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The NYFA 20/20 Series: A Conversation with Broadway Vocal Coach Aimée Steele

Guest Spotlight: Who is Aimée Steele?

Vocal Coach for the Broadway revival, West Side Story, Girl from the North Country on Broadway, and collaborator on a multitude of projects including working with the cast members of Tom Kitt’s, The Visitor, at The Public Theater.

Aimée Steele has been teaching in NYC for over 20 years. She received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from The Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a graduate of the Maggie Flannigan Acting Studio where she studied the Meisner technique and has intensively studied the Joan Lader technique with Andrea Green.

It’s All About Confidence

According to Steele, there is often little difference between the seasoned acting veteran and the student starting out in the profession. The seasoned vocal coach notes that when a new student or new professional enters her studio, she takes time to learn how the client learns best. In order to serve him or her with the best support, Steele searches for the unique qualities that the client brings to their performance.

Since acting is considered a highly competitive profession with judgemental environments that often make actors feel lesser than they are, Steele advises new professionals to simply focus on what they love: to sing.

“In this industry, you have to have an immeasurable amount of confidence. We bear our souls.”

Teaching confidence is not an easy task for a vocal coach, but Steele reminds the audience not to compare themselves with others, or even with prior versions of themselves. The best way to achieve a level of confidence that continues to motivate a professional is to focus on the present and the tasks at hand.

Working on Broadway: Maintaining Professionalism When Star Struck

As a vocal coach, Steele collaborated with high-profile named musical directors and actors. She’s only human, so Steele discusses how she manages to work with tenured professionals whom she admired from afar. To avoid getting too star-struck, Steele reminds herself that the client is simply human and they’re here for her services and help.

Often a collaborator on Broadway, Steele has worked with many musical directors on Broadway shows who typically reach out to ask for a collaboration. Oftentimes, according to Steele, the producers will have the final say on whether a vocal coach will be kept on stage throughout the production. The reason being, some productions have very tight budgets, but when there is funding available for vocal coaching, it is recommended.

Vocal coaches grant the bridge of communication between the actors and the musical director. As the most immediate partner to the actor, the vocal coach can provide ongoing tips and reminders to help singers stay on pitch and keep in focus the purpose of their scenes and the entire story.

How to Be Vulnerable

“Voice cracking is ok,” says Steele when considering the performances she’s seen in her work tenure, “Some of the best performances I’ve heard are not by people who are considered real singers.” In fact, the singers who provide the most human energy, Steele reminisces, were the singers that left the most impact. That didn’t translate to perfect pitch.

For those interested in technical advice, Steele notes that while singing solo to the audience, with no one else on stage, you are still singing to someone. Consider in your mind what happened to your character in the previous moment or scene. This should drive the motivation for your singing to achieve the emotional goal. It’s critical to allowing your vulnerability to shine during these moments to give a stellar performance.

Steele teaches both in-person and virtually around the world. Her vocal studio is based in the Upper West Side of New York City and you can learn more about her services and get in touch by visiting www.aimeesteele.com.

About Liz Hinlein and The 20/20 Series

Liz Hinlein is the Creative Director of Filmmaking and Cinematography with the New York Film Academy. During her tenure, she created our popular weekly virtual event, The 20/20 Series.

Hinlein is an award-winning DGA director and graduate of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Her background in filmmaking and media content includes a robust portfolio of work that spans feature-length films, commercials, and music videos for artists including Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears, Quincy Jones, Incubus, and Fishbone.

The 20/20 Series is a pop-up virtual event that takes us into the homes, hubs, and workspaces of an array of dynamic creative visionaries to allow for relaxed, engaging conversations on craft, creation, and artistic vision.

Each conversation with a creative visionary features 20 minutes of discussion with a moderator and a 20 minute Q&A from YOU, the audience.

This event is open to the public, as a means of promoting global connection and creativity, a key mission of NYFA.

You can catch videos from The 20/20 Series as they are released, here.

The NYFA 20/20 Series: A Conversation with Commercial Director Jordan Brady

Guest Spotlight: Who is Jordan Brady?

Stand-up comedian turned Director, Jordan Brady is a self-taught filmmaker with narrative feature films and commercial videos within his professional portfolio.

Brady directs advertising campaigns for global brands and agencies. With a focus on comedy commercials, he has directed comedy giants including Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Keegan-Michael Key, Rory Scovel, and more.

Brady received multiple Clios, National Gold, ADDY’s, Gold Promax Award, One Show, D Show, Pencil, and AICP Awards. His work is routinely spotlighted on AdWeek, Ads of The World, and Agency Spy. You can catch Brady on his filmmaking podcast RESPECT THE PROCESS, described as “The Rosetta Stone of filmmaking.”

What does it mean to respect the process?

For Jordan Brady, it’s important to respect the process. So what does that mean? For those new to filmmaking, the shoot is a day (or many days) of executing a vision. More work than play, Brady experienced his fair share of experiences observing unfocused crew members.

