Page 4 – NYFA

NYFA & Sony Music Video Collaboration Is The Official Selection at Sidewalk Film Festival

We’re thrilled to share that the groundbreaking music video “Country Song II” by The Thing, created in collaboration with Sony and Cooke Optics, has been selected for the Sidewalk Film Festival!

NYFA Students, Faculty, and Alums Partner with Sony and Cooke Optics on The Thing’s “Country Song II” Music Video

This project, featuring Brooklyn’s own music artists Jack Bradley, Michael Carter, Lucas Ebeling, and Zane Acord, was brought to life by a dedicated team of NYFA students, alums, and faculty. Using cutting-edge Sony cameras and Cooke Optics gear, we captured stunning visuals that truly showcased The Thing’s incredible talent.

NYFA & Sony Music Video Collaboration Is The Official Selection at Sidewalk Film Festival

Back in October 2023, NYFA students, alumni, and faculty joined forces to create a professional music video. Now, the Brooklyn-based music group is headed to the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Alabama. Selected as part of the “Shorts: Music Videos” category, the collaboration piece will screen on August 24, 2024 at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Tickets can be purchased on the Sidewalk Film Festival website.

The band features Jack Bradley and Michael Carter on guitar, Lucas Ebeling on drums, and Zane Acord as the frontman, handling vocals and bass.

“Getting the opportunity to work on this project was such a joy for me,” said Ben Rummans at the time of the collaboration. Rummans, an alum of NYFA’s 1-Year Certificate in Filmmaking program, was the co-director of the music video. “Having the chance to collaborate with titans of the industry like Sony and Cooke was such a great experience, and reuniting with my NYFA friends, mentors, and classmates made the experience that much better,” said Rummans. “I’m especially happy that we got to work with such a talented band, The Thing; uplifting local artists is a goal toward which we should always strive.”

Filmed by Piero Basso, AIC, and Chair of the Cinematography Department at NYFA’s New York City campus, the filming took place at the production space Zero Space Brooklyn. The official selection is just one of many recent film festival achievements in the NYFA community.

Create Your Own Films at NYFA

NYFA students have a lot of opportunities to get involved with fellow peers on creative projects. Our hands-on curriculum is designed for students to create their own short films and performances, enabling them to build practical, real-life creative skills. NYFA also offers resources such as our film festival department and an expansive alumni network.

NYFA’s Film Festival Department

NYFA’s Film Festival Department, run by Crickett Rumley, is an additional pillar of support for students.

The Film Festival Department supports matriculated students and alums of NYFA’s long-term programs. The department helps students:

Evaluate if a film will be competitive in the film festival world
Create a submission strategy
Craft a list of festivals to submit to and attend
Learn how to save money on entry fees
Develop festival deliverables (EPKs, trailers, and social media assets)
Learn how to avoid low-value film festivals, scams, and fake awards

Students and alums who have worked with the Film Festival Department have been selected by the Sundance Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival, as well as the American Pavilion at Cannes. Please note that working with the department is offered to students and recent alumni in long-term programs with films made in NYFA courses.

NYFA’s Alumni Network

After graduating from NYFA, students in long-term programs can enroll in our international alumni network, providing access to professionals in the film, television, and entertainment industries. The network helps students connect with other alumni and opportunities, read the latest alumni success stories, and build vital relationships.

Students can also stay up to date with the latest film festival successes from students and alumni. From screening at Cannes to Tribeca, NYFA’s alums continue to wow us with their determination, creativity, and drive.

Getting Started at New York Film Academy

Want to bring your dream of submitting to film festivals to fruition? Learn more about enrolling in a long-term filmmaking program at New York Film Academy today! Prospective students can also submit a request information form to connect with an admissions representative.

NYFA Summer Camps at the Beijing Film Academy

New York Film Academy’s Summer Camps for Teens & Kids returns to in-person learning at the Beijing Film Academy this August 2024. Students from across China gather for a week of hands-on learning, exploring their creativity and honing their filmmaking skills.

