Page 324 – NYFA

Final Hours of the Imagine Film Challenge

The Imagine Film Challenge is in full swing. Team NYFA (aka The Broken Slates) – including over two dozen actors from NYFA – are 24 Hours away from exhibiting Deliver Us, and hopefully “delivering us” a win! NYFA and the other three schools were required to film part of their projects on the Convention floor of the Cable Show.

In a moment of life imitating art, a potential real life protest march interfered with the Broken Slates filming their own protest march. The Convention Center is right next to the Staples Center, where the Clippers play. Right before game-time, there was supposed to be a massive protest rally against the owner of the team (in light of his recent ban from the NBA due to his racist comments). NYFA had to then scramble to find a new location to film their own protest rally, which in the end turned out to be larger than the real-life demonstration.

The team continues to film and edit as this is written, all in preparation for tomorrow’s screening at the Convention Center. Among the judges is Rutger Hauer from Blade Runner!

“I’m very proud of NYFA‘s team for their ambition and work ethic,” says Eric Conner. “And to all of our two dozen plus actors for being part of the project.”

The final films will be broadcast on Shorts TV.

MFA Photography Student Joseph Bornilla Exhibits at Photo Independent

MFA photography student, Joseph Bornilla, exhibited his work last weekend at Photo Independent in Los Angeles. Joseph’s final New York Film Academy thesis project entitled, Chaotic Beauty, is a series of documentary images on the aftermath of the tsunami on the City of Tacloban, in the eastern Philippines. On 8 November 2013, the city was largely destroyed by Super Typhoon Yolanda and Joseph travelled there to photograph during December 2013/January 2014.

Joseph states, “How is beauty possible when incidents like this have left us with so much destruction? These images will not only be a reminder of finding beauty everywhere in the face of upheaval but also give hope, lead us to contemplation and give us strength. One strong characteristic of the Filipinos in such difficult times is resiliency molded by their yearly visitors including tsunamis, storm surges, and earthquakes among others, that made them stand strong.”

Sales from the series will go to the tsunami relief fund. Donations can be made through Joseph’s website: http://www.josephbornilla.com/

Screening of ‘Donnie Darko’ with Producer Adam Fields

Adam Fields NYFA LA — Producer Adam Fields

New York Film Academy Los Angeles students were treated this month to a screening of the cult smash hit Donnie Darko at Warner Bros. studios. Following the screening was a Q&A with the producer Adam Fields, moderated by Tova Laiter.

Although there may be mass confusion as to the meaning behind Donnie Darko, most people can agree that, for one reason or another, they love it. This was the case for producer Adam Fields when he first read the script and decided to spearhead the project. Adam didn’t know exactly what the story was about, but he was deeply drawn to the project. Most notably, the dialogue of the struggling high school students felt more real and moving than anything else he had ever read in that genre. So Adam followed his gut and took on the project. Before he had secured any financing, he went out on a limb and announced a future shooting date in the trade papers. Agents began calling and asking to read the script, their clients loved the material, and soon everyone was interested. This momentum attracted money and eventually Drew Barrymore, who helped complete financing. By believing the project was definitely happening and acting as if it were, Adam Fields manifested the reality he desired.

The value of “trusting your gut” was an important theme of the night. Trusting his gut is also something Adam did when deciding to produce the film Ravenous. Similar to Donnie Darko, this film was obscure and didn’t fit perfectly into any one particular genre like Hollywood likes, but Adam loved it. Without Adam’s enthusiasm for this offbeat script with cannibalistic content and humorous undertones, Ravenous would never have seen the light of day. He was eventually able to convince a studio executive to read the script. Although the executive told Adam that he “hated it,” he didn’t give up. While courting the executive over breakfast, he learned that he was a vegetarian, which explained to Adam why he wouldn’t like a script about cannibals. However, Adam cleverly spun the project as a “pro-vegetarian” piece. Adam was able to help the executive see what he saw in Ravenous and the project was green-lit.

Adam Fields rise to the top was definitely an unorthodox approach. He didn’t care about what was popular or trending and simply pursued those projects that he connected with. His successes, (that he has either produced or supervised) — An American Werewolf in London, Six Weeks, Missing, Endless Love, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Great Balls of Fire, Ali, Brokedown Palace, Blue Crush, and Limitless with Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro — were all the more satisfying because of this. This was an important lesson that Adam taught NYFA students.

We wish Adam Fields the best of luck with his future projects such as Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, The Wedding Ringer, a TV series based on James Mangold’s Copland, and Gone Baby Gone from author Dennis Lehane.

NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY’S 3D ANIMATION CLASS AIRS ON RTVI

Recently, the New York Film Academy in Battery Park welcomed Russian Television International (RTVi) to document a hands-on 3D Animation lecture taught by Animation Chair, Robert Appleton and Cinematography Chair, Sal Interlandi. The television piece was part of a half-hour program, which highlighted 3D animation, and aired on RTVi television March 15th, 2014. RTVi is an international Russian-language television network with studios based in Moscow, New York City, and Tel Aviv.

The specific class was a special green screen workshop, which is an integral component of NYFA Animation’s compositing class. Green screen technology is a visual effects technique that allows the filmmaker to layer separate shots over each other, giving the illusion that the character is in another location; for instance, in a desert or in space.

Instructors Robert Appleton and Sal Interlandi used the shot in the compositing class in conjunction with chroma key compositing, which is a post-prodution technique that layers two images or video and streams them together based on color hues. The green background is vital for chroma keying, as the digital camera’s sensor is very sensitive to that wavelength.

At the present time, NYFA is using Nuke compositing software, as it is the industry standard. Also of note is that the school uses RED cameras (which are widely recognized as the best video camera on the market) for green screen work.

The video above is Part One of the half-hour special that aired on RTVi. The New York Film Academy segment begins at minute 6:00.

Award-Winning Legal Affairs Correspondent to Conduct Workshop for NYFA Broadcast Journalism Students

For more than a decade, Grace Wong has covered dozens of high-profile court case. Working first for Court TV, then for CNN’s sister network truTV, on Friday, May 2 she brings her expertise to the New York Film Academy.

Grace is an expert in a field with a number of unique challenges. First and foremost, you have to explain the circumstances and the personalities involved in a specific case. Next you need to put this particular case within the context of a complex legal system. Then you must communicate what happened in court on a given day, and how it fits in with the testimony and evidence that preceded it.

Now, do this every day for a month…

Grace Wong will make a formal presentation, including samples of her work, and then will participate in a Q&A session. The workshop will be moderated by Emmy Award-winning news producer Bill Einreinhofer, the Chair of the Broadcast Journalism department.

The class starts at 10:00am, and takes place on the Battery Place campus. Current, former and potential NYFA students are invited to attend.

NYFA One of Four Schools Competing in the Imagine Film Challenge

New York Film Academy is excited to announce that we will be one of four schools competing in the Imagine Film Challenge at the Cable Trade Show in LA. With just a few days left, NYFA’s Team (The Broken Slates) is prepping their drama Deliver Us, the story of one man’s attempt to lead a peaceful protest in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

The hitch: The Broken Slates has only 48 Hours to shoot AND edit this ambitious film while having their behind-the-scenes work filmed by Shorts TV. No problem, right? Not for Laura Perez Rebullen (Writer/Director), Tripp Townsend (Producer), Gabriel Chavez (Cinematographer) Javier Rojas (Line Producer) and the rest of Team NYFA.

What drew you to the Imagine Film Challenge?

Laura: The possibility to reach audiences on a different level. (I wanted to) create awareness about issues that are happening all around the world, including my home country of Venezuela.

Tripp: Having Laura come from a country where there is such a need for peace, you just know that there is real passion and an extra responsibility towards such a project.

What’s the biggest obstacle in making this movie in 48 Hours?

Gabriel: The scope of this film is unlike anything we have attempted before. Shooting the film in a concise and compelling way will be the greatest challenge for me as a cinematographer as one could easily be bogged down in the spectacle of the film.

Javier: We are doing a really big, ambitious project with so many extras and a lot of locations in a small amount on time

Tripp: But with the support that we have received from both our school and the community, it tells me that no matter the challenge, we can overcome it.

What’s your secret for making it through all 48 Hours in one piece and getting the film done?

Gabriel: We’ve all done other 48 hour competitions before and have a fairly established work mantra going into every competition. With this one, the key is pre production. A film of this scope simply would not be possible without the extensive pre production we have been doing.

Javier: Our secret is the crew and wonderful cast that we have. I have plenty of confidence in them and think that we’re gonna do a project that everyone is proud of.

Laura: Trusting my crew. To me that’s the most important thing and the secret to a director’s sanity. It is also important to know what you want. Speak your mind in a respectful manner and be a good listener. Also, do your homework during prep. Be prepared for anything. And coffee, lots of coffee, possibly chocolate chip cookies too.

NYFA Students to Compete in Music Video Competition

The New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, in association with director/producer D. Channsin Berry, is holding a music video competition open to NYFA LA students.

The director and producer of such noteworthy documentaries as Dark Girls and The Black Line (Profile of the African-American Woman Part 3), Mr. Berry has recently formed his own music company September Soul Music and is giving students at NYFA LA the opportunity to submit ideas to direct, produce, and edit music videos for two of his artists. The songs include “Movin” by R&B/Adult Contemporary artist Electric Blue Man and “Extremes” by R&B/Pop artist Corey Cross.