As a director, he understands that while there are opportunities throughout the filmmaking process that encourage play and exploration. However, the day of the shoot is not one of those times. When you arrive to work on set, you should be ready to perform the tasks defined before the big day.

What excites you about directing commercials?

For some, it may be challenging to see the glamour of commercials, but as Brady so aptly put it, “it’s a one-time assignment. So you mount an army of love, and everyone’s in a great mood, because it’s a one day or five-day shoot,” as opposed to feature-length films which can run for weeks at a time.

For those wondering what a strong commercial director looks like, it’s someone like Jordan Brady. According to the expert, the indecisive director is the mood killer. A director needs to be firm in the decisions they choose on set, in addition, focused on the vision.

“It’s ok to be wrong,” says Brady, “but if you set the party train to go in one direction, you better have a good reason to stop.” According to the director, it’s almost better to get the shot even if you change the course or vision afterward.

Given the new world of hyper-short video for social media ads and other mobile platforms, the six-second ad is the new 30-second ad. Described as a liking to calligraphy, it’s important to gather the essence of the vision in about three shots because you are limited on time and resources.

How do you handle the special effects for your shoot?

Hands-down, Jordan Brady believes in doing your homework. According to Brady, you don’t try to figure out the effect on set. The day of the shoot should be kept focused on getting shots. To figure out the logistics of an effect are expensive, time-consuming, and generally not received well by the client.

Brady recommends trying things out before you bid for a job. In fact, for some projects, Brady works with everyday objects and his phone to work out an effect before sending in a bid. Regardless of whether the agency moves forward, Brady graciously gives away comedy bits as a professional courtesy should the content fit the narrative. This is a helpful technique to keep your name on an agency’s radar even if you don’t land a project.

What are the main challenges you face as a commercial director?

For Brady, the biggest challenge is communicating your vision over and over….and over…again. While time management is tough, communicating with an agency, client, actors, assistants, copywriters, and producers can become burdensome.

The one area Brady agrees is NEVER a challenge, is the actual screen direction. For him, that’s the fun part of the job. To achieve success is to simply use your imagination, bring some fun and personability to the set, and bring out the best of your actors by remaining focused on the original vision.

According to Brady, the trending comedic bit across commercials is the awkward ending. The moments of silence at the end with the meta focus and acknowledgment of the silence is an industry favorite.

Keep in touch with Jordan Brady

You can follow Jordan Brady on Instagram by following @thatjordanbrady. You can also see his work on his Linktree.

Don’t miss our next 20/20 Online Series with Liz Hinlein by registering directly on our NYFA Events page. The virtual event is held every Wednesday at 3 pm EST.

About Liz Hinlein and The 20/20 Series

Liz Hinlein is the Creative Director of Filmmaking and Cinematography with the New York Film Academy. During her tenure, she created our popular weekly virtual event, The 20/20 Series.

The 20/20 Series is a pop-up virtual event that takes us into the homes, hubs and workspaces of an array of dynamic creative visionaries to allow for relaxed, engaging conversations on craft, creation and artistic vision.

Each conversation with a creative visionary features 20 minutes of discussion with a moderator and a 20 minute Q&A from YOU, the audience.

This event is open to the public, as a means of promoting global connection and creativity, a key mission of NYFA.

You can catch videos from The 20/20 Series as they are released, here.

The NYFA 20/20 Series: A Conversation with Author and Consultant Thomas Werner

Guest Spotlight: Who is Thomas Werner?

Thomas Werner, Author, Consultant, and Instructor with the New York Film Academy joined global viewers with host, Liz Hinlein for our June 30th 20/20 Online Series. Werner is the author of The Fashion Image with a second book on the way.

Now a Consultant and Founder of TWP Creative Edge, Werner supports artists and students to achieve their goals as they pursue careers in Fine Arts. As a Curator and former Owner of the Thomas Werner Gallery in Manhattan’s Chelsea Art District, Werner built a robust network of art collectors over the years, during which time he developed a keen eye for various qualities of work. It’s from this experience that Werner is able to support students with active, hands-on learning experiences.

Every Artist Needs Funding. What Do I Keep in Mind for Grant-Writing?

Short answer: start small. Thomas Werner advises artists to begin with small funds in order to build experience in the skill of grant-writing. For example, he suggests beginning with $2,000 or $3,000 total funds at a time. Once new artists perfect their writing style based on successes and failures, Werner suggests targeting larger funding opportunities.

A grant is “not about me and my artistic vision,” says Werner, but rather a description of “how you’re going to make that vision happen.” In order to set realistic expectations for a project, writers should remain clearly defined in their scope of work that ultimately fits the mission of the organization. According to Werner, sometimes organizations will ask for budgets, so it’s critical that young artists keep their goals in check. At the end of a project, you will be expected to deliver on what you promised.

An Artists’s Life on Social

Young artists may already have a social media presence on several different platforms. But Werner advises keeping professional and personal lives separate. While artists are human and may be expected to showcase themselves in some of the content they promote, Werner advises keeping the content focused on the work itself. In order to do so, artists may consider creating separate social media handles for the “brand”.