Dr. Joy Zhu, NYFA’s Executive Vice President for the China Region, inspires students with a speech about the unique opportunities available at the camp. Guided by experienced NYFA instructors, students develop their abilities in directing, screenwriting, camera operation, and editing while forming connections with peers who share their passion for storytelling. The camp concludes with a graduation ceremony where students showcase their short films. This experience celebrates the talent of young filmmakers and reinforces NYFA’s commitment to global education.

Acting for Film 1-Semester Program & Workshops in Italy Running This Fall

Beginning September 22, 2024, NYFA’s campus in the historic city of Florence, Italy will offer credit-bearing semester-length programs and short-term workshops in Acting for Film. These programs are designed to be hands-on and intensive.

At NYFA’s Florence campus, you’ll be immersed in a unique cross-cultural experience with other creative individuals from around the world while challenging yourself in a hands-on, intensive environment. The program and workshops provide a strong foundation in acting techniques, voice, movement, and filmmaking essentials. This comprehensive approach helps students, whether new to acting or looking to brush up on their skills, build confidence and expertise in front of the camera.

Acting for Film 1-Semester Program & Workshops in Italy: What You’ll Learn

In NYFA’s hands-on Acting for Film programs, students learn the fundamentals of acting and how to apply them to the screen. Through on-camera exercises and film shoots, students learn to strengthen their audition skills and how to apply new techniques to elaborate scene work. A few examples of exercises students complete include:

How to create and deliver a monologue.
How to break down your inhibitions to bring multiple dimensions to a role through voice and movement exercises.
How to deliver a scene by acting out scenes from published screenplays and through improv techniques.

Please note that classes are taught in English, and designed for students fluent in the language. Non-native speakers may need to demonstrate their proficiency or participate in NYFA’s English language programs.

Available Acting for Film Programs and Workshops

The acting program and workshops available in Fall 2024 include:

Click any of the above links to learn more, or feel free to reach out to our admissions team for information! To see all NYFA Florence programs, visit our program dates and tuition page.

Who Should Apply

NYFA’s Acting for Film 1-Semester program & short-term workshops in Italy are ideal for a diverse group of students with a passion for film and acting. The programs explore the art and craft of visual storytelling and are ideal for students looking to immerse themselves in an intensive, creative environment. In our experience, there are a range of individuals who would benefit from attending, including:

Study Abroad Students

Students who wish to earn college credits* while experiencing life in a culturally rich and historic city like Florence are a great fit for NYFA programs. The study abroad program is designed to provide a unique educational experience in a creative global setting.

Working Professionals

It’s never too late to pursue your passion! At NYFA Florence, working professionals interested in acting can learn new skills while exploring an international city. Classes are taught by experienced industry professionals who actively work in their respective fields, providing students with valuable insights and ample networking possibilities with their peers.

Gap Year Students

High school graduates who want to take a break before entering college can attend NYFA programs and workshops. Students who want to experience a different culture can get a taste of being out on their own before making a long-term commitment to a school or discipline.

About Studying in Florence

Italy’s enduring beauty and mesmerizing landscapes have long inspired artists, poets, and dreamers. From the rolling hills of Tuscany, dotted with vineyards and olive groves, to the sun-drenched Amalfi Coast, where vibrant cliffside villages overlook the sparkling Mediterranean, the country provides an ideal canvas for creative expression. Landmarks like Rome’s Colosseum, the exquisite Duomo in Florence, and the romantic canals of Venice all contribute to Italy’s unrivaled charm, making it the perfect setting for some of the most iconic films.

Florence is renowned for its rich cultural and artistic heritage. The NYFA campus is located in a historic building near Piazza Santa Croce, providing an inspiring backdrop for creative work. The city itself, with its art, architecture, and history, serves as a living classroom for students

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NYFA • Visual & Performing Arts College (@newyorkfilmacademy)

In an Instagram Q&A with Diana Santi, Head of NYFA Florence, Diana discussed Florence’s cultural infusion and our hands-on industry approach in Europe – a must-watch if you are considering joining NYFA in Florence!

