Page 225 – NYFA

NYFA Africa Tour: Johannesburg, South Africa

The New York Film Academy’s Africa tour, which included NYFA instructors and staff, was an exciting opportunity to further bridge our hands-on intensive pedagogy in the visual and performing arts with the film traditions and cultures of Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.

Jim Miller, NYFA V.P. of Strategic Initiatives, and Lizzie Sack, Asst. Director of Outreach meets with Ms. Selaelo Maseko, Public Affairs Section (U.S. Consulate General/Johannesburg (2nd from left), and Melanie Chait, CEO, Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking (3rd from left)

Throughout the four-week tour, we met more than 1,000 African students.

While sitting in a meeting at the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa with Consul General, Christopher Rowan, and his wonderful staff of the Public Affairs Office, we were asked the question, “How did the New York Film Academy select these four countries to visit?”

NYFA took a number of factors into consideration in deciding to bring NYFA Master Class Workshops – which also included information sessions, auditions, and portfolio reviews – to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; Lagos; Abuja, Nigeria; and Accra, Ghana. We researched the potential “new frontiers” of international higher education recruitment, including reviewing the Open Doors Report that is published annually by the Institute of International Education (IIE). And, because NYFA is one of the world’s oldest private international visual and performing arts schools, we have 25 years of enrollment data, along with requests for information, which we mined. Interest among the four selected countries has been exceptionally high and NYFA wants to help support the talent and creativity of these interested young actors and filmmakers.

In Johannesburg, NYFA’s Chair of Short-term Programs, Professor Jonathan Whittaker, conducted a 6-hour Master Class titled, “The Anatomy of a Scene.” This workshop was free and open to the filmmaking community, and was hosted by The United States Consulate General, EducationUSA, and NYFA’s local partner, Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking.

We expect that these private-public international partnerships in each country will last far beyond this trip, and that it is the beginning of fruitful collaborations that will benefit many gifted African visual and performing artists.

Alexender Simoes Covers New York Fashion Week

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Alexender Simoes came to the New York Film Academy to not only familiarize himself with the craft of photography, but also to learn how to effectively communicate with others in the industry.

With the New York Fashion Week being the perfect outlet for the photography student to explore his passion, Simoes hit the streets and went to many shows in order to, as he says it, “breathe in all the fashion air, studying people how they pose and why they wear.” After hustling the whole week to attend and photograph a variety of shows, he was able to cover the Taoray Wang show, which showcased the designer’s sophisticated silhouettes and luxurious fabrics.

“Fashion photography became a passion because of its attitude of expressing oneself,” said Simoes. “I had such a hard time finding my voice as a photographer until NYFA helped me hone my calling. It’s fun, it’s fast paced, elegant, and fierce. Photography is meant to learn the rules and also break them once you know what you’re doing.”

Simoes is currently working on his portfolio and looking to expand more of his work in the fashion industry by continuing to network with individuals and hustling day-by-day.

“It has been a humbling opportunity to meet amazing people, and I owe it to NYFA for helping me break out from my shell,” said Simoes. “Whatever passion you have I encourage NYFA to help you get there.”

photos by Alexender Simoes

NYFA ACTING ALUMNUS STARS IN ICELAND’S BEST FOREIGN FILM NOM

New York Film Academy Acting for Film alumnus Atli Oskar Fjalarsson, an Icelandic native, starred as “Ari” in the feature film, “Sparrows,” which is Iceland’s submission for the 89th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

The film, directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson, was very well received at film festivals, earning 20 international film awards. Most notable were its screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival and the San Sebastian Film Festival, where it was awarded the Golden Shell.

“Sparrows” is a dramatic coming-of-age story about the 16-year-old boy Ari, who has been living with his mother in Reykjavik and is suddenly sent back to the remote Westfjords to live with his father Gunnar. While living in the small town, he must navigate difficult relationships with his father as well as his childhood friends, who have changed their ways.

