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NYFA Students Attend ‘Our Brand is Crisis’ Premiere

Recently, New York Film Academy students were invited to the Los Angeles premiere of the political campaign film Our Brand is Crisis. Students from all departments and programs attended the Hollywood event.

A narrative remake of the documentary by the same name, it stars Sandra Bullock and Billy Bob Thornton, directed by David Gordon Green and produced by George Clooney.

The film surrounds a Bolivian presidential candidate who is failing badly in the polls and enlists the firepower of an elite American management team, led by the deeply damaged but still brilliant strategist “Calamity” Jane Bodine (Bullock). In self-imposed retirement following a scandal that earned her nickname and rocked her to her core, Jane is coaxed back into the game for the chance to beat her professional nemesis, the loathsome Pat Candy (Thornton), now coaching the opposition.

But as Candy zeroes in on every vulnerability – both on and off the campaign trail – Jane is plunged into a personal crisis as intense as the one her team exploits nationally to boost their numbers. Our Brand is Crisis reveals the cynical machinations and private battles of world-class political consultants for whom nothing is sacred and winning is all that matters.

NYFA acting student Christopher Rybka details his experience on the red carpet:

Have you ever been to a premiere before?

This was my first time! It was really exciting because I had never been to the TCL Chinese Theater. It was interesting to see the work that goes into the event—celebrities posing in different angles for photos and doing interview after interview with different news sources. They are still on the job even though the movie is done.

Did you go with anyone?

A lot of my classmates were there. I don’t have many occasions to wear a full three-piece suit, so it was great to suit up and see everyone else dressed to the nines. When I got the email saying I had tickets, I called my mom and she flew in from Texas to go with me. She loved it.

Did you see Sandra Bullock?

I saw her from a distance but I didn’t get a chance to say hello or anything. But I did say hi to George Clooney. And the director invited me to the after party, but I didn’t have a ticket. Still appreciated the offer though.

What did you think of the film?

The performances were amazing. As an actor, I was completely enraptured by Sandra Bullock as Jane, and she had great chemistry with Billy Bob. Their rivalry was fun to watch.

Northern Exposure Star Janine Turner Video Chats with NYFA Students on Acting and Activism

On November 18th, acting students from the New York Film Academy Los Angeles were virtually visited by Northern Exposure star Janine Turner to discuss her career as an actress and activist.

Growing up in Texas, Turner started modeling at a young age. At fifteen she moved to New York City on her own dime to become the youngest model at Wilhelmina Modeling Agency. By seventeen she progressed to acting in Hollywood.

After initial damsel in distress characters on shows like A-Team, Dallas, and Knight Rider, Turner cut her hair and studied the craft of acting at the Actor’s Studio. “I made lifelong friends with the people from acting class,” she remarked fondly.

Turner persevered through career lulls because of her personal faith, passion for the industry and drive to succeed. With a broken engagement and eight dollars in her bank account, Turner was on the verge of giving up acting for good. After getting lost trying to run away from Manhattan, she returned to the city to audition for a television pilot. With that audition, she landed the role of Maggie O’Connell on the much beloved ensemble series Northern Exposure.

She explained her acting process to students, following the sensory method. Turner went to the executive producers to learn more about Maggie. With each script she would call her acting coach, go over her scenes and make specific choices for her character. On set, she balanced maintaining her sensory emotive state for the character and remaining her friendly self with the cast and crew. When it comes to the notes from multiple directors on a season, Turner advised, “Listen and be open-minded, but stay true to the character—take what you like and leave the rest.”

Janine Turner has been in notable movies like Cliffhanger with Sylvester Stallone, Dr. T and the Women and hit shows like Friday Night Lights. Her current passion is towards activism. “Thespians are great humanitarians; it’s a wonderful way to feed the soul,” Turner notes. She launched and co-chairs the Constituting America foundation. It’s mission is to educate America’s youth about the importance of the United States Constitution, and encourages them to write and direct short films, PSA, and songs about the founding document and how it has shaped and protects our civil liberties.

