with their 35mm film cameras. The class had already been there about two hours and the students were gathering their equipment to return back to school when an older man and his assistant walked up and pointed at all the our cameras. One of the students quickly reacted, saying, “I know that guy; he’s a famous photographer.”

The student ran after him to introduce himself and let him know his fondness for his videos on YouTube. The gentleman came back and was reintroduced to the group where he began talking about how we’re all photographers and we shouldn’t let him get away like that since we all have cameras in common. The gentleman was world famous street photographer, John Free. Free carries around his Nikon F3, and shoots primarily with film. He is a social documentary and street photographer based in Los Angeles. In the past 30 years, he’s covered everything from Railroad Tramps in California to photographing the streets of London and Paris.

Free gave an extremely inspirational and impromptu talk about how our students should go out and shoot real-life people and use the photographs to tell their stories — from bus drivers, our neighbor’s children, to people in the hospital. He also mentioned how we should compensate people for taking up their time and gift them the images we take of them, or just get on the bus, buy the driver lunch and take a record of his humanity. He talked about how to get closer with subjects, so they are comfortable; and that way we could see the power of the camera.

According to John, “Street photography means having to deal with time, which requires the photographer to quickly notice the various details, elements and factors that are present in the potential subject.” John has been an inspiration to photographers worldwide.

A Talk with Entertainment Lawyer Hal Kessler

On Friday, October 21, 2016, Hal “Corky” Kessler, famed Chicago Entertainment lawyer and producer spent three hours with New York Film Academy’s Producing students. Some of Kessler’s projects include Russell Crowe’s international debut “The Sum of Us,” “Driving Miss Daisy,” and “Steel Magnolias.”

Kessler ran the lecture as an open conversation, allowing students to interject with questions or comments at will. Students were walked through the process of making difficult legal decisions when attempting to get a project off the ground.

His first big piece of advice was to always have an independently hired lawyer. Don’t let an agent negotiate contracts because agents will work out a deal in their best interest, not the client’s.

Kessler’s next tip was a personal hang up. Chain of Document is a legal term that denotes the transfer of ownership from one person to the next. For example, when a creator writes and copyrights a script, the next step in a successful journey is to sell that script. Where many beginners run into problems is they work with a partner and now that partner claims part ownership. Other mistakes include not getting the copyright, making verbal agreements without ever getting legally binding backup, and, of course, signing contracts without a lawyer.

If Chain of Document isn’t followed, not only is distribution impossible, but neither is Errors and Omissions Insurance (ERO). ERO protects the creators if they make a mistake in crediting another artist on the project. Without ERO, no distribution company or privately owned theater will touch a film.

Students were interested in Kessler’s Hollywood stories. Kessler wove tales of Cannes, Sundance, and Toronto. He recounted giving speeches every year and stories of after parties with a lively, almost fairytale-like, demeanor.

New York Film Academy would like to thank Mr. Kessler for taking the time to come speak with our students. If any of our readers attend the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, or Toronto International Film Festival, we’d like to encourage you to check out one of Kessler’s annual speaking engagements.

NYFA South Beach Takes Part in Kitetoberfest

On Sunday, October 23, the sky of North Miami Beach’s Haulover Park was inundated with a kinetic vibrancy seen at this magnitude only once a year.

The 24th edition of Kitetoberfest, ascended over the park; below, hundreds of onlookers and participants wandered the ample grounds, navigating food trucks, kiosks, face painting, and carnival games on the edge of a wide, open field perfect for flying.

New York Film Academy’s South Beach campus brought our team to take part in the festivities and introduce ourselves to our new neighbors to the north: bringing tote bags, t-shirts, and streamers to offer as prizes to whoever stopped by the bean bag toss under our new NYFA Big Top.

Kitetoberfest is a free event that takes place annually at Haulover Park in North Miami Beach, FL.

Located in the heart of gorgeous South Beach, New York Film Academy SB offers a wide range of degree, conservatory, and workshop programs designed for students to achieve their learning goals in the amount of time that is best suited for them.

We hope this will be the next of many partnerships between NYFA and the South Florida community.