Actively promoting your brand is equally as important as having an online presence. Werner suggests a few channels for emerging artists to showcase themselves and their work. For example, he discusses his own presence on Instagram (you can follow Thomas Werner @thomaswernerprojects) and encourages artists to showcase their work in popup shows.

In-person and virtual networking offer a much-needed avenue for artists to grow their access to collectors. As a former gallery owner, Werner reminds viewers to pitch to smaller galleries alongside larger names. The reason: smaller gallery owners have a huge network of collectors given the fast-paced nature of their work.

Hang in There

Werner offers a few truths. He relays, “no one says ‘ your work is amazing, we’re going to fund what you do’ forever,” which means for emerging artists, grant-writing is an essential part of your career. As a consultant, Werner prides himself on his with students to advance their careers with tactile learning. With him, the interactions are not simply transactional.

Werner takes time to understand his client’s process. For example, he takes time out of his schedule to learn how the artist creates by visiting the studio or area in which they work and notes any blockers as part of the artists’ process. Anticipating criticism is one very real disincentive for artists to actively showcase their work.

As a motivation for those who may be experiencing this fear, Werner shares a story from his own experience starting out in the field. During his early years exhibiting his work, much of his work was severely criticized by his own educators. He says, “the work I exhibited–I was told was awful,” Werner pauses before continuing, “but it sold. That’s why I don’t tell people that their work is awful.”

As Werner advanced his career, he became his “biggest critic.” Now hyper-aware of everything related to his work and his business, he shares that his journey from curator to gallerist offered experiences that enhanced his ability to tune in with the qualities of his work that are more likely to sell.

Get in Touch with Thomas Werner

If you’re a student or young artist interested in learning more about Thomas Werner, his background, or his ongoing support for emerging artists, follow or DM Werner on his Instagram profile (@thomaswernerprojects) or visit his website thomaswernerprojects.com.

Don’t miss our next 20/20 Online Series with Liz Hinlein by registering directly on our NYFA Events page. The virtual event is held every Wednesday at 3 pm EST.

Host Spotlight: Who is Liz Hinlein?

Liz Hinlein is the Creative Director of Filmmaking and Cinematography with the New York Film Academy. During her tenure, she created our popular weekly virtual event, The 20/20 Series.

Each conversation with a creative visionary features 20 minutes of discussion with a moderator and a 20 minute Q&A from YOU, the audience.

This event is open to the public, as a means of promoting global connection and creativity, a key mission of NYFA.

You can catch videos from The 20/20 Series as they are released, here.

Q&A With NYFA Alum Abdulrahman Al Madani on Filming ‘The Monster’ and Recent Work

NYFA Filmmaking alum, Abdulrahman Al Madani shares his personal experience tackling challenges in the filmmaking industry with anecdotes from his own recent work, as well as advice for emerging filmmakers. Al Madani wrote and produced the successful short film, Laymoon, and closing his newest project, The Monster.

Al Madani is a graduate of the One-Year Filmmaking program at the NYFA Abu Dhabi campus from 2014.

New York Film Academy (NYFA): What projects have you worked on over the past several years? Have you won any awards or been showcased in any festivals or competitions?

Abdulrahman Al Madani (AM): My work has comprised of short films, documentaries, music videos, and public awareness campaigns.

Since graduating from NYFA Abu Dhabi in 2014, I have written, directed, and produced two short films including Laymoon (2019), which was a recipient of Sharjah Art Foundation’s Production Grant, and The Monster (2021).

Laymoon was screened all over the Arabian Gulf, including other Arab countries like Lebanon, North Africa, and Europe such as France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, and Norway. The film is currently playing on Etihad Airways flights.

My latest short film, The Monster, has completed post-production recently and is currently being submitted to film festivals worldwide.

NYFA: Tell us more about your latest project & how you got involved in the project?

AM: I started writing The Monster over a year ago. Once the pandemic hit, I pushed myself to develop the script further. By the end of the year, I was ready to go into production and wrapped filming in February 2021. The film is a drama revolving around a young mother named Hessa who escapes her abusive husband, only to find herself pressured by her estranged mother to succumb to his abuse.

NYFA: What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to this project and others?

AM: Being in NYFA was an eye-opening experience in terms of giving me insight into various aspects of production, which allows me to be knowledgeable of everybody’s work on set. Time management, speaking to actors, and writing three-dimensional characters are some of the most important lessons I learned in NYFA which I continue to find useful to this day. In addition, NYFA helped build a filmmaking community that makes it easier to find a group of people you can trust and help one another.

NYFA: Are there any other upcoming projects we should know about?

AM: I am currently focused on distributing The Monster to festivals worldwide as well as developing my first feature script.

NYFA: Do you have any advice for incoming NYFA students?

AM: Allow yourself to make mistakes and do not be afraid to experiment. Learn to take feedback with a pinch of salt; everyone will have an opinion about your work. Making films is the best film school, and you will keep learning as you go. Challenge yourself with each project because being stuck in your comfort zone is the death of creativity.

