No single position has more to do with the creative, technical, and financial aspects of making a film or TV show than the producer. They hire and they fire and work hand in hand with film studios and TV networks. They develop the material, hire the writers, and find the buyers and financiers. They oversee script development, casting, hiring of the crew, locations, distribution, film festivals, and so much more. Ultimately, the producer is the most involved with a project through every phase (from pre-production to production and post-production).
All teams need leaders, and the producer is every movie's leader. If you love Film and TV with a tremendous passion, then learning how to be a television and movie producer at NYFA’s producing school is where your career begins. The producer is so much more than just "the money guy"—he or she occupies the most important position on any project. From the very beginning to the very end, the producer commands the show. Nothing happens without the producer.
At New York Film Academy, our producing school offers BFA, MFA, and AFA degree programs, a 1-year intensive certificate program, and in-depth 4-week and 12-week producing workshops. For aspiring producers looking to gain a hands-on education in the craft and business of producing, NYFA provides one of the best producing schools for students of all types and backgrounds.
You begin your first day at NYFA as a producer, not a student. We treat you as a professional and train you to be the very best. From day one at our producing school, you develop Film, TV, and Web projects, overseeing multiple productions while learning more and more as you progress through a series of challenging production projects. All of this is paired with expert classroom instruction from our experienced industry professionals.
In NYFA’s producing programs, you learn strong project management skills without requiring a business school background. In addition, students complete a professional-level, comprehensive production book for a feature length film that will allow you to approach investors and other industry professionals with your exciting post-NYFA project the day you graduate.
You will start by producing a short film. Soon after you will have opportunities to produce a reality-TV sizzle reel, music videos, and a TV commercial. Each semester offers a variety of new productions for you to command. Unlike other producing schools, the Film Academy’s Producing Program also offers you collaboration opportunities with NYFA filmmaking students on their ambitious film projects throughout the program. Additionally, there are production workshops (day shoots) where you will dive into TV production. There will even be a Webisode option for you to produce. And in the end, you can graduate having completed a TV Series Show Bible for an original TV show.
Recognized as a top producing school, our exciting producing school program allows students the opportunity to pursue internships with established TV and Film production companies. These internships can be invaluable learning experiences and have often been a key step to finding a job, as well as being a nice addition to one’s resume.
The combination of hands-on education, a world-class faculty of professional producers, and a curriculum that mirrors the realities and challenges of bringing a production into existence is why many graduates and industry professionals consider NYFA to be the best producing school around.
Producing Courses
After enrolling in a producing program at the New York Film Academy's producing school, students can expect to take the following courses depending on which workshop or program they take.
Producer's Craft
Developing the Pitch
EP Budgeting and Scheduling
Case Studies
Producer's Roundtable
Film Finance/Distribution/Marketing
Entertainment Law
Story & Script Analysis
Cinematography for Producers
Hands-on Sound
Film Festival Procedures
Introduction to Screenwriting
Hands-on Camera
Pitching for Producers
Producing Reality Television
Hands-on Lighting
Industry Speaker Series
Producing Documentaries and New
Film Exhibition
Directing for Producers
Finance, Marketing, and Distribution
Business Affairs
Short Film Production
Developing the Pitch for Producers Pitch Fest
Acting for Producers
Editing for Producers
Line Producing Essentials: Scheduling and Budgeting
Producing Classes
Students who wish to enroll in the New York Film Academy's producing school can do so throughout the year. More information on the start dates and tuition for each producing class at our NYC campus can be viewed here.
Producing Degrees
Students enrolled at the New York Film Academy's producing school can choose to apply their coursework toward credit in one of the New York Film Academy's Los Angeles campus degree programs, including:
Students interested in making a four- or twelve-week commitment to their production studies are advised to look into a short-term producing workshop at the New York Film Academy.
Designed for students wishing to make a longer time commitment to their studies, the producing school at the New York Film Academy offers the following one-year producing program.