We thank Janine Turner for taking time to speak with us and wish her great success with her career and foundation.

NYFA Grad Interviewed on SHOT 97 to Discuss Her Documentary ‘Legacy’

The culture and tradition of Cowboying is alive and well…in Brooklyn. And it’s as Black as it ever was. This was the subject of New York Film Academy documentary graduate Amy Wright‘s film, Legacy, which recently premiered at DOC NYC, along with four other NYFA films.

Wright’s journey with the Federation of Black Cowboys, from urban Brooklyn to rural Virginia, reveals the nuanced intersection of Black culture and American iconography.

“These cowboys have character in every sense of the word, from their quiet integrity to their colorful personalities,” said Andrea Swift, Chair of the NYFA Documentary Department. “Seen through the lens of Amy Wright’s camera, scions of the American West like Captain Lee, Rabbit, Momma, Bug, Magic and Mountain Man fill the screen and the imagination with an unconventional vision of life on the range — if the range were Brooklyn.”

This week, Wright was interviewed by SHOT 97 radio and, for those who missed it, we got you covered!

Catching up with NYFA’s Documentary Guest Speaker Series in Los Angeles

Each week, the Documentary Department invites special guest speakers to its classrooms to provide students’ with an inside look at the professional world of documentary filmmaking. Over the month of October, we welcomed the following industry professionals:

NYFA LA DOCUMENTARY STUDENTS MEET DIRECTOR DAVIS GUGGENHEIM

October 21, 2015

Documentary students from New York Film Academy’s Los Angeles campus recently attended the International Documentary Association’s Conversation Series with guest Davis Guggenheim. Mr. Guggenheim showed clips from his films, from his first documentary, THE FIRST YEAR, following a group of new teachers during their first year in the classroom, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, his Oscar-winning climate change documentary, WAITNG FOR SUPERMAN, his look at public education lotteries, and his latest HE NAMED ME MALALA, a portrait of Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.

Guggenheim spoke about how deeply he has been affected by each of the films he has made. “As filmmakers, we shoot to give people a chance to express their emotions and the issue they are facing,” commented Sasha-Gay Lewis (Fall 14 MFA) “But Mr. Guggenheim confirmed that often the process of filmmaking can be therapeutic for the filmmaker as well.”

FILMMAKER THOMAS G. MILLER SCREENS “LIMITED PARTNERSHIP” AT NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY LOS ANGELES

October 16, 2015

Filmmaker Thomas G. Miller screened his film ‘”LIMITED PARTNERSHIP” for an audience of documentary students. The film focuses on the fight for marriage and immigration equality through the story of the 1975 marriage of Filipino American Richard Adams and Australian Tony Sullivan. The same-sex couple had been granted a marriage license by a courageous clerk in Boulder, CO. Though most heterosexual married couples easily obtain legal status for their foreign spouses, Richard received a denial letter from the Immigration and Naturalization Service stating, “You have failed to establish that a bona fide marital relationship can exist between two faggots.” Their fight lasted for 40 years.

Miller told the NYFA students that he had spent ten years self-financing production of the film until, after six tries, financing finally came through from ITVS. But the wait seemed worth it when the film was premiered on the PBS documentary series Independent Lens just as the U.S. Supreme Court recognized same sex marriage in June, 2015. Rebecca Louisell, a NYFA Instructor and an Associate Producer of the documentary, also attended the screening and Q and A.