NYFA INSTRUCTOR SUKI MEDENCEVIC FEATURED IN ‘AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER’ TO DISCUSS AMAZON SERIES ‘THEM’

NYFA Filmmaking and Cinematography Instructor (based out of our Los Angeles campus), Suki Medencevic, was featured in the July 2021 edition of American Cinematographer magazine. Medencevic was one of three cinematographers to capture pivotal scenes on the Amazon Prime series, Them.

Working alongside cinematographers Checco Varese and Xavier Grobetand, Medencevic was brought on to a few different locations to help capture the spontaneity and psychology behind the characters. Medencevic made purposeful choices to emphasize certain surreal scenes using conventional camera techniques but altering lighting and varying camera angles.

Described by ASC following the creator Little Marvin’s pitch as “a 1950s show shot through the lens of a 1970s filmmaker, with the camera tricks of music videos from the ’80s and ’90s, and the technology of the 21st century,” the team of cinematographers embraced a collaborative spirit in order to quilt together shots made by three different professionals. According to Medencevic, “I talked to Checco and Xavier about what I was intending to do because there were some new locations and characters, and we discussed how far I should go in terms of using the language they had established and maybe taking it to another level. I had been on set for quite a few different situations, which gave me the opportunity to get to know everybody and get a clear sense of the style they were going for.”

The series captures the life of a black family after their move to an all-white Los Angeles neighborhood from North Carolina in 1950s post-war America. The show takes a horror genre approach toward exposing the subject of systemic racism. The series is available for viewing on Amazon Prime and received widespread praise for the approach by Directors Nelson Cragg, Daniel Stamm, Janicza Bravo, Craig William Macneill, and Ti West.

From the Amazon Prime series, “Them” (Image Source: TheWrap.com)

In 2010, Medencevic joined the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and was featured in a close-up in the Magazine’s June 2019 edition in Q&A format. Starting his career in 1994, Medencevic now teaches cinematography to students at New York Film Academy’s Burbank-based campus. Medencevic is a valued member of the NYFA faculty, as described by Mike Williamson, Associate Chair of the Cinematography Department for NYFA’s Los Angeles Campus.

“Suki has been doing fantastic work on major TV shows including Them, Stuck in the Middle, and American Horror Story. He’s just started shooting a new series nearby at Warner Brothers Studios, and he tells me that it’s off to a great start. We’re very pleased to have Suki teaching at NYFA, and the students love the lighting classes and camera workshops that he teaches. I know that Suki takes pride in staying up to date on all of the various developments and changes in the field, and he is always eager to share his knowledge and his passion. He’s a great asset in keeping our curriculum up to date.”

Medencevic has worked on films for major studios, including the Disney snowboarding film, Cloud 9 (2014) back in 2013. Medencevic’s professional experience includes feature-length films and commercials featuring high-profile actors including Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, Lauren Bacall, and Janet Leigh.

Uruguayan Filmmakers to Learn Hollywood Production from New York Film Academy

The New York Film Academy (NYFA) is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with the InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB); the Uruguay Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining; the Uruguayan Ministry of Education and Culture through the Directorate of Culture, and the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual; Uruguay XXI, and Punta del Este Studios. Through this partnership classes in Hollywood style movie and TV production will be offered to filmmakers and creative individuals of Uruguayan nationality.

The educational program will cover the fundamentals of production including relevant topics such as Creative Producing, Line Producing, Pitching, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Directing, Sound, Editing, and Entertainment Law.

As the Uruguayan filmmaking industry continues to grow, production companies will witness an ever-increasing need to enhance the filmmaking process of local talent to boost international interest in Uruguayan film. NYFA aims to support this effort by offering specially tailored skills-building training to two distinct cohorts: one for novice filmmakers and one for industry professionals.

“We are pleased to partner with New York Film Academy in this pioneer program to empower the Uruguayan creative industry talent, attract outstanding international projects, boost its exports and to create more qualified employment. The number of interested people in these courses is showing we are on the right track,” said Matías Berdensky, IADB Country Representative, Uruguay.

Classes begin on September 20, 2021, lasting 20 hours per week across a 4-week period. NYFA instruction will be held Monday through Friday from 6:00pm until 9:30pm local time with practicum workshops on the weekends. Courses will be taught by leading NYFA faculty who are also renowned film industry professionals.

“It is an honor and a privilege for NYFA to collaborate with the Uruguayan Ministry of Education and Culture, the Uruguay Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining, the InterAmerican Development Bank, and Punta Del Este Studios to further develop the film industry in Uruguay at this pivotal time when local, national, and regional content creation is sought after in truly major ways. Our professional instructors from NYFA LA and NY campuses are experts in the art of storytelling and production, and we expect exciting results for the creative industry in Uruguay as a result of this multipronged partnership,” stated Dan Mackler, Dean of NYFA’s Los Angeles Campus.