“It’s fascinating because the city inspired artists for centuries, and the students here can feel it. It’s a magical place,” she said.

Find Your Acting for Film Program at NYFA

NYFA Florence has a range of programs for prospective students to explore! In addition to our programs in Italy, NYFA has similar study abroad programs at other campuses, including a semester-long program at NYFA Australia that is concentrated over ten weeks. NYFA also offers the possibility to learn acting for film from anywhere through a variety of online acting for film workshops.

*Students interested in receiving transfer credits as part of their studies with NYFA should confirm the credit policies with their academic institution as the acceptance of transfer credits is always governed by the receiving school.

NYFA makes no representation that credits awarded by NYFA will be accepted or applied toward the completion of any degree or certificate program by any other postsecondary institution.

To learn if your school has a specific articulation agreement with the Florence campus, please email us at studyabroad@nyfa.edu.

NYFA Alum Jasmine M. Blow Interns for Upcoming Ryan Murphy Show

Jasmine M. Blow, an alum of the New York Film Academy’s (NYFA) MFA Feature Track Filmmaking Program in Los Angeles, recently had the incredible opportunity to intern on a Ryan Murphy TV production. In a recent interview with NYFA, Jasmine shared her experience on the show, the lessons she learned, and the excitement of working behind the scenes on a major Hollywood project.

NYFA Alum Jasmine M. Blow Interns for Upcoming Ryan Murphy Show

Landing an internship on a Ryan Murphy production was a dream come true for Jasmine. With the guidance of her NYFA instructor, Lee Gordon, and encouragement from the head of the Career and Alumni Services Barbara Weintraub, Jasmine polished her resume and quickly secured an interview.

“I’ve always been a fan of his work from American Horror Story to Ratched and, of course, Pose. I HAD to be a part of his latest work,” Jasmine shared. A few short hours after submitting her application, she received an email from Maria, the Production Coordinator, inviting her to interview.

Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life

From communicating with the 1st ADs and Assistant Coordinator to distributing script sides and call sheets, Jasmine experienced the unique rhythm of a production environment. “The production was very much a ‘hurry up and wait’ scenario,” she explained. She enjoyed the flow of tasks and appreciated the opportunities to learn on the job, including file/record keeping, coordinating travel, and even making some unusual pickups—like a wig for a certain NFL player and taxidermy.

One of the most memorable aspects of the internship was the supportive environment, especially working in an office with a majority of women. The camaraderie and bonding, including learning sign language from a colleague named George, made the experience even more special. “The guys in the office were great as well. Doug, George, I love you much! LOL,” Jasmine added.

Jasmine’s Journey to NYFA

Jasmine credits her time at NYFA for preparing her for the demanding nature of a professional set. “I think what I took from NYFA was the level of communication needed to make such a massive ship run effectively as smoothly as possible,” she says, likening a production to a ship where every role, big or small, is crucial. The experience honed her skills in people management, multitasking, and asking the right questions—valuable lessons she carries forward in her burgeoning career.

Jasmine, originally from Santa Ana, California, now resides in Burbank. During the pandemic in January 2021, she decided to refine her skills by enrolling at NYFA. The comprehensive MFA Filmmaking program offered her the chance to delve deep into directing, screenwriting, and production design, her favorite subjects. “I’ve always been a creative, a storyteller, and wanted the formal education to refine those skills I already had and take my creativity to the next level,” she reflected.

Jasmine’s journey from NYFA to interning on a Ryan Murphy production is a testament to her dedication and passion for filmmaking. Her story is an inspiration to aspiring filmmakers, showcasing that with the right education, opportunities, and attitude, dreams can become a reality. And as Jasmine aptly puts it, no job is too small in making the production “ship” stay afloat.

Congratulations on all of your hard work, Jasmine!

