Page 360 – NYFA

New York Film Academy Cinematography Graduate Shoots in Singapore

Thirty Second [NYFA Commercial] from Michael Zaw on Vimeo.

New York Film Academy graduate Michael Zaw is actively working in the Singapore television industry as a Director of Cinematography. Since graduating from the January 2011 one-year cinematography course in New York, Michael has worked for the History Channel, Crime and Investigation Channel, Channel News Asia, and Singapore Local Channels.

Michael says that formal training helped him to distinguish the choices he can make in filmmaking and the differences between techniques and elements. He adds, “I am proud that I was in NYFA…I miss NYFA and NY very very much. I kept in touch with all my classmates, I love them so much.”

7 Hottest Australian Actors in Hollywood

Let’s face it: Australian actors are hot. And I don’t just mean physically. Australian actors are the buzz from Broadway stage icon Hugh Jackman to sexy Hollywood seductress Nicole Kidman. New York Film Academy has new filmmaking and acting one-year programs and short term workshops beginning in February 2012 in Australia, which has me wondering what bewitching talent will apply to this year’s workshop. Check out our ranking of the most irresistible Australian accents:

1) Alex O’Loughlin. Ok, so maybe his IMDB doesn’t have the same prestige as Leonardo (DiCaprio – keep up) or Ben Affleck, but he played opposite Jennifer Lopez in The Back-Up Plan and had me swooning. Vampire fans out there should check out his Moonlight character. His best quality? O’Loughlin doesn’t talk about his relationships, past or present. It is nice to have a Hollywood actor keep his life private for once.

2) Cate Blanchett. I don’t know many other actresses who can make a KGB agent (Indiana Jones), the Queen (Elizabeth: The Golden Age), and musician Bob Dylan (I’m Not There) all alluring characters. Half the time I don’t even realize I am watching Blanchett because she is so good at taking on different roles. Most seductive moment on screen goes to her leg extension in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, as she dances in the red dress for Brad Pitt.

3) Hugh Jackman. The man is versatile, ribbed, and oh yeah, he sings. From playing Wolverine in X-Men to his Tony Award winning stint in Broadway’s The Boy From Oz, Jackman has charisma, charm, and talent. The three-time Tony Awards host and 2009 Oscar host is on my Valentine’s Day shortlist.

4) Nicole Kidman. You can’t take your eyes off. Kidman will upstage any other actor with her 5’10.5” figure, deep voice, and tantalizing glow. Don’t believe me? Check out Kidman as a singing, dancing courtesan in Moulin Rouge! The movie is filled with colors, costume and choreography and yet Kidman is the only thing I can watch the minute she enters the frame.

5) Simon Baker. Ok, New York Film Academy actors. Your mission is to steal my heart in the same way Baker did in Devil Wears Prada. I have never wanted the bad guy so much before. The blonde curls, the devilish smile. The Mentalist actor has my heart.

6) Russell Crowe. His intelligence and depth came through in A Beautiful Mind while his rocking arms were the subject of Gladiator. Next up on his plate is Inspector Javert in the celebrity-infused film of Les Miserables. Curious? I am.

7) Liam Hemsworth. Not that Miley Cyrus should be an authority on men, but in this case she picked well. Hemsworth made sitting through The Last Song almost bearable. Almost.

So there is a definite runner up list. Sam Worthington (Avatar), Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) and Eric Bana (The Time Traveler’s Wife) all made the cut.

New York Film Academy Presents Honorary MFA Degree to Golden Globe Winner Tippi Hedren

New York Film Academy was thrilled to bestow an Honorary MFA Degree on Golden Globe Winner Tippi Hedren, the only woman to have been directed by both Alfred Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin. The event took place on Friday, January 20th, following a screening of The Birds and a Q&A with the incredible actress.

In a packed house at Universal Studios, New York Film Academy students asked Tippi questions about her prolific film career and animal rights work. Check out this excerpt from BroadwayWorld.com on the exciting event!

Tippi Hedren in Hitchcock film The Birds

One of the few remaining and working “Hitchcock blondes,” Hedren told the story of getting her start in modeling and commercials before being discovered by Alfred Hitchcock. Despite having an often-difficult relationship with him, she spoke highly of the director, saying, “I was so fortunate because I had him, not only as my director, but as my drama coach, which was an absolutely wonderful experience.” She added, “He spoiled me terribly. You almost didn’t know he was directing.”