“We are very proud to be part of this strategic alliance which will undoubtedly continue to develop Uruguayan talent and creativity. Qualifying and certifying the local workforce internationally is mandatory for us, and vital for the talents of the new generations to learn and understand the development process, so that their stories travel globally and attract international content developers’ attention. This institutional partnership will improve Uruguay’s international exposure and contribute to develop an international production hub locally,” added Nicolas Aznarez, Founding Partner Punta del Este Studios.

While much of the program will be held virtually, subject to strict health guidelines there will also be in-person learning opportunities available. To make the program more accessible to the people of Uruguay, IADB is subsidizing 75% of the entire program and thus significantly reducing the student fee.

Uruguayan residents interested can apply here; all applications will be subject to an admissions committee review. Applications will be accepted from July 7, 2021, until August 20, 2021. Given the limited space available, acceptance will be based on submission timing and applicants meeting the program requirements.

To further bolster this exciting multipronged collaboration, the National Directorate of Culture, the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual, and Producers Rights Management Entity will be offering the possibility of up to four scholarships for prospective students to cover the extra student fees. Those interested in applying for these scholarships should email [email protected].

About InterAmerican Development Bank

The InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB) works to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through financial and technical support for countries working to reduce poverty and inequality, IADB helps improve health and education, and advance infrastructure. The organization’s aim is to achieve development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way. With a history dating back to 1959, today IADB is the leading source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean. They provide loans, grants, and technical assistance; and conduct extensive research. IADB maintains a strong commitment to achieving measurable results and the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY (NYFA) ALUM ISSA RAE EARNS NOMINATION IN 73RD ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS

New York Film Academy (NYFA) alum, Issa Rae is in this year’s nominations for the 73rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, announced Tuesday, July 13, 2021.

The filmmaking alum was nominated for ‘Guest Actress in a Comedy’ in this year’s Emmy’s for her performance in the HBO sketch series A Black Lady Sketch Show. The HBO series was also nominated for an Emmy in the ‘Variety Sketch Series’ category. As executive producer of the show, A Black Lady Sketch Show is the first sketch comedy to be written by, directed by, and stars all black women.

The actress and producer is no stranger to nominations. Issa Rae was twice nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards in 2018 and 2020 for her performances as Issa Dee in the HBO hit TV series Insecure.

Producing NYFA alum, Lisa Cortés co-directed the Emmy-nominated documentary, All In: The Fight for Democracy, wwhich chronicles the political battle for Democratic Senate seats during the U.S. 2020 Presidential Elections. The documentary was nominated for “Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program.”

NYFA Guest Speaker Jonathan Groff was nominated for “Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie” for his performance in Hamilton. The play has gone on to win numerous awards, including a Tony, Pulitzer Prize, and Grammy Award.

Elizabeth Olsen, one of the many stars in the hit Marvel Studios’ Avengers films and guest speaker at the latest NYFA Q&A-List series with Tova Laiter was nominated for “Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie” for her stellar performance as the Scarlet Witch in WandaVision. The Disney+ series was also nominated in the “Limited Series” after taking off in popularity at the start of 2021.

Another Disney+ series nomination was granted to Legendary Actor, Carl Weathers, for his performance in The Mandalorian for “Guest Actor in a Drama.” Carl Weathers made an appearance as a NYFA guest speaker at our Los Angeles campus Industry Lab Panel discussion in 2019.

Film legend and NYFA Guest Speaker Alec Baldwin was nominated for “Guest Actor in a Comedy” for his performance on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Most are familiar with parody performances as Former President Donald J. Trump, but the actor has a long screen history from dramas to comedies. Alec Baldwin was a guest speaker at a NYFA Q&A-List Series with Tova Laiter, where he discussed the craft of acting to students and faculty.

New York Film Academy would like to congratulate all the nominees for the 73rd Annual Primetime Emmys and looks forward to the ABC broadcast of the virtual ceremony on Sunday, September, 19th, 2021 to be hosted by NYFA’s former guest speaker Cedric The Entertainer.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA

The Boys (Amazon Prime)

Bridgerton (Netflix)

The Crown (Netflix) – Winner

The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)

Lovecraft Country (HBO)

The Mandalorian (Disney+)

Pose (FX)

This Is Us (NBC)

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us

Jonathan Majors, Lovecraft Country

Josh O’Connor, The Crown – Winner

Regé-Jean Page, Bridgerton

Billy Porter, Pose

Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Uzo Aduba, In Treatment

Olivia Colman, The Crown – Winner

Emma Corrin, The Crown

Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale

Mj Rodriguez, Pose

Jurnee Smollett, Lovecraft Country

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Aunjanue Ellis, Lovecraft Country

Gillian Anderson, The Crown – Winner

Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown

Emerald Fennell, The Crown

Madeline Brewer, The Handmaid’s Tale

Ann Dowd, The Handmaid’s Tale

Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid’s Tale

Samira Wiley, The Handmaid’s Tale

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Michael K. Williams, Lovecraft Country

John Lithgow, Perry Mason

Tobias Menzies, The Crown – Winner

O-T Fagbenle, The Handmaid’s Tale

Max Minghella, The Handmaid’s Tale

Bradley Whitford, The Handmaid’s Tale

Giancarlo Esposito, The Mandalorian

Chris Sullivan, This Is Us

GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Alexis Bledel, The Handmaid’s Tale