Get Hands-on Experience at NYFA

At NYFA, students get hands-on experience creating films from their first day of class. This experiential and immersive approach allows students to gain practical skills by writing, directing, shooting, and editing their own films, as well as working on their classmates’ projects. This method helps students build a comprehensive understanding of the filmmaking process through real-world experience.

Ready to learn more about the NYFA experience? Request more information today!

NYFA Hosts Beijing Film Academy for Co-Production Workshop

From July 8-17, 2024, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) welcomed graduate students and faculty from the Beijing Film Academy to its Los Angeles campus for an immersive co-production workshop. This initiative underscores NYFA’s commitment to fostering global educational exchange and providing hands-on film training.

Graduate students and faculty from the Beijing Film Academy at the NYFA Los Angeles campus for a Co-Production Workshop.

The workshop covered key areas of filmmaking, including screenwriting, directing, cinematography, and post-production, culminating in the production of a short film. This successful partnership, which originated in 2015 and resumed this year, highlights the creative synergy between American and Chinese filmmakers. The workshop and partnership reinforce NYFA’s dedication to advancing the art of visual storytelling through cross-cultural collaboration in film education.

MFA in Producing Alum Helen Sun Wins at One Earth Film Festival

Helen Sun, a recent MFA in Producing graduate of the New York Film Academy, and fellow filmmaking student Laura Malatos, tied for the Sally Stovall Award for Creativity in the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest for their short film Throwaway Living. With a prize of $1,000, this top award will be shared with Bohdana Bihdan, a student filmmaker studying in Plymouth, England, who won for her film Ocean Monologue. The contest is a part of the Chicago-based One Earth Film Festival, currently in its 11th year.

About Helen Sun’s and Laura Malatos’ Throwaway Living

Throwaway Living is a 4-minute film that portrays a 1950s housewife praising the convenience of plastic products, such as disposable plates, plastic-wrapped sandwiches, and disposable diapers. The story takes a twist when she receives an ominous phone call from the future, warning her about plastic.

In their submission, Sun and Malatos explained, “Our short film ‘Throwaway Living’ is a farcical satire, inspired by real post-war advertisements that heavily pushed plastic as the new way of living. Looking back on them through the lens of today’s plastic pollution catastrophe, they are both absurd and frightening. We made this film to emphasize this tragically pivotal corporation-driven push while shining a light on the current plastic crisis. . . . But as with most of our work, we wanted to package this heavy topic into colorful entertainment and dark comedy to invite more people into this conversation.”

Throwaway Living will also receive an Environmental Action Award of $500 from Beyond Plastics. Each winner will also receive a matching gift of $500 to donate to a non-profit that aligns with the theme of their film. Sun and Malatos split their donation between the Plastic Pollution Coalition and Beyond Plastics.

The One Earth Young Filmmakers’ Content

The One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest invites students aged 8 to 25 to create a 3- to 8-minute environmental film that inspires action or change. Animated or stop-motion films must be at least 45 seconds long. The annual submission deadline is June 25. Starting in January 2025, a jury of 31 film and environmental experts will evaluate the submissions. Learn more about the jury and reserve tickets here. The call for entries for the 2025 contest will open soon on Film Freeway.

Reserve tickets at tinyurl.com/yfc24awards.

Over the past year, the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest received 400 submissions from 55 countries and 36 U.S. states. Winners include representatives from Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Poland, and the United Kingdom. The Global Award Celebration will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 22, at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago or virtually anywhere in the world. A special screening will also be available for those in the Asia/Pacific region. Adam Joel of Aggressively Compassionate will host the event, introducing the winners before their films are premiered.

Submitting to Environmental Film Festivals

Film festivals with an environmental theme play a crucial role in raising awareness, fostering dialogue, and inspiring action on environmental issues. Here are a few film festivals where aspiring filmmakers can submit their environmental films to!