“’Sparrows’ is a very delicate, anthropic coming-of-age story,” says Fjalarsson. “Ari is an innocent choir boy from the city. His life is turned upside down when he’s forced to leave his home and move to his father that he barely knows, in a place that he left behind a long time ago. It’s hard for him to find footing in this new environment where no one seems to understand or relate to him.”

Through a series of events, Ari is forced to grow up fast and make decisions that will shape his character forever.

Fjalarsson hopes the film will take people on a journey and show them a glimpse of a world that is unknown to them while still remaining completely relatable.

Fjalarsson is currently signed on for two features that are in development.

Please note: NYFA does not represent that these are typical or guaranteed career outcomes. The success of our graduates in any chosen professional pathway depends on multiple factors, and the achievements of NYFA alumni are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances.

Paul Sunday’s “Improv / Archive” Exhibition at New York Public Library

The New York Public Library invited New York Film Academy Photography instructor Paul Sunday to create a new body of work for a solo show at their Mid-Manhattan branch. The Photo Walls in Picture Collection Exhibition Series “Archive / Improv” is on view from September 2016 through February of 2017 and is curated by Arezoo Moseni.

“In response to the location, I will re-contextualize seldom viewed images from my archive to explore the boundaries between photography, sculpture and installation,” says Sunday.

“These pictures consider the photograph as an object. My studio is a laboratory, a space for experimentation,” added Sunday. “It is bursting with stuff, equipment, lights, scraps of bric-a-brac, and old props but above all an extensive archive of photographic materials, the residue of twenty-five years of image making. I use all of this as material for improvisation. Riffing on the vocabularies of installation, sculpture, and collage, I endeavor to transform mundane objects into something poetic. I am fortunate to have space and time for contemplating my obsession with vision, light and the energy of ordinary things.”

In addition to his teaching at NYFA’s photography school, Sunday is a photographer, painter, and curator. He discovered his love of photography while working on avant-garde theater and performance projects in New York. His earliest images were documents of performances and portraits of actors. In the 1990s, the artist created thousands of pictures for magazines and luxury brands. His portraits of artists and celebrities have been published in Paper, aRude, Interview, Soma and German Vogue among others.

For more information on Paul Sunday’s “Archive / Improv,” please CLICK HERE.

NYFA Students & Alumni Crew Up for TIFF’s “After the Storm”

“After the Storm,” a film from first-time writer and director Jessica Oyelowo, recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Jessica’s husband, David Oyelowo, known for his portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King in the award-winning film “Selma,” was a producer on the project.

on set of "After the Storm" — on set of “After the Storm”

Shot in only four days at Oyelowo’s home in Tarzana, the production included a number of New York Film Academy students and alumni in its crew. Giulia Governo, a NYFA alumna from the Cinematography program, was the 1st AC on the shoot; David Hebrero, a NYFA alumnus from the Filmmaking program, was the gaffer; Konstantin Frolov, a NYFA alumnus from the Cinematography program, was the boom operator; Vince GE, a student from the Filmmaking program, was a Production Assistant; and Joann Wong, a student in the Filmmaking program, was in the swing department.

after the storm — on set of “After the Storm”

Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“Belle,” “Beyond the Lights”), Chiké Okonkwo (“The Birth of a Nation”) and newcomer Caleb Oyelowo (Jessica’s son) star in the film about the emotional journey of an African American family in the wake of tragedy.

“I became interested in what it’s like for the families of those out on the front lines,” said director, Jessica Oyelowo. “What happens to relationships when things go wrong, change doesn’t come, or loved ones are away or taken away?”

“The movie has a bit of a surreal tone, as it deals with how tragedy can affect a family in ways they may not be fully aware of,” said NYFA Instructor Craig Ross.

The film recently screened at the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York City. For more information, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/afterthestormfilm.

NYFA Supports “Not On My Watch” to Combat Military and Veteran Suicides

The New York Film Academy was proud to support the 2nd annual “Not on My Watch” event which was created to draw attention to the fact that more than 20 veterans and military personnel commit suicide every day nationwide.