DOCUMENTARIAN HARRISON ENGLE SHARES HIS LATEST ‘HATCHING SHAKESPEARE” WITH NYFA LOS ANGELES STUDENTS

October 19, 2015

After a long career and successful career as a director and producer with 80 documentary, television and feature films to his credit, Harrison Engle decided to make a documentary with a crew of one: himself. When Engle met Dr. Melanie Andrews, Artistic Director of the Inner City Shakespeare Ensemble, he knew he wanted to tell the story of the group’s production of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” produced in the summer of 2015. But, Engle told the NYFA students, he knew funding for the film would be tough to find and he did not want to miss the opportunity to film the production of the play. So, using a Sony Handycam, HDR-CX580 fitted with a Sennheiser MKE-400 mini-shotgun microphone, Engle produced, shot and then edited the documentary solo. He admitted the experience of working alone was very demanding in many ways but that it had reinvigorated his lifelong love for the art and process of nonfiction filmmaking.

NYFA Documentary Grad Wins Jury Prize at DOC NYC

New York Film Academy’s Documentary Department is proud to announce that NYFA grad Lara-Ann de Wet‘s Alive and Kicking has been awarded the prestigious “SPIRITED STORYTELLING” JURY PRIZE at this year’s DOC NYC!

As such, there will be an encore screening with all DOC NYC U award-winning films tonight at 7.30pm at the IFC Center in New York City.

Filmed in the heart of Limpopo, South Africa, Alive and Kicking takes us on an emotional journey as the “soccer grannies” take on centuries of taboo simply by playing soccer. Through their camaraderie on the field, the grandmothers erupt into laughter and traditional song, fueling their singular struggle towards decent lives, health and a taste of joy in an otherwise harsh and desolate world.

Director and former NYFA documentary student, Lara-Ann de Wet says she wanted to create a film that celebrates the spirit of African women, as they are often overlooked as the heroes of their society.

Alive & Kicking Trailer from Lara-Ann de Wet on Vimeo.

“How can you not fall in love with the ‘soccer grannies’? In lesser hands, this could have easily become a tragic tale of harsh, nearly unthinkable lives,” said NYFA Documentary Chair, Andrea Swift. “But that would have missed the heart of the story — and of the grannies. So much joy and resilience and insistence on life. You almost forget the pain and brutality of their world. So do they, as soon as that whistle blows.”

Limited seats still available: BUY TICKETS HERE

NYFA Grad Trip Loon’s “Foxy Dude” Voted Top 20 Most Awesome Music Video of 2014

Rock ‘n’ roll is still alive and well, especially for New York Film Academy graduate Trip Loon. His most recent rock video for Hammered Satin, called “Foxy Dude,” has been acclaimed in publications like Rolling Stone and Yahoo, as it is considered one of the Top 20 Most Awesome Music Videos of 2014, along with artists like Ok Go, Basement Jaxx, Arcade Fire and Iggy Azalea. This week, we had a chance to talk to Trip about his video and his career as a budding filmmaker.

How did you begin working with Hammered Satin? Was this an original idea of yours that you had to pitch or something you developed with the band?

I’m actively involved in the rock ‘n’ roll scene. I have a rock ‘n’ roll nightlife blog called The Dead Notes where I report about the best new bands in the rock ‘n’ roll underground with a focus on bands who have influences from the rock ‘n’ roll of the 70’s. I came to meet Hammered Satin for the first time when they played The Bowery Electric back in 2010. Then when I moved to LA in 2011, I got in touch with them and did a story about them for my blog. Over the years they became my strongest allies in my activism to promote this kind of rock ‘n’ roll. It was through them that I was hyped as a videographer, blogger and a music entrepreneur/promoter; and all the other bands in LA and all over America were interested in getting in touch with me to be featured in the media I was producing.

The idea was something I developed with the band. I wanted the video to have a lot of “zingers” (shock value/funny moments) but I was very conservative with my budget that I can only do a few. Noah, the singer of the band, really fought for a lot more zingers and pretty expensive ones too. At first my impulse was to manage his expectations and tell him I can’t. But I’m glad I didn’t because those extra zingers got me Top 20 Most Awesome Videos of 2014 in Rolling Stone.

In your own words, what is the “Foxy Dude” video about?