Claire Foy, The Crown – Winner

Mckenna Grace, The Handmaid’s Tale

Sophie Okonedo, Ratched

Phylicia Rashad, This Is Us

GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Don Cheadle, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Charles Dance, The Crown

Timothy Olyphant, The Mandalorian

Courtney B. Vance, Lovecraft Country – Winner

Carl Weathers, The Mandalorian

OUTSTANDING COMEDY

black-ish (ABC)

Cobra Kai (Netflix)

Emily in Paris (Netflix)

Hacks (HBO Max)

The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)

The Kominsky Method (Netflix)

PEN15 (Hulu)

Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) – Winner

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Aidy Bryant, Shrill

Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant

Allison Janney, Mom

Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish

Jean Smart, Hacks – Winner

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Anthony Anderson, black-ish

Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method

William H. Macy, Shameless

Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso – Winner

Kenan Thompson, Kenan

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Hannah Einbinder, Hacks

Aidy Bryant, SNL

Kate McKinnon, SNL

Cecily Strong, SNL

Juno Temple, Ted Lasso

Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso – Winner

Rosie Perez, The Flight Attendant

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Hacks

Kenan Thompson, SNL

Bowen Yang, SNL

Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso – Winner

Brendan Hunt, Ted Lasso

Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso

Jeremy Swift, Ted Lasso

Paul Reiser, The Kominsky Method

GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Jane Adams, Hacks

Yvette Nicole Brown, A Black Lady Sketch Show

Bernadette Peters, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Issa Rae, A Black Lady Sketch Show

Maya Rudolph, SNL – Winner

Kristen Wiig, SNL

GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Alec Baldwin, SNL

Dave Chappelle, SNL – Winner

Morgan Freeman, The Kominsky Method

Daniel Kaluuya, SNL

Daniel Levy, SNL

LIMITED SERIES

I May Destroy You (HBO)

Mare of Easttown (HBO)

The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix) – Winner

The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime)

WandaVision (Disney+)

MADE-FOR-TELEVISION MOVIE

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (Netflix) – Winner

Oslo (HBO)

Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (Lifetime)

Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Prime)

Uncle Frank (Amazon Prime)

LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You

Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha

Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision

Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit

Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown – Winner

LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Paul Bettany, WandaVision

Hugh Grant, The Undoing

Ewan McGregor, Halston – Winner

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton

Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Phillipa Soo, Hamilton

Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton

Jean Smart, Mare of Easttown

Julianne Nicholson, Mare of Easttown – Winner

Moses Ingram, The Queen’s Gambit

Kathryn Hahn, WandaVision

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Daveed Diggs, Hamilton

Jonathan Groff, Hamilton

Anthony Ramos, Hamilton

Paapa Essiedu, I May Destroy You

Evan Peters, Mare of Easttown – Winner

Thomas Brodie-Sangster, The Queen’s Gambit

REALITY SHOW HOST

Nicole Byer, Nailed It!

Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness, Queer Eye

RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race – Winner

Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary, Shark Tank

Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, Top Chef

COMPETITION PROGRAM

The Amazing Race

Nailed It!

RuPaul’s Drag Race – Winner

Top Chef

The Voice

UNSTRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM

Becoming (Disney+)

Below Deck (Bravo)

Indian Matchmaking (Netflix)

RuPaul’s Drag Race Untucked (VH1) – Winner

Selling Sunset (Netflix)

VARIETY SKETCH SERIES

A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)

Saturday Night Live (NBC) – Winner

VARIETY TALK SERIES

Conan

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver – Winner

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Courtney B. Vance, Lovecraft Country

Carl Weathers, The Mandalorian

Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

“Hamilton” – Winner

“Bo Burnham: Inside”

“David Byrne’s American Utopia”

“8:46” – Dave Chappelle

“Friends: The Reunion”

“A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote”

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

“Hacks” (Episode: “There Is No Line”), Directed by Lucia Aniello – Winner

“B Positive” (Episode: “Pilot”), Directed by James Burrows

“The Flight Attendant” (Episode: “In Case of Emergency”), Directed by Susanna Fogel

“Mom” (Episode: “Scooby-Doo Checks and Salisbury Steak”), Directed by James Widdoes

“Ted Lasso” (Episode: “Biscuits”), Directed by Zach Braff

“Ted Lasso” (Episode: “The Hope that Kills You”), Directed by MJ Delaney

“Ted Lasso” (Episode: “Make Rebecca Great Again”), Directed by Declan Lowney

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

“The Crown” (Episode: “War”), Directed by Jessica Hobbs – Winner

“Bridgerton” (Episode: “Diamond of the First Water”), Directed by Julie Anne Robinson

“The Crown” (Episode: “Fairytale”), Directed by Benjamin Caron

“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Episode: “The Wilderness”), Directed by Liz Garbus