Environmental Film Festival in DC (DCEFF)
Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Nevada City, California
Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival in Toronto
Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF) in Golden, Colorado
Frome International Climate Film Festival in Frome, England
Environmental Film Festival Australia
UK Green Film Festival

These festivals provide platforms for filmmakers to showcase their work on environmental topics and for audiences to engage with pressing ecological issues through the medium of film. Please note that this is not an all-encompassing list, and some festivals may have specific requirements for submission.

NYFA students can learn more about the film festival submission process by working with our Film Festival Department. To learn more about attending NYFA, request more information today!

BFA Students Build Set From Scratch in Hands-on Production Design Workshop

This July, the Spring BFA class took a creative leap with their Production Workshop, focusing on the often-overlooked aspect of production design. This hands-on experience was not just about theoretical learning but truly diving into the practicalities of building a film set from scratch. The theme for this workshop was centered around crafting a detailed “rural cottage” set, showcasing the power of imagination and resourcefulness, even on a tight budget.

“The students did a phenomenal job on the production designs of the set (the focus of this Production Workshop), getting their hands dirty,” said instructor Arsenio Assin. “The assignment saw them building and painting, sourcing props and weathering them, placing a multitude of elements, that gave the set an amazing texture and atmosphere. Once the set was dressed, the lighting, camera, and acting all worked harmoniously together to create a sublime homage to Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal”.

The iconic film is a Swedish allegorical drama set in medieval Sweden during the Black Death. The story follows Antonius Block (played by Max von Sydow), a knight returning from the Crusades, who is disillusioned by the suffering and death he has witnessed. Upon his return, he finds his homeland ravaged by the plague. Confronted by the personification of Death (Bengt Ekerot), Block challenges Death to a game of chess to delay his inevitable demise. Throughout the game, Block seeks answers to profound questions about life, death, and the existence of God, but Death remains elusive and unresponsive. Widely regarded as one of Bergman’s greatest works, the film is a classic in world cinema.

This choice to find inspiration in Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal” provided a rich narrative framework. It also allowed the students to delve into a thematic exploration of life, death, and existential questions.

BFA Students Build Set From Scratch in Hands-on Production Design Workshop

Traditionally, the class would opt for an exterior nighttime shoot, a choice that often comes with its own set of challenges, from lighting complexities to logistical issues. This year’s project offered a viable alternative, proving to be a lot less taxing both budget-wise and in terms of logistical planning. By focusing on a controlled indoor set, the students could concentrate more on the creative aspects of production design without the stress of external variables.

What made this project particularly remarkable was the choice of materials. The students embraced a cost-effective approach, using painted craft paper and cardboard to construct the set. This method not only kept the expenses low but also challenged the students to think creatively.

Get Hands-on Experience at NYFA

NYFA’s hands-on projects, exercises, and workshops are designed to provide practical experience. These skill-building activities serve aspiring visual storytellers well in their future filmmaking endeavors, reminding them that the power of storytelling lies in the heart and soul of creators.

Ready to learn more about NYFA? Request more information from our admissions team today!

NYFA Proudly Sponsors Two Major Film Festivals Granting Students Access to Hands-On Networking and Interactive Opportunities

This summer, NYFA partnered with two film festivals to amplify diverse voices in the film industry and create unparalleled opportunities for their students. NYFA hosted three master classes in partnership with the 2024 American Black Film Festival (ABFF); and allowed students the opportunity to participate in LGBTQ+ films, networking events, and more at New Filmmakers LA.

The American Black Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to empowering Black talent and showcasing film and television content by and about people of African descent. Dedicated to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, the festival was conceived in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the Black entertainment community by fostering resource sharing, education, and artistic collaboration.

Each year, the ABFF conducts networking events, screenings, and awards nights in South Beach, Florida, near the NYFA Miami campus. This year, three master classes were hosted at the NYFA Miami campus, and two were conducted by NYFA instructors Patrice DeGraff-Arenas and Miguel Parga. DeGraff-Arenas’ course, entitled, “Act It Out: Scene Exploration with Patrice DeGraff-Arenas”, was an intensive, two-hour long workshop focused on Acting for Film. Parga’s course, “Low Budget, Big Film: Filmmaking with Miguel Parga,” tapped into the art of filmmaking in a packed room of festival goers and students.