The enthusiastic students asked questions about the icons Hedren had worked with over the years, including Sophia Loren, Jessica Tandy, and Marlon Brando. When asked about her on-set relationship with “Marnie” co-star Sean Connery, Hedren said, “If you have an affair with someone, it shows in your eyes, and I wasn’t about to jeopardize that character for a moment — not even for Sean Connery.” After a brief pause, she joked, “I kind of regret that now.”

The actress spoke at length about her extensive animal rights work, a cause that is dear to her heart, saying, “Some people are just born with a great love of animals.” She invited students to visit the Shambala Preserve (Shambala.org), a wild animal preserve Hedren founded in Acton, CA. The preserve is home to over 50 big cats, including lions, tigers, cougars, and leopards.

As a final question, Hedren was asked about her thoughts on the state of Hollywood today. She simply stated, “I hope that Hollywood gets past all these films that feature special effects as the star, as opposed to true thespians and gets back to some real stories that can affect people and change lives … and don’t even get me started on TV Reality programs,” eliciting a roar of applause from the audience. Ms. Hedren was presented with an Honorary MFA degree in Acting for Film from the New York Film Academy at the end of the Q&A. “Students have already be asking for her return,” says the programs moderator and the Masters Instructor for NYFA, Chris Devane. “We were quite honored she was able to speak with the students and since the event they have not stopped speaking about how honest and forthright she was about the business they are about to get into!”

“Talking to students of all ages is a welcomed invitation, which I accept most gratefully and with anticipation,” adds Ms. Hedren. “I accepted the date to speak to the students at the New York Film Academy and am thrilled with the knowledge and interest shown by the students. Their devotion to film is exciting and invigorating. Their questions were well thought out and the excitement about their career choice made the hour fly by. Being honored with the Master of Fine Arts Degree from the New York Film Academy is an accolade I shall carry with great pride and appreciation for the remainder of my life. I am eternally grateful to the faculty and the administration of the Academy for this very grand prestigious award of merit.”

New York Film Academy Acting Teacher Appears in 2012 Oscar Nominated Film

New York Film Academy Acting Instructor Valorie Hubbard

New York Film Academy acting instructor Valorie Hubbard can add another credit to her extensive résumé: actress in an Oscar-nominated film. Valorie played a supporting role in A Better Life, the touching drama whose lead, Demián Bichir, received a Best Actor nod on Tuesday.

“I’m so excited for him. He’s such a great actor. And I think it’s really important for Latino talent,” said Valorie. On working on the set, Valerie comments, “I was working on 2 movies the same week, both small productions. They had me come for 2 hours in a costume fitting for my 3 lines in the film. What that tells me is that they care about their project.”

Valorie said, “When I got to the set, Jami Gertz [who was a producer on the film] welcomed us and thanked us for doing their movie. I was made to feel like it was an ensemble event. I was excited about telling the story, because it’s a story that needs to be told.”

A Better Life tells the story of an illegal immigrant and his struggles to improve life for his teenage son while working as a gardener in Los Angeles. After the nominations were announced on Tuesday, Bichir sent out a press release, stating, “I dedicate this nomination to those eleven million human beings who make our lives easier and better in the U.S.” He added, “I’m overwhelmed for having my name among those incredible actors. This could have never happened if Chris Weitz had not been the head of this film. He is my brother and I thank him deeply.”

Director/producer Chris Weitz brought the film for a screening at New York Film Academy in November as part of his Oscar campaign. At the Q&A that followed, Weitz said he was really hoping that Demián Bichir would be nominated for the Academy Award for his stunning performance in the film.

Valorie on the set of Billy Bob Thornton film Manure

Valorie, “I’m really happy that I’m a part of it. I’ve dreamed of accepting an Oscar since I was a little girl, and now I feel like I’m closer to my dream.”

Valorie has been an instructor with New York Film Academy for 12 years, starting at the New York City campus before moving to the campus at Universal Studios. In addition to teaching her NYFA classes in Scene Study, Business of Acting, and Text Analysis, Valorie recently completed the film A White Trash Christmas with Eric Roberts and Beverly D’Angelo, and plays Richard Kind’s wife in Divorce Invitation, alongside Jamie-Lynn Sigler. Both films are currently in post-production. The busy actress is also currently working on a web series, and is doing motion capture for a big-budget video game.

New York Film Academy’s Tips to Becoming a Casting Director: You Asked – We Answered

YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED!

Check out these great New York Film Academy tips for casting your own films:

DETERMINE WHAT ROLES YOU WANT TO CAST: The first step of casting your film is to decide what roles you need to fill. Focus on the lead roles (larger parts) first, deciding which factors are important for each character.