Initially, I asked the band which song they wanted to select and what they wanted to campaign about themselves. We both agreed that at this stage of the band’s career it’s important to campaign the band’s brand as opposed to the single itself. Once the public knows who Hammered Satin are as artists then we can move on to worrying about campaigning actual singles. After some discussion, we thought “Foxy Dude” was the most strategic song that showcases that.

Hammered Satin is huge on 70’s glam rock and what 70’s glam rock stood for. They want to show the world that they are glamorous, chic, fun, party spirited, cultured, classy and larger than life. The video focused a lot on accomplishing all of those elements. We built a plot of the singer being auctioned off to women and finding love with his guitar player dressed in drag; and then they eventually start a family and have a baby (their bass player). I encourage the audience not to think too much about a “hidden theme.” This is a music video for entertainment and for evoking a sense of wanting to be cultured, high class, chic and fun. And if you saw the video and it got you excited on being that way—and it got you excited on Hammered Satin—then I did my job.

Was your NYFA education useful in terms of being able to direct a video like this?

Yes, absolutely. And not just for this video but for my craft as a filmmaker in general. I feel I should give huge shout outs to Paul Warner, John Loughlin, Claude Kerven, Jack Paglen, Stephen Miele, Mary Samuelson and Robert Dinozzi.

Were you able to build a solid portfolio of work to showcase your talents?

Right now, I have two feature screenplays and three TV shows developed enough that they’re already getting referrals around producers and agencies. I’ve directed three shorts and a number of music videos, TV commercial specs, and a full music web series of seven episodes (30 minutes each) that will be streamed on a major website.

Are you currently working on another project?
Yes, I’m working on a feature length rock ‘n’ roll documentary and more seasons of my music show, Goose Chase, which I have ambitions to eventually sell to broadcast as opposed to just the web. I’m also writing and developing more feature screenplays.

What is your overall goal as a filmmaker?

My goal is to be a youth culture director that portrays the youth culture with realism. I feel that a lot of content creators now portray the youth culture by pandering to parental control pressures, and a lot of producers want to distribute movies to conservative foreign markets in non-European territories—that there’s a very contrived “wholesome” quality in these movies that panders to the cultural sensitivities of those markets. And that doesn’t just go for youth culture movies, it goes to all movies in general.

My favorite era of movies is The American New Wave era in the late 60’s and 70’s. It was the height of the counter culture and it was the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll. The music and movies from that era are what got me enamored with American culture. And it seems that magic is completely missing nowadays. I’m a rock ‘n’ roll maniac. I live it and breathe it. Most of my movies are autobiographical and, if they’re powerful enough, maybe life will imitate art. And maybe some kind of impact is going to happen to the culture because of it as well. Who knows?

Screenwriter Tyler Savage Guest Speaks with NYFA’s Screenwriting Students

Recently, former development exec-turned screenwriter Tyler Savage joined New York Film Academy’s Business of Screenwriting class to tell his journey from going from a one-time development intern to adapting Chuck Klosterman’s novel Killing Yourself to Live for the silver screen. A rare Angelino native, Savage grew up in North Hollywood writing plays in high school.

Savage knew that interning was a great foot in the door, and after college, while still living at home, applied to production companies all over town, eventually landing an internship at Gianni Nunnari’s production company, Hollywood Gang Productions (300, IMMORTALS), which then had a deal on the Warner Bros. lot.

Savage got a rare lucky break, which often doesn’t happen in this business, when, as an intern, he was asked to become Nunnari’s assistant. “We had Immortals going into production and it was a great opportunity.” Savage explained how valuable it was to be in the room and see how the development process worked, and to witness what happened after a writer left the room — who had a good meeting, who had a bad meeting and why. After the movie, Savage stayed at Hollywood Gang and was promoted to Story Editor, but the writing/filmmaking bug never left him.

Before long, Savage got a job working for acclaimed visionary director Terrence Malick after working as a PA on-set and lobbying himself for the position when another assistant left.