Producing instructor and Chair of Diversity Development Cheryl Bedford, who recently moderated a panel on Black Hollywood at NYFA LA that included Mr. Berry, says, “NYFA’s Black Hollywood Panel has brought together wonderful partnerships. These are excellent opportunities for our students!”

Students who are eligible to submit their pitches to Mr. Berry are second or third year honor students and each candidate must put together a crew of NYFA LA students in good academic standing. The music video for Corey Cross will be performance-based while Electric Blue Man’s treatment should be smooth and classy, along the lines of Pharrell Wiliams’ “Happy” music video. The location is a small sound stage and a white cyc, allowing students a great deal of freedom in bringing their pitches to life. Both music videos will be shot on the same day, encouraging students to keep their ideas inexpensive and of high quality. Mr. Berry will then actively promote the music videos, offering students a chance to get their names out in the entertainment industry.

Students interested in participating should submit their ideas to [email protected] by Monday, April 28^th. A committee will then narrow the field down to five finalists, each of whom will have five minutes to pitch his or her idea to Mr. Berry.

NYFA Grad Tackles the Struggles of Adopting Children in New Documentary

Michael Dudko, a graduate of the New York Film Academy, has worked for over 10 years as an independent film producer and director working in various formats – from animated 3-D, narrative, and documentary films to television products, programs, commercials, infomercials, and music videos. In 2013, he completed his first documentary feature, Kids’ Rights: The Business of Adoption, which was acquired by Cinema Libre Studio.

The documentary dissects the trials and tribulations of today’s adoptions process. Adopting a child means undergoing rigorous assessment marked by bureaucracy, paperwork and often, an outlay of cash. After personally witnessing Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s failure to adopt, filmmakers Michael Dudko and Olga Rudnieva ask themselves if they are fit for parenthood. Their investigation of the regulations, cultural prejudices, and child trafficking policies behind the process takes them from the slums of Ukraine, through China, and the US. They speak with prospective parents, social workers, lawyers, psychologists, and adoption agencies to find a flawed system that allows millions of orphans to languish in foster care and learn that children lack the most basic human rights.

Olga had been working as the executive director of the Elena Pinchuk AntiAIDS Foundation, where she was in charge of launching and managing major project of the Foundation. One project was Sir Elton John’s charitable concert devoted to HIV/AIDs in cooperation with the Elton John AIDS Foundation. A few years later, Sir Elton and his partner David Furnish returned to Ukraine to observe the progress being made in the fight against AIDS. They had never considered having children until they visited Makeevka Orphanage, which is dedicated to children born to HIV positive mothers, and met a young boy named Lev. They were prepared to adopt Lev and his older brother Artyom, but the Ukranian government said no, claiming that homosexuals have no right to become parents.

“Our main inspiration for making the film is our strong desire to build a new society where the children’s rights would be considered before anything thing else,” says Dudko. “By making this film we hope to fight against this injustice and draw the public’s attention to what children really need: parents.”

Kids’ Rights: The Business of Adoption will be available on DVD starting May 20th, 2014 with Streaming Video and Download-to-Own options starting June 20, 2014.

NYFA Grad Julie Pacino Launches Unofficially Unlimited

Former New York Film Academy student, Julie Pacino, co-founder of Poverty Row Entertainment, recently teamed up with Los Angeles based producer Chidem Alie (Samsung, BMW, Emotional Branding) to create content for brands. To kick off the launch, Poverty Row threw a party this past Friday at their NYC location in Chinatown. The celebratory event turned out to be a packed house that included actress Julia Stiles, who will star in their upcoming Mary Pickford biopic, The First.

With over a decade of producing and branding experience working with world-class artists like David LaChapelle and brands like Puma, the new venture, Unofficially Unlimited promises cutting-edge advertising solutions for brands globally.

Unofficially Unlimited is a creative content driven boutique that specializes in newborn brands that are just entering the realm of the living, as well as older, more established brands that are looking for a rebirth or transformation. UU is all about smart, edgy, provocative, fresh, relevant, and artful content.

“Our expertise is channeling your essence and delivering content that expresses the specific philosophy, feeling, allure, and authentic nature of your brand.”

The partners at UU are collectively experienced in narrative storytelling, corporate and non-corporate advertising, high-concept events, and can function as image consultants, content producers, as well as marketing and branding specialists. Content can come in all shapes and sizes, be expressed in various mediums, and show across all platforms from theaters and television, to online channels and mobile devices, to billboards and street art.

“The role we play within your journey is all about the needs and desires of the brand combined with a strategy that suits those specific needs.”