Questions to consider for each part: Age? Gender? Height? Ethnicity? Any unusual personality traits? Do they need any special skills such as ability to sing or play an instrument?
You do not need a breakdown for every character. Many smaller roles can be cast from people that you auditioned but didn’t end up casting as the lead.

CREATE A CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: For each character, create a breakdown that lets an actor know what you are seeking. More descriptive adjectives help to paint a picture for actors to let them know if they are right for the role. A good description can also give them more information to prep for the audition:

EXAMPLE 1:

“Micaela – FEMALE. 18-24. Any ethnicity. Sally is a slightly-overweight, pessimistic person with a gambling problem.”

“Robert – MALE. 35-40. White. Must be bilingual in Spanish/English. Sharp-tongue. Manipulative con man masquerading as a Spanish teacher.”

SUBMIT YOUR BREAKDOWN ONLINE: TIP: Create a free email account such as [email protected] where actors can send their resumes and headshots. Emails can get bulky and you want to avoid spam in your inbox!

There are several places to post your breakdown for free. Consider posting on Mandy.com, Actors Access, NY Castings, and Craigslist. You can also check out Backstage, a paid casting service that has some great talent (and many Union actors).
When posting, have a sentence or two about your film ready to go, including the genre. If you there is any nudity in the project, you MUST post this in the writeup. Also, some sites will require you to indicate if the project is Union/Non-union and Fully Paid/Lo/No-Pay.

SCHEDULE YOUR ACTORS: Expect the resumes and headshots to start pouring in. Keep in mind that it may be more difficult to find some types of actors through these free casting services (i.e. Japanese 7 year old kids, 64 year old men) but you will receive a high volume of resumes for more common actor types including characters in the 18-24 range.

Determine which actors you want to audition.
Book a room or space where you can cast the project (try to avoid using a living room, as this can make actors uncomfortable).
Email or phone each actor and book them for a time slot of 10-15 minutes. You can book two actors at the same time to read against each other. Try to space out actors with breaks every 45 minutes in your schedule so you can discuss the auditions and collect your thoughts.
Be sure to email every scheduled actor a reminder with the time of their audition, the location of the audition, and anything extra they should bring (IDs are required for some buildings. If you are required to give a security guard an advance list of names, ask actors if their name is the same as that on their ID – many use stage names and may not be let in if the name you provide doesn’t match the name on the license).
Send sides if available. A side is an excerpt from a script that has lines you would like the actor to read at an audition. You do not need to send the whole script – just a scene or part of a scene. Make sure to save this as a PDF so that it can open on any computer.
Optional: You can leave a voicemail reminding actors of their audition 24 hours in advance. Though a bit more work, these personal voicemails can be the difference in an actor showing up or letting you know if they are running late.

THE DAY OF THE AUDITION!

Come early. Get there in advance to set up the room. Consider bringing a camera (though ask your auditioning actors before you film anything).
If there is security in the building, make sure they have the most up-to-date list of actors that will be coming. If you are allowed, post signs showing where to go in the building.
It can be helpful to have all auditioning actors fill out an info sheet that says NAME, CONTACT, CONFLICTS (if you already know your shooting dates), UNION/NON-UNION, HEIGHT, etc. In this way, you have a record of every actor even if they don’t bring a headshot, and a place to take notes on their performance. Also put out extra copies of the sides for actors to study and use in the audition in case they did not print them.
If you have time, let every actor read twice. Even if they are great the first time around, give the actor a direction to read differently to see how they respond to your feedback.
DON’T HIRE AN ACTOR ON THE SPOT. Be sure to thank the auditioning actors on their way out. Be honest about when you hope to cast the film if they ask. However, you don’t know who will walk in next. AGAIN, NEVER HIRE AN ACTOR ON THE SPOT.

MAKING THE FINAL CASTING DECISION:

Consider ever actor you saw. How was their performance? Are they good to work with? If you are casting characters that play family members or have a romantic relationship, you may want to consider a callback with your top choices to have different combinations of actors read against each other.
When you cast the project, keep your second and third favorite actors on file as backups.
If you have the time, it is always nice to shoot an email to actors that simply says, “Thank you for auditioning for our film. We do not have a role to offer you presently but appreciate your time and will keep your headshot on file for future projects!” Though it is not required to send a thank you, even hearing a “no” can sometimes make an actor’s day, since many casting directors will never contact them again unless they booked the job. And do keep good headshots/resumes on file – you may have a friend casting a project or an actor fall through and need to refer to these. Even if an actor isn’t right for the role you are casting, they may be perfect for the next one!!

GOOD LUCK!