In 2014, the latest year available, more than 7,400 veterans took their own lives, accounting for 18 percent of all suicides in America. Veterans make up less than 9 percent of the U.S. population.

To bring awareness to this very sad but important issue, NYFA students led by Paul McKenna, MFA Acting student and Iraq war veteran volunteered to support all those veterans who have committed suicide by standing vigil and walking their post on the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, CA from September 14^th-17th. Each volunteer wore a dog tag representing a Veteran that was lost due to suicide. At the end of their post the dog tags were hung on a battle cross to show the growing numbers of those lost and those remembered.

NYFA was proud to have students and staff willing to accept this role to remember all of those who have served our country and have unfortunately committed suicide. We hope to continue these efforts as part of our NYFA CARES initiative.

Screenwriter Tim Tori Joins NYFA’s Biz of Screenwriting Class

Recently, the ultra-talented Tim Tori dropped by our Business of Screenwriting class at New York Film Academy Los Angeles to discuss everything from writing independent horror movies to penning the #1 smash hit Vietnamese romantic comedy and everything in between.

Tim Tori kicked off his career as a writer/producer by penning the surf-horror movie “Trespassers,” which was released in 2006 by Image Entertainment.

Tori then went on a tear, selling his creature feature spec “Prowl” to After Dark Films. The film was shot in Sofia, Bulgaria, and released in the U.S. in 2011.

After Dark continued hiring him to write, produce and consult on multiple projects, including the science-fiction horror movie “51” starring Bruce Boxleitner and Jason London (released in 2011), and he continued his After Dark collaboration by writing the Joel Silver-produced action film “Dragon Eyes” starring none other than the legendary Jean-Claude Van Damme and Peter Weller (released in 2012).

Tori discussed how he broke into the business and answered student questions on everything from how to “write scary” to tips for getting representation.

Tori discussed his recent departure from genre fare with the Vietnamese-language romantic comedy “How To Fight In Six Inch Heels,” which he wrote and executive produced in collaboration with producer Timothy Linh Bui and producer/star Kathy Uyen. The Galaxy Studio film was a smash hit in Vietnam, spending two weeks at #1. It was released in the U.S. in 2015…

Currently, Tori is also co-writing and co-producing the action thriller “Die Laughing” with director/producer/co-writer Bui for Sony’s Stage 6 Films.

The latest project on Tori’s slate is “Legacy,” a dark, unique thriller to be produced by Bellevue Productions, yours truly, and Davis Entertainment, who has a first-look deal at Fox. Tori is repped by The Agency For The Performing Arts (APA).

NYFA thanks Tim Tori for a great guest lecture!

NYFA Student Stars in Iceland’s Oscar Nom for Best Foreign Film

“Sparrows,” an Icelandic film that stars current New York Film Academy student Atli Oskar Fjalarsson, has been chosen by the Icelandic Film & TV Academy as Iceland’s submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, as well as the San Sebastian Film Festival.

The dramatic film is a very delicate, anthropic coming of age story about a 16 year-old boy who is forced to move away from his mother in the comforts of the city, to a tiny secluded fishing village in the middle of nowhere. There he must live with his father and try to fit into a rugged society of skewed social norms.

Ari is an innocent choir boy from the city. His life is turned upside down when he’s forced to leave his home and move to his father that he barely knows, in a place that he left behind a long time ago. It’s hard for him to find footing in this new environment where no one seems to understand or relate to him. Through a series of events, Ari is forced to grow up fast and make decisions that will shape his character forever.

“Rúnar Rúnarsson, the director, is an old friend of mine,” said Fjalarsson. “We did a short together when I was 14 years-old called “Two Birds” that went on to become a critically acclaimed festival gem, and to this date is one of the most awarded shorts ever made.”

A few years later, Fjalarsson reconnected with the director and the two began chatting about upcoming projects. It was at that time that Rúnarsson mentioned his film, “Sparrows,” which he was in the middle of casting for. At the time, Rúnarsson was having trouble filling some of the teenage roles.