“The Mandalorian” (Episode: “Chapter 9: The Marshal”), Directed by Jon Favreau

“Pose” (Episode: “Series Finale”), Directed by Steven Canals

Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

“The Queen’s Gambit,” Directed by Scott Frank – Winner

“Hamilton,” Directed by Thomas Kail

“I May Destroy You” (Episode: “Ego Death”), Directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel

“I May Destroy You” (Episode: “Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes”), Directed by Sam Miller

“Mare of Easttown,” Directed by Craig Zobel

“The Underground Railroad,” Directed by Barry Jenkins

“WandaVision,” Directed by Matt Shakman

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

“Hacks” (Episode: “There Is No Line”), Written by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky – Winner

“The Flight Attendant” (Episode: “In Case of Emergency”), Written by Steve Yockey

“Girls5eva” (Episode: “Pilot”), Written by Meredith Scardino

“PEN15” (Episode: “Play”), Written by Maya Erskine

“Ted Lasso” (Episode: “Make Rebecca Great Again”), Written by Joe Kelly, Brendan Hunt, and Jason Sudeikis

“Ted Lasso” (Episode: “Pilot”), Written by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

“The Crown” (Episode: “War”), written by Peter Morgan – Winner

“The Boys” (Episode: “What I Know”), written by Rebecca Sonnenshine

“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Episode: “Home”), written by Yahlin Chang

“Lovecraft Country” (Episode: “Sundown”), written by Misha Green

“The Mandalorian” (Episode: “Chapter 13: The Jedi”), written by Dave Filoni

“The Mandalorian” (Episode: “Chapter 16: The Rescue”), written by Jon Favreau

“Pose” (Episode: “Series Finale”), written by Steven Canals, Brad Falchuk, Our Lady J, Janet Mock, and Ryan Murphy

Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

“I May Destroy You,” Written by Michaela Coel – Winner

“Mare of Easttown,” Written by Brad Ingelsby

“The Queen’s Gambit,” Written by Scott Frank

“WandaVision” (Episode: “All-New Halloween Spooktacular!”), Written by Chuck Hayward and Peter Cameron

“WandaVision” (Episode: “Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience”), Written by Jac Schaeffer

“WandaVision” (Episode: “Previously On”), Written by Laura Donney

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” – Winner

“The Amber Ruffin Show”

“A Black Lady Sketch Show”

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”

“Saturday Night Live”

NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY COLLABORATES WITH NETFLIX IN A SUCCESSFUL ASSISTANT EDITOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE LAUNCH IN INDIA

In collaboration with Netflix, New York Film Academy (NYFA) recently wrapped up its first Assistant Editor Professional Development Course in India. Designed to prepare professionals for the needs of the Indian market, NYFA’s course focused on the processes and protocols of assistant editing. Course participants completed in-class modules, going in-depth on specialized topics to help strengthen the assistant editor core in India.

Shawn Sullivan, one of NYFA’s senior editing instructors at the Los Angeles campus, led the editor’s training through each module. Shawn, who is an Avid Certified Instructor with the Media Composer film editing software, also previously worked for Apple and is Final Cut Pro Certified by Apple. Working closely with the NYFA and Netflix teams, Shawn was able to make the digital editing course an absolute success.

“The Netflix team laid out a foundation for us to build upon,” said Shawn. “All the preparation that went into it by the Netflix and NYFA teams shows the level of commitment and professionalism by both teams.”

Netflix and NYFA in India: Recapping the Assistant Editor Professional Development Course
The working editors in the course had a range of preexisting professional skills and real-world experiences. Throughout the workshop, they enhanced their communication and technical skills, quickly learning to apply new techniques to their workflows.

Sidhant Seth called the workshop “really informative and engaging.” “Every class we learned something new,” he said. “This is the first time I have attended a class, and I am able to instantly apply its learning into my daily practice.”

During the program, the participants learned new protocols and processes, such as using a Code Book, that are becoming industry-wide practices in the United States. In addition, they explored Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer and its new features, along with other industry-standard editing software, such as ScriptSync. NYFA, which offers additional online training in Adobe Premiere Pro and Avid Media Composer, is also an Avid Learning Partner.

“[It was] a wonderful program for Avid users,” said Saikat Sekhareswar Ray, one of the editors. “It took all its unused features into consideration and helped people understand the hidden potential of the software and how it may effectively help organise projects without much labour.”

Participants also attended a series of guest lectures that supported and accentuated the concepts of the course. Rob Burnett, an editor on The Office, The Mindy Project, Space Force and Upload, discussed his path through the industry from Assistant Editor to Editor. Throughout the course, participants learned from real industry professionals, which was a highlight for many.

“This has been a wonderful experience,” said Anuja Thakar, another editor in the course. “I got to learn a lot of new processes and develop my skills. Apart from that, being able to interact with industry professionals was a huge boost for our confidence.”

By attending the workshop, individuals also got the chance to expand their personal networks in India’s growing editing community. In addition to learning new skills and techniques from the Netflix and NYFA teams, participants could also connect with each other.