Have more questions? Contact New York Film Academy’s Industry Blogger Mandy Menaker at [email protected] or Tweet at #NYFA! We want to hear what you have to say!

New York Film Academy Graduate Working on The Bachelor!

New York Film Academy graduate Josefine Klemm is working on the latest season of popular ABC series The Bachelor. Josefine, a native of Germany, participated in New York Film Academy’s eight-week screenwriting workshop and and two-year screenwriting conservatory course at NYFA’s Los Angeles – Universal Studios location. NYFA takes a moment to catch up with Josefine about her new position at ABC and life after film school!

New York Film Academy graduate Josefine Klemm at graduation

Thanks for taking the time to sit down with the New York Film Academy blog, Josefine! Are we correct in thinking you took multiple courses at New York Film Academy?

In September 2009 I started with the 8-week screenwriting class in L.A. and I liked it so much that I decided to sign up for the 2-year screenwriting class in 2010. It was a great experience; I wrote several feature screenplays, TV specs, an original pilot, learned how to pitch, shot my own webseries, met Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, Robert Towne and other idols. It was an incredible experience and on top of it I made some incredible friends in my class.

Josefine meets New York Film Academy guest speaker John Carpenter, writer of Halloween and Escape from New York

What types of projects have you worked on since studying at New York Film Academy?

NYFA and specifically our business-of-screenwriting teacher has always pushed us to find internships so that we receive more hands-on experience. Throughout the two years, I interned in three different production companies including one for David Lonner, who is J.J. Abram’s manager, and I continued with that after school gaining great insight into the business side of Hollywood.

I’ve been writing for German TV shows since 2004 (for example the German “Ugly Betty”) and I continue to write for German production companies; there are various projects at different stages of development. The screenwriting classes have helped me tremendously to improve my writing skills.

In October 2011, three months after I graduated, I was hired at “The Bachelor” on ABC.

Congratulations! What type of work do you do for ABC’s The Bachelor?

There are more then ten producers on the show and I’m their Story Assistant, which involves a variety of tasks to include analyzing footage, finding specific clips, sitting in on screenings etc. It’s something new every day really. In the past years my focus has been on fictional story telling so now is the time to learn everything about documented filming. Reality Television has become a permanent fixture in today’s world and it is a fantastic experience to be a part of the team on one of America’s most successful formats.

What has been the most fun moment working on the show? Any embarrassing moments you are willing to share?

The most fun moment was my first screening. For weeks and weeks I combed our footage for something we call the “supertease” – the best and most picturesque moments of the season. Seeing it in the screening, how it all came together, was great and totally worth the weeks of searching. The only embarrassing moment I can think of is spilling my lemonade all over my desk in the first week. The keyboard and mouse went dead and I had to get new ones. Oops. Great first impression, Josefine.

Josefine enjoys the Hollywood Hills between classes

What comes next? What are your goals in the entertainment industry?

My goal for this year is to stay in L.A./ the U.S., which isn’t easy if you’re not a US citizen. Hopefully it will work out so I can keep working in the industry here. I also want to finish my scripts that I developed while at NYFA. It’s definitely a challenge to find the time to work on my own material while meeting the high demands of a successful TV show such as “The Bachelor.” NYFA definitely helped me to get to where I am right now, because they prepared me very well for what to expect after graduation and without NYFA I would have never met this great group of writers and friends who keep pushing me to write even after graduation.

New York Film Academy Graduate Books National Commercial for Honda!

New York Film Academy graduate Beto Ruiz has booked a national commercial for Honda. Ruiz just graduated from New York Film Academy’s January 2011 One-Year Acting for Film Conservatory at the Los Angeles – Universal Studios location.

New York Film Academy graduate Beto Ruiz

Comments Beto on booking the role, “Its a funny story because it’s one of those good things that come out of sad ones.” Beto first booked a national commercial for Walmart through an audition at a casting agency, but ended up being unable to make the shoot dates due to a family emergency. The casting director remembered Beto and called him to audition for a McDonald’s campaign, which Beto also booked but lost when the client didn’t want to file SAG paperwork. Says Beto, “It seemed like it was never going to happen, but suddenly the casting director gave me the sweet third call to invite me to the Honda Audition and after the callback they called to tell me they were fine with doing the SAG process for me and that the commercial was mine.”

Beto says “the shoot was amazing; a very professional environment, so many people involved, each and everyone of them focused…I had to practice my precision driving skills while I was following the camera around downtown, while another one was shooting us from a big truck. We had some police patrols escorting us while driving around downtown as we stopped traffic and passed some red lights, which was fun.”

