The New York Film Academy (NYFA) has been recognized as one of Variety’s Top Film Schools for 2020. This is the fourth consecutive year that NYFA has been included in the annual report, which lists Variety’s selections of worldwide academic filmmaking institutions. The report, The Entertainment Education Impact Report: The Top Film Schools and Educators From Around the Globe is created to identify leading film schools that effectively prepare their students for “successful careers in the entertainment biz.” The report is a reputable resource used by producers, film executives, and rising talent.

The schools chosen annually by Variety are known for their excellence in filmmaking education, guiding their students with “structure and encouragement and artistic expertise.” Due to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the 2020 report also listed colleges implementing remote learning to keep students optimistic and engaged through the pandemic.

NYFA has made special strides to accommodate the needs of the student community. As of March 2020, online workshops are available in film directing, acting, cinematography, documentary, photography, producing, screenwriting, editing, game design, broadcast journalism, and a list of musical theatre online classes. The courses are designed around remote learning and include live interactive instruction and one-on-one sessions with the instructor. Online workshops are also offered through NYFA Australia to accommodate for Asia-Pacific and Australian time zones. Throughout April to June, teens and kids after-school online workshops are also being offered. The instructors who are teaching online workshops are uncovering innovative ways to virtually bring the film industry to the student’s homes.

“Our new online model has worked surprisingly well,” said Andrea Swift, Documentary Filmmaking Chair. “We’re making just as many films, and so far, our students have used the “limitations” of social distancing as opportunities to create some extraordinary work. Creativity loves an obstacle.”

The Variety report continued by highlighting NYFA’s various creative disciplines that “span all forms and platforms,” beyond filmmaking. The piece also called out the large volume of programs at NYFA, including fine arts degrees, graduate opportunities, conservatories, and youth programs. Variety also commended NYFA’s exceptional faculty and staff, who are all working industry professionals that are active in their respective fields. Additionally, the report praised NYFA’s state-of-the-art facilities and equipment at campuses and locations worldwide.

NYFA has been included in Variety’s Entertainment Education Impact Report since 2017. In the first report, NYFA gained recognition for accelerated creative programs. Variety also called out filmmaking accomplishments of NYFA graduates, which included screenings at Venice, Toronto, Sundance, Cannes, and SXSW film festivals. Recently, NYFA alumni from the producing and cinematography programs have worked on exciting projects such as the “Tiger King” and Awkwafina’s award-winning film “The Farewell.”

Variety has been a trusted leader in entertainment and media for over 100 years with analysis, insights, and news regarding film, TV, digital media, music, and theatre.

NYFA is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), and is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). These accreditations extend to all NYFA campuses in the United States and overseas.

On Tuesday, March 3, New York Film Academy (NYFA) had the pleasure of hosting writer, actress, and producer, Naomi McDougall Jones, to discuss her latest book, The Wrong Kind of Women – Inside Our Revolution to Dismantle the God of Hollywood. Liz Hinlein, Creative Director of Filmmaking & Cinematography at NYFA’s New York campus, moderated the event.

Naomi McDougall Jones is an award-winning actress, writer, producer, and women-in film activist. She wrote, produced, and starred in her indie feature film Imagine I’m Beautiful, as well as her second feature film Bite Me, which is available on Amazon and iTunes. Her book, The Wrong Kind of Women, was released in February and is inspired by her TED Talk, “What It’s Like to be a Woman in Hollywood.”

Jones’ book unveils what is behind the curtain of the devastating reality of the Hollywood system, built to keep out generations of women and other minorities from holding key roles in the film industry or having their voices heard. In a stark reality where “5% of top studio films are directed by women and less than 20% of leading characters in mainstream films are female.” In the book, Jones sheds light on the casual, commonplace sexism that fills the Hollywood circuit by sharing stories from on-the-record and anonymous individuals, including her own first-hand experience being put on the outside of the studio system. While introducing the book, Jones even recounted the time she made her first feature film and was told that she would need to have a male producer attached just so financiers would trust her with their money.

Following a live reading of an excerpt from Jones’ book, Hinlein opened up the Q&A by asking Jones, “What is the impact on the general audience, who is consuming content that is predominantly from the white male perspective?” Jones replied that is was important to understand that what we consume can impact our behavior, using examples of the Spielberg film Jaws spiking the fear of sharks among the general public, as well as The Hunger Games opening the door for more female archers to pursue the sport. “That is the power you hold in your hands, and wield it judiciously.”

Hinlein remarked how everyone is indoctrinated to want to be part of the typical Hollywood system and how there is a caste system or, rather, ”the inside” and “the outside.” Jones exclaimed that the most important piece of information that anyone will ever tell you about this business is that “all of Hollywood basically functions as a more demented version of the high school lunch table.” She went on to remark that this system results in a popularity contest that never ends– with even the most well known and celebrated celebs petrified of being on the outside, “even the ones with Oscars,” she warns.

Jones ended the discussion with several reasons to be hopeful. While none of the principle publications in the industry have dedicated a single line to her book, it has been the subject of several important discussions and articles on several platforms from NPR to the BBC, the Washington Post and even Playboy Magazine. Jones noted that one of the largest corporations and producing entities in the world of television has made her book a required reading for their original content writers.

Jones encouraged students to learn from others but to always try your own way when it comes to producing your own film. “Nobody knows how to make money on movies anymore. The distribution companies don’t know, the sales companies don’t know, and you don’t know. So you’re as likely to figure out what works as they are. So share what you learn.” Hinlein then concluded the Q&A by thanking McDougall Jones for coming to speak and for providing her experience to NYFA students.

New York Film Academy would like to thank writer, actress, and producer, Naomi McDougall Jones for sharing her advice about navigating the film industry and her expertise with our students!

Her book is available for purchase online and can also be found at NYFA’s New York campus library.