First up, Savage worked on a still Untitled Project, about two intersecting love triangles, and obsession and betrayal set against the music scene in Austin, Texas. It stars Christian Bale, Michael Fassbender, Natalie Portman, Rooney Mara and Ryan Gosling among others.

Next, Savage worked on Malick’s film, Knight of Cups, which opens March 4, 2016 and, perhaps apropos, is about a screenwriter living in Los Angeles trying to make sense of the strange events occurring around him. “We had an amazing cast, Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Ben Kinsley, Cate Blanchett.” For his work, Savage received an Associate Producer credit on each of Malick’s film.

All the while, Savage stayed writing, working on his craft with his writing partner, Dash Hawkins. Eventually, Savage and Hawkins wrote an action/thriller script called No Man’s Land that garnered the attention of managers at Madhouse Entertainment. It’s about a former Army Ranger-turned-local-Sheriff who must resurrect his military skills in order to save his troubled son, who’s run away from home and unwittingly into the clutches of a drug cartel operating in the Pacific Northwest.

“The script didn’t sell, but a lot of people liked it and it garnered us fans and exposure, two things you need when you’re starting out.” On taking generals, Savage explained, “It’s important to meet with a lot of people, but you want to find the ones who get your sensibilities. Get your work.” On picking what to write next, Savage explained, “You have to remember you’re not writing this project just for yourself, you’re writing it for an audience – who is it for? I always keep that question in mind when I work on something.”

On working with a writing partner, Savage explained, “It’s like a marriage when you have a writing partner, you have to find ways to work together or it all falls apart. I really like working with Dash, as we help keep each other focused and hit our deadlines.” Answering a student’s question about what makes a good partnership, Savage responded, “I think it’s most important that each feels the other pulls his or her weight and that you set weekly goals that you actually meet.”

Most recently off their writing samples, the writing duo landed the opportunity to adapt Chuck Klosterman’s darkly comedic novel, “Killing Yourself to Live,” about the novelist’s own experiences as a music journalist investigating the connection between untimely death and legacy in music. “It’s a highly anecdotal musical road movie with a lot of emotion and insight,” explained Savage, “We’re really excited to be working on it.”

Tyler Savage lives in Los Angeles and has a period horror feature script that’s out on the market. He is repped by Madhouse Entertainment.

NBCUniversal Presents Career Opportunities for NYFA Student Veterans

NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies, is dedicated to hiring the newest generation of veterans. This week, NBCUniversal Campus 2 Career recruiters spent a few hours with New York Film Academy student veterans as part of NYFA’s Veteran Appreciation Week. The event was sponsored by the Office of Veterans Services, and brought together more than 45 veterans.

“This was an incredible experience for the students to receive real world knowledge and gain creative ways to network,” said Former US Navy member and current NYFA Veterans Coordinator, Eric Brown.

The NBCUniversal Campus 2 Career Internship Program offers one of the most competitive media opportunities in the industry. The internships give students real-life experience, robust learning opportunities on the job and through NBCs campus curriculum. NBCUniversal also offers the “Page Program” to graduates, which is a yearlong program that provides a unique experience within the media industry while also training and developing future company leaders.

NBC Universal Campus 2 Career Internship Program will help NYFA veterans create a cutting edge pathway in media, production and marketing of entertainment while learning from industry professionals.

“This was very exciting and informative in regards to learning about internships for NBC Universal,” said Doug Prideaux, a BFA Acting veteran student. “I really do appreciate them reaching out and helping veterans potentially gain jobs.”

On behalf of NYFA and its Veterans Affairs team, we’d like to thank NBCU’s Internship Program for spending time with our student veterans in Los Angeles.

Kseniya Yorsh on Life After Graduation for International Students

Recently, we had chance to talk with Documentary Grad Kseniya Yorsh, who has been working professionally in Hollywood since she graduated a year ago.