Part of what makes the NYFA one of the best producing schools is our experienced and prestigious faculty of working producers, filmmakers, and entertainment lawyers who guide students through the intensive New York Film Academy producing school curriculum. In addition to their commitment to teaching and mentoring NYFA students, instructors are also active and prominent members of the entertainment industry. Dedicated to providing students with as well-rounded and in-depth an education as possible, the Academy's producing school faculty includes:
Rich Thorne: Rich Thorne has been an award winning film and television producer and director as well as a Senior VP/Production Executive for 20th Century Fox – and President/Creative Director for two of the largest post-production-visual effects companies in Los Angeles. Directing credits include “Dr. Dolittle 3”, multi-awarding winning Indy feature “Mother Ghost”—Second Unit Directing for “Daredevil”, “Behind Enemy Lines’,“Dr Dolittle 2”, “Dragonball Evolution”, “Shallow Hal”, “Dude, Where’s My Car”. Production Executive credits on films including: “X-Men” and “X2”, “Fight Club”, “Fantastic 4”, “I Robot”, “Anna and the King”, “The Day After Tomorrow”, “Alien vs Predator”, “Kingdom of Heaven”, “Garfield”, “Elektra”, “Planet of the Apes”, and many more. Directed for “Walker, Texas Ranger”, and contributed to 10 years of VFX production for “Star Trek: TNG”, Star Trek: “Voyager”, and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Neal Weisman, Chair of Producing: Possessing over twenty years of experience in film and television production, Weisman serves as co-chair of the producing school. Some of his noteworthy production credits include The Politician's Wife, which was the winner of BAFTA and International Emmy Awards for Best Drama Serial, Oliver Stone's Talk Radio, and True Stories. He also served as the Vice President of the Edward Pressman Film Corporation where he was associated with such films as Wall Street, Reversal of Fortune, and Blue Steel.
Nick Yellen: Nick is the President of NYCA, a NYC based literary agency representing screenwriters, playwrights, TV writers, novelists, and directors in the sale and licensing of their work. Previously Nick founded Edwards-Yellen Entertainment, a literary management/film and television production company based in Los Angeles. While there the company had a two-picture production deal with ABC-TV producing I Know What You Did with Rosanna Arquette. They also produced the VH1 TV movie Out of Sync and Retribution for the SAT1 cable network. Nick also produced the James Franco-starring feature If Tomorrow Comes. The company had development deals with many of the major networks and studios including ABC, Hearst Entertainment, VH1, Phoenix Pictures, Edward R. Pressman, Warner Bros., Alan Landsberg Productions, The David Wolper Organization, Lifetime Network, All Girl Productions, and Wilshire Court. Prior to this Nick worked on the movies Intent for Columbia Tri-Star Home Video and Bikini Carwash 2 for Imperial Entertainment. Nick also helped produce the musicals Lucky in the Rain for the Goodspeed Opera House and Say Yes at the Berkshire Theatre Festival.
Nick started his career in film and television at International Creative Management (ICM), then the world’s largest talent agency. After leaving ICM, Nick was an artist manager at Geffen Records. Before entering Film and TV, Nick was a radio disc jockey in Saratoga, NY and San Antonio, TX.
Elena Paul: Currently serving as the Director of Legal and Business Affairs for the world-renowned Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc., Paul has spent the past two decades as a leading practitioner in entertainment law. Prior to joining Alvin Ailey, Paul was the Executive Director of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and before that, was the Executive Director of Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts. She has worked as a legal and business advisor to such arts and cultural organizations as The Sculpture Center, Ballet Next, and The Center for Photography at Woodstock.
Producing Alumni
Throughout its history, the producing school at the New York Film Academy has consistently graduated driven and well-trained alumni who have gone on to work on such productions as the following.
Career Opportunities
In addition to immersing students in the day-to-day demands and challenges they will face as producers, New York Film Academy's producing school faculty also prepares graduates for the obstacles and opportunities they will encounter. Students are trained in the many areas of film and television production and can pursue the following positions and companies at which our past graduates have worked.
Feature Film Producer
Line Producer
Production Coordinator
Assistant Production Coordinator
Production Assistant
Assistant to Producer
Television Programming
Associate Producer
Production Office Coordinator
Staff Producer
Production Coordinator
Co-Producer
Contact Us
To gain more information about the New York Film Academy's producing school, please give us a call at our NYC campus at +1 (212) 674-4430 or follow the links below to request additional materials.
REQUEST INFO
1-800-611-FILM | 1-212-674-4300 
Producing Degrees