In attendance at this year’s ABFF, Mike Gauyo and Amy Aniobi, writers on hit shows Ginny & Georgia and Insecure, respectively, taught a third master class called, “Write Here, Write Now! A Mock Writers’ Room with Mike Gauyo & Amy Aniobi”, which focused on screenwriting for television. Issa Rae was the Creative Director of the American Black Film Festival this year and NYFA is thrilled to have the opportunity to reconnect with her. Rae is an alum of NYFA LA’s 4-week filmmaking program from 2005 and with this year’s event, NYFA was able to help support her creative vision for the festival as well as host a writer from her well-known HBO series, Insecure, as a masterclass co-teacher on NYFA Miami’s campus.

A handful of selected students were invited to volunteer at this year’s highly anticipated ABFF. Volunteers and student representatives took over NYFA’s social media accounts for the weekend, were able to attend screenings of new films like Swoon and Tyler Perry’s Divorce in the Black, as well as participate in “Creative Conversations” with Issa Rae, and “Friday Night Vibes” with the cast of popular shows like All American and All American: Homecoming.

“Attending the American Black Film Festival on behalf of the New York Film Academy was an experience like no other. It was an exciting and eye-opening journey, one in which I had the opportunity to meet and connect with different people in the industry from comedians to stars of Tyler Perry’s The Oval, filmmakers, and other actors,” said Shari-Fay Bowen, NYFA Miami student and festival volunteer.

At the NYFA Los Angeles campus, students, along with Crickett Rumley, NYFA’s Senior Director, Film Festival Department, attended the LGBTQ+ focused film festival, hosted by New Filmmakers LA, with a special reception by SAG/AFTRA. Students were treated to two short film programs, including four world premieres, and the Los Angeles Premiere of Student Emmy Award Winner Benjamin Howard’s debut feature, Riley. At the SAG/AFTRA reception, NYFA LA students were able to walk the red carpet and network with some of the biggest up-and-coming filmmakers in Los Angeles, as well as other student filmmakers in the metro area. In an ongoing partnership, New Filmmakers LA and NYFA collaborate on festivals for each month of the calendar year, filled with student opportunities.

“Through our partnerships with top-notch festivals in our campus cities, NYFA is not only demonstrating thought leadership; we are also able to offer special opportunities for our students and recent alumni. From attending the New Filmmakers LA LGBTQ+ cinema event to volunteering for the American Black Film Festival, our community is enriched with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the festival world and current cinema as well as network with peers and industry professionals alike. What a win-win!” said Crickett Rumley, Senior Director of the NYFA Film Festival Department.

New York Film Academy’s partnership with various film festivals across the country enables the school to offer discount codes on student film submissions, tickets, and event passes for students to attend screenings and events at these film festivals and develop unique perspectives. Coming up in 2024, NYFA continues its partnership with New Filmmakers LA through events and screenings at their monthly festivals. NYFA will also be continuing the partnership that started last year with the New York Film Festival, hosting screenings of festival selections to high schools and colleges in the New York City area, along with NYFA’s own students.

Beijing City University Visits NYFA New York City Campus

On July 19, 2024, the New York Film Academy’s New York City campus welcomed students and a faculty delegation from Beijing City University (BCU). This visit marked the conclusion of a two-day workshop led by David Mager, Chair of NYFA’s Photography Department, and underscored the rich cultural exchange between the two institutions.

NYFA President Michael Young greeted the delegation, emphasizing how photography can transcend borders and foster global connections. During the visit, BCU students gained insights into the art of storytelling and the craft of photography, while experiencing NYFA’s hands-on educational approach. Many of these students expressed strong interest in applying to NYFA for further education.