“My main interests and ambitions are producing documentaries and feature films, so that’s what I’m doing. While studying, I was involved in about 50-60 short student and indie projects. After I graduated, I worked on several feature films and TV shows”

Kseniya dreamed of being in the film industry from a very young age, but following advice of others she went to Minsk to study international relations, political science. As a result, at 23, she was running the international business and making good money, but it was taking all of her free time and there was no pleasure for the soul in exchange.

“I didn’t want it to be like that. I wanted filmmaking to be my work, my weekends, my friends. So I left everything and went to the United States to study at New York Film Academy and to start all over again. I thought it’s better to do it at 23 than wake up at 53 and realize that you lived someone’s else life.”

Why did you choose NYFA and how would you describe the education?

Two of my friends went to NYFA for short-term workshops. I was impressed with the results. The 8-week program had dramatically increased their level of professionalism. When I came here I didn’t know what field I should specialize in, so I decided that the short program might be a good start. After I finished the 8-Week Screenwriting Workshop, I knew what I wanted to do and enrolled in the 1-Year Documentary Filmmaking.

Perhaps the best aspect of NYFA is teaching you how to work a lot and fast. You are getting used to an intensive schedule.

Another important component of NYFA is that the school organizes numerous events with successful film industry figures. To see up close all of those talented masters of their craft, who have succeeded in Hollywood, and to be able to communicate with them is priceless. These are practical and accurate advice.

After graduation you don’t have that easy access to all of it anymore, so I’m grateful to NYFA for providing countless opportunities.

What practical advice can you give for those who are looking for a job/project after graduation?

Start looking for a job from the first day of school. Start building your reputation. Make connections. Love what you do and dedicate yourself to it fully. Hard work, passion, dedication, pure intentions and love to the industry will open opportunities for you. Even a sparkle in your eyes and diligence can open doors. Take initiative.

How did you find your first professional project?

A musician I know mentioned that he was planning to shoot a new music video. I offered my help with producing. On the same evening, I sent him a business plan with a budget and the shooting schedule. It was very important to me to do as I say, not just to throw an idea into the air. He accepted the offer, since people love the initiative, which simplifies their lives. And we made the music video.

But it was a small project. My former instructor, who later became my mentor, invited me to work on my first really big project after NYFA. She called me and said that she would be hosting a new talk-show, and that they needed a set PA, who will bring coffee and run small errands. A lot of work, little money. I instantly agreed. After a couple days of work I was promoted, then again. After the show ended, Betsy Chasse came up to me and offered the Associate Producer position of her next film. And from there, the ball got rolling.

nyfa russia — On set of “Poly – Love Beyond Exclusivity” Justin Knodel, Evita Sawyers

What projects are you currently working on at the moment?

Now, I’m in the process of shooting a full-length documentary about coaching. I work there as an Associate Producer. I started working on it back in August 2015. We’ve finished six weeks of shooting in Los Angeles, North Carolina, New York, and Louisiana. Next week we are going to New York and New Orleans again, and then there will be some shooting in Singapore and Italy. The crew consists of people from all around the world. The project is very interesting and the people are great. I love documentary because there are opportunities to meet amazing new people. The shooting process wasn’t easy in terms of organization and logistics, but everything is going well thus far. The movie is scheduled to be released January, 2017, I believe.

I’m also finishing producing a documentary about polyamory, which we shot here in California about several families.

Finally, I was recently contacted by people from Switzerland who asked me to produce a talk-show focused on law. We are currently discussing it. Next year, I have four movies tentatively scheduled—in Mexico, Spain, New Zealand and the US. So there are some nice plans. Hopefully, they will all come through. The films are truly interesting.

What advice would you give to someone who is planning to conquer Hollywood?

Conquer yourself and you’ll conquer Hollywood. Do what makes you happy and not your ego — that’s what I always remind myself, and I tell it to everyone. This helps me to stay down to the Earth in the moments of success, and to choose new projects wisely. Time is invaluable!

We are proud of Kseniya and admire her endless energy. We look forward to seeing her new projects and sincerely wish her success in achieving all of her goals.