“A few months later I did a commercial with Rúnar’s wife, where I shaved my beard clean and cut my hair,” recalled Fjalarsson. “Then the idea first came to light. He called me in for a meeting and took some pictures. He sent the pictures to his producers in Denmark and that was it. I got the part.”

Fjalarsson hopes the film will take people on a journey and show them a glimpse of a world that is unknown to them while still remaining completely relatable.

In addition to “Sparrows,”Fjalarsson is currently signed on for two features that are in development; one of them is French and the other one is American.

20th BRAFF MarketPlace at NYFA South Beach

Recently, the New York Film Academy South Beach hosted a number of filmmaking workshops as part of the 20th Brazilian Film Festival of Miami. The 20th BRAFF kicked off on Sept. 17 with the US premiere of “Enchanted” (2014) — Tizuka Yamasaki’s love story centered in the mythical world of the Caruanas — at New World Symphony – SoundScape Park.

The festival continued from Sept. 17 to the 20 at Miami Beach Cinematheque with two programs: Special Documentaries and the Brazilian Female Film Directors’ Screenings, the latter with a focus on women’s achievements in the audiovisual generating debates on women equality in contemporary society.

The Competitive screenings were hosted by the art deco-style Colony Theatre from Sept. 21 to 24. Films in competition represented a diverse panorama of the latest Brazilian productions.

The two day BRAFF MarketPlace event, which took place Sept. 19 and Sept. 22 at NYFA South Beach, included the following workshops:

Welcome Remarks

Sandy Lighterman, – Film Commissioner – Miami-Dade Office of Film & Entertainment
Adriana Dutra – Founder & Director – Inffinito Festival Circuit & Brazilian Film Festival of Miami

RioFilme, Rio’s Audiovisual Content Promotion and Investment Agency

By Claudia Pedrozo – President – RioFilme

An overview of the mission, objectives and operations of RioFilme’s investment lines, co-production and co-distribution operations and training programs.

RioFilme & Film Commission Int’l Film Project Partnership Platform

By Steve Solot – President – Rio Film Commission

Solot introduced the International Film Project Partnership Platform, where filmmakers are able to get involved with a co-production with Rio Film, which is located in Brazil.

This new and unique initiative aims to generate visibility and provide a contact interface between producers of the city and state of Rio de Janeiro and international actors to perform feature film projects, whether co-production, investment, marketing, agency sales or any other form of international partnership.

“I loved the opportunity to get involved with the industry, said NYFA SB BFA Acting for Film student, Manuel Zota. “I was able to talk about my family production company, and hopefully we will be able to do something.”

Music and Cinema: The Sound as language

By Mo. Rodrigo Toffolo – Orchestra Ouro Preto

Toffolo characterized the sound as acoustic phenomenon, understanding the transformation of its comprehension as a form of art until it gets to the movie theaters. An approach to sound as language.

Book Launch & Cocktail reception

“The Expanding Brazilian Film, Television and Digital Industry”

By Steve Solot – President – Rio Film Commission

Filmmaker Walter Carvalho – Screening & Debate

The event began with a screening of legendary cinematographer and director Walter Carvalho’s latest film followed by a casual filmmaking debate. After showing his work, “Keep the ridgeline, not the fainting plains,” Carvalho opened to a Q&A that transformed into a masterclass where students were able to get some insight from the legendary filmmaker.

“I really liked the talk with Walter,” said BFA Filmmaking student, Ester Meyer Nunes. “He was able to show me so much in so little time.”

“Filmmaker Success Strategies: How to Increase Visibility and Financial Success for your Next Film”

By Joanne Butcher – Independent Producer

Students were given the opportunity to learn insider secrets of the film business — how to translate your creative filmmaking skills to rock your marketing and overcome internal blocks to financial and critical success.

Butcher provided tips on how to improve your chances of success as a filmmaker, discussing a lot about the financial aspect of it. Students were also offered the chance to network with the indie-producer as well.