I’m now working in the Lebanese American University as a teaching assistant. I teach students TV production courses and editing. That’s not all. I’m now working on a TV pilot for a sitcom. I wrote the episode, and got approval to go ahead with the pilot.
Nine weeks ago I didn’t know an f-stop from a backstop, and five days ago I finished an 8-minute short which I intend to submit to festivals.
I’m writing to say that NYFA is a tight ship and I loved every minute of my coursework. The instructors served as an ensemble of knowledge while preserving their individuality and freely expressing their opinions.
In particular, I’d like to mention (in no particular order) that Brian Norton, Till Neumann, Heng-Tatt Lim, and Pamela Harris were extra special.
The course at NYFA kick-started me into understanding some of the vernacular necessary to embark on a journey as a filmmaker. Filmmaking is the most humbling feeling anyone could experience — partly because one quickly discovers one’s fallibility, but more importantly because making a film is a group activity which benefits from input from all members of the group.
When I returned to the UK, I wrote a short based on my film at the Academy and won a competition at the BBC.
About two weeks after my time at NYFA, I was immediately employed as an editor at The Image Bank, the largest stock footage company in the world and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Eastman Kodak Company. They represent over 350 cinematographers, have 75 offices in 31 countries around the world, and license footage to features, commercials, music videos, etc.
After three years of editing, winning the Gold Medal at the New York Festivals, and becoming manager of The Image Bank’s film department, I decided to make the change to cinematography. I signed a five year contract and began to produce, direct, and shoot 35mm productions for The Image Bank. Since then, my footage has appeared on MTV, NFL Films, A&E, Fox Sports, as well as in various commercials and promotional material.
Within the last three years, I have had the great experience of becoming a DP on several features such as “Chez Risque” and “Nebbish,” as well as various shorts, commercials, and documentaries. I have recently been chosen to DP James Ronald Whitney’s next project. This director won the Vancouver Film Festival for Best Documentary, and an Independent Spirit Award. His last films appeared on HBO.
I’d like to applaud The New York Film Academy for their continuing efforts to involve their alumni in the changes, growth, and success of the school. My time there was filled with learning, hard work, and excitement … all while being surrounded by those whose love of film rivaled my own.
It was an absolute pleasure to meet you last week and I can’t tell you how fantastic an experience I had in the one-week workshop!
The knowledge and level of craft of the teachers combined with the communal enthusiasm everyone on staff has for filmmaking delivered an experience far beyond my expectations.
So kudos to the team at NYFA — as well as to whoever is behind recruiting. Please be sure to pass my compliments to Bryan Norton, Liz Foley, Nick Rivera and Mario Pinzon as well as to Jerry Sherlock. I think it is wonderful thing that there is a place for inexperienced filmmakers to learn about making films and to get a taste of it with such a hands-on approach. It’s a really great organization and I will highly recommended it.