Beto poses in front of the Honda car used during filming

On booking the shoot, Beto adds that his training at New York Film Academy helped prepare him: “After a while working on camera over and over for class projects and production workshops I can say I gained plenty of knowledge that helped me with the booking of this project. John Henry’s teachings in Acting for Film class helped me develop a sharper sense of the camera presence and feeling more natural around it, in addition to his many tricks he passed on us his students. Eye line, warming up exercises and lots of film vocabulary made it easier for me to book it. “

Beto is now working on a web series called “Bibi the Witch.” Beto plays the lead, a news reporter from the real world who is transported to Bibi’s magical wold each episode. New York Film Academy looks forward to seeing Beto’s national television spot air!

New York Film Academy Broadcast Journalism Graduate Wins Award in Italy!

The shorter cut of New York Film Academy graduate Emanuela Zuccalà’s award-winning documentary NON E’ UN PAESE PER GIOVANI

New York Film Academy graduate Emanuela Zuccalà has won third place in the RacCORTI Sociali Film Festival in Florence, Italy for short documentary No Country For Young Men (also translated as It’s Not a Country for Young People) about revolutionary youth in the Gaza Strip. Emanuela, who took the eight-week Broadcast Journalism intensive at New York Film Academy’s New York campus in January 2011, filmed and produced the project in summer 2011 after graduating from the course.

Image from Emanuela’s short documentary

The judges of the competition comment that Emanuela handles “the complex issue of coexistence of the younger generations of the Gaza Strip, struggling on the one hand with the devastation of a war exhausting and agonizing, and, on the other hand, to the tradition of customs of a rigid palestinian education tax by Hamas.” In their decision to award Emanuela, they add, “the synthesis of the images and the choice of narrative structure are of a clarity praiseworthy.” The film was also shortlisted at Premio L’Anello Debole 2011.

Emanuela is a freelance contributor to the magazine Io Donna, the Saturday supplement of the main Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera. Outside of the magazine, she takes time to concentrate on independent projects including Girls from Yeoville, a short documentary Emanuela filmed in October 2011 about the rapes in South Africa. The film was produced by the Italian ngos Ecpat Italia Onlus and Mais Onlus and sponsored by the Italian company Eurovo. Emanuela’s forthcoming projects include a video documentary about Saharawi women in Algerian refugee camps and in Western Sahara, and a book about Italian women who are part or victims of ‘ndrangheta, the most powerful mafia in the South of Italy and Europe.

Emanuela adds, “thanks again to NYFA! It was a great experience for me…I had never even picked up a camera before attending a course!” Follow Emanuela’s blog at http://emanuelazuccala.blogspot.com/

New York Film Academy Graduate’s Feature Film Gets Into Sundance!

Graduate Philip Dorling (left) is interviewed by his former instructor Tassos Rigopoulos (right) at New York Film Academy

New York Film Academy Graduate Philip Dorling is headed to Sundance for the second time! Philip, who graduated from New York Film Academy’s One Year Filmmaking Conservatory in New York, directed short film Predisposed as his thesis, which played at Sundance Film Festival 2009. Three years later, Philip has completed the feature film of Predisposed, which has just been announced as a late entry to Sundance 2012.

Jesse Eisenberg, Tracy Morgan, and Melissa Leo in Predisposed

The film was one of only four late entries selected to screen at the festival. The list includes This Must Be The Place featuring New York Film Academy acting graduate Eve Hewson, daughter of Bono, opposite Sean Penn and Frances McDormand. In a statement from the festival, John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival, noted, “Each of these four films is an accomplishment in its own right, and collectively, their addition to our program allows us to present a broader look at independent filmmaking. With these four films, we will present a total of 117 feature-length films at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival – a strong indication of the vitality of the independent film community.”

Philip and Tassos

Predisposed was written and directed by Philip Dorling and Ron Nyswaner and stars Oscar Winner Melissa Leo (The Fighter), Oscar Nominee Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), and Emmy Nominee Tracy Morgan (30 Rock). The film follows Eli (Eisenberg), a piano prodigy dealing with his troubled mother (Leo) on the day of his audition for a prestigious music program. When Eli enlists help from a hapless drug dealer (Morgan), events begin to spiral comically out of control.

Philip visited New York Film Academy in November to screen the short and talk about the process of developing the piece into a feature, fundraising and finding investors, and working with A-list talent. During the Q&A, Philip commented that the key way the short developed was in adding more humor to the script. Philip had just sent the film to Sundance that week, and New York Film Academy is thrilled to celebrate Philip’s acceptance!