“This program has taught me valuable skills to upgrade my editing skills and shall help me to transition to higher roles,” said Aikeshwar Chaudhry. “It was a great experience to get to know people from NYFA and Netflix India. Plus, the best thing I would say is that now I am a part of a community of young and emerging editors with whom I will share a lifelong bond. Which, for me, is the most valuable experience.”

Guneet Dhar, another editor, agreed. “I am extremely pleased and satisfied by all factions of the program,” he said. “It was organised with great clarity in thought, and that’s what helped us in learning the course with ease. It felt like college without the pressure. It was like sitting with friends discussing your professional issues and working on it. I’m so glad to have met everyone I did here.”

“I was so proud of this group of professionals that took part in the course.” Shawn explained as he reflected on the experience. “They came to every class focused and ready to go. As we neared the end of the course, I witnessed them coming across problems they would have previously found challenging but instead, they were finding an immediate solution. This will take them to the next level of success.”

Amitabh Shukla, Manager, Post-production, Netflix India, said, “The Assistant Editor Professional Development Course provided an immersive experience, global best practices and world class faculty from the New York Film Academy for the next generation of Indian storytellers. We want to continue to invest in the Indian creative ecosystem by offering the right tools, resources and knowledge so the creators can do the best work of their lives with Netflix.”

NYFA is excited to continue bringing opportunities for growth and learning to aspiring visual storytellers and are looking forward to more collaborations in the future with Netflix.

Advance Your Editing Skills at NYFA
At NYFA, students can build fundamental skills in film editing and visual storytelling, giving them the experience necessary to edit feature-length films, television shows, documentaries, as well as social media and web content. Throughout our hands-on programs, students work with industry-standard equipment and work with distinguished faculty who possess professional experience as television or media editors at top networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, ESPN, and The CW. At the end of our editing workshops, many of our students have a selection of their best work to continue building their editing reel.

As The New York Film Academy strives to make education in digital editing and the visual arts accessible to the most diverse, international, and broadest spectrum of students, we look forward to future creative collaborations with Netflix. To learn more about the editing workshops available at NYFA, explore our available digital editing programs.

Broadcast Journalism Update – July 2021 Edition

There are some professional moments you never forget.

Near the top of the list is getting your first Press Card. It is recognition that you are indeed a “journalist.”

Earlier this year NYFA Broadcast Journalism grad Hannah Palmhagen received her Press Card for the Swedish Parliament (Sveriges Riksdag). Hannah took a very non-traditional route to this moment. It was a journey of self-discovery as well as professional training.

Former student, Meiraj Haq also took a unique route to success. He came to NYFA to sharpen his producing/reporting skills and used those skills to produce an acclaimed documentary about then-candidate and now Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. Amazingly, he became a top actor in Pakistani TV dramas! You can still see NYFA featured on Meiraj’s Facebook cover photo.

Being nominated for an industry award is always a great honor. It is your peers going “on the record” in their praise of not just what you do, but how you do it. NYFA alum Kecia Gayle works in the challenging world of entertainment journalism. You can find her on Instagram and on Hollywood Unlocked’s own website.

Of course, if you want to learn about fashion trends and popular culture, you just have to listen to NYFA Broadcast Journalism grad Nicole Abebe on The Beat, 99.9 in Lagos. But if you want to double your knowledge, then check out (do people still say that?) the Abebe family on with the Abebes.

Right now, we are in the middle of a typical New York City Summer. The days are hazy, hot and, humid. If you are a TV reporter, that means just one thing: visit places where people are cooling off. This is precisely what Broadcast Journalism alum Karen Hua did for News12 New York.

Of course, even though it is Summer there are still important stories to cover (especially in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is Winter). One of the biggest stories continues to be COVID-19. Former NYFA student Fernanda Mueller has returned to Brazil, where she is working for NSC Comunicação, a Globo-affiliated company.

“The company has a TV channel, radio station, digital and print media. I work as a multimedia reporter for digital and print. We recently made a video series about food prices. In this video, I talk about how prices of rice and beans have increased in Brazil and the state of Santa Catarina during the pandemic,” says Fernanda.

Even the movies have a serious side, captured in all of its glory by NYFA graduate Federica Polidoro in a recent cover story in Vanity Fair Italia. Federica asked for comments from our own Broadcast Journalism Chair, Bill Einreinhofer.

Evgenia Vlasova and Bill Einreinhofer are in the middle of producing a new Public TV documentary called Unsettled History: America, China and the Doolittle Tokyo Raid. In April 1942, the five American aviators pictured below, along with 59 of their comrades, were rescued from capture, torture, and certain death at the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army. The rescue mission was carried out by Chinese farmers, fishermen and militia members. These Americans either crash-landed or parachuted into rural China and survived thanks to the courageous actions of strangers in a foreign land.

Producer Nancy Hanzhang Shen and Bill Einreinhofer shot the final interview last month, with Prof. Luo Shiping in Shangrao, Jiangxi province, China (centered in the picture below along with the local production team).

The documentary will be distributed by American Public Television in April 2022, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid.