At the New York Film Academy’s film school, faculty members and curriculum are focused on providing students with the real world know-how to help them achieve their goals. These achievements are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances. Below are some of the positions and networks in which our alumni have worked:
Hands-On Degrees, Programs, and Workshops
In film, television, and new media, the Screenwriter establishes the basic building blocks of the visual story. At NYFA’s Screenwriting School, students can learn these fundamental skills, working on multiple projects at a time and balancing an intensive workload.
Students learn to transform their ideas into structured scripts throughout the programs, exploring different media, genres, and styles. Through this hands-on approach, students gain extensive experience in screenwriting while building an impressive body of work. Students can choose from a variety of in-person and online programs at our campuses in New York and Los Angeles, as well as at NYFA Australia, that range from short-term workshops to full-fledged degree programs.
As the original disruptors of the Hollywood gate-keeping system, NYFA strives to make education in screenwriting and film accessible to the most diverse, international, and broadest spectrum of students. At our Screenwriting School, we foster an environment that is creatively challenging, respectful, and actively supportive of each unique student and a collectively diverse student body.
Screenwriting Degrees
Our screenwriting degree programs are designed for students who wish to make a long-term commitment to the craft of writing while receiving a well-rounded education in the arts. The AFA, BFA, and MFA degree students hone their natural writing talent and create a portfolio of scripts in a range of mediums, including television, web series, feature films, short films, comic books, games, and playwriting.
Students also complete an internship, helping them learn the business side of screenwriting and gain the experience necessary to pursue creative goals in film, television, media, and entertainment. A majority of our Screenwriting degree programs are offered at NYFA Los Angeles, and our BFA in Entertainment Media is available at NYFA New York.
1-Year Screenwriting Certificate Program
In our conservatory-based certificate program, aspiring screenwriters are given the opportunity to learn how to write for the film and television industries. Through coursework and hands-on projects, students develop their own scripts, working collaboratively in a fast-paced creative environment.
Due to the rigorous nature of this program, our one-year certificate is a great fit for students looking to build practical skills as soon as possible. The 1-Year Screenwriting Certificate is available at our NYFA New York and Los Angeles campuses, as well as a one-year diploma program at NYFA Australia.
Screenwriting
Workshops
For students looking for a full-immersion screenwriting experience in a shorter period of time, NYFA offers a wide array of in-person workshops. These programs are designed to help students strengthen creative and technical screenwriting skills. Students focus on one script or writing project during the short-term workshops, gradually developing their script’s structure, theme, and characters.
In this part-time workshop, aspiring screenwriters can work and study like a professional in a creative and focused environment. Students create and write the first draft of a feature-length screenplay, and will learn how to edit, rewrite, and apply creative feedback through in-class exercises and collaborative workshop sessions.
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This part-time workshop allows students to study the nature of comedy and joke structure. Throughout the course, students will learn how to punch up scenes and add humor to their scripts. The workshop covers setups and punchlines, character-driven comedy, situational comedy, improv, and sketch comedy. Students will write and deliver a final comedic script.
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NYFA’s part-time evening television writing workshop teaches the fundamental concepts and techniques for writing for television. Students will focus on concepts such as story, structure, character, conflict, story engines, and dialogue, culminating with the creation of a final script for a comedy sketch, monologue, or funny short film.
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During our part-time comic book writing workshop, students are introduced to comic book writing, learning the various styles of formatting and story structure, and exploring how to tell a story visually and pace it. The goal of the workshop is for students to collaborate and develop a project from pitch to proposal, bringing their work from outline to breakdown to completed script.
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This full-time workshop is designed for screenwriters who wish to develop their story idea into a feature-length screenplay. Students will learn fundamental writing skills and techniques, crafting their own feature-length screenplay of 90-120 pages. To meet the workshop goal, the first draft of an original screenplay, students need to allocate daily and weekend hours for writing.
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Students spend the majority of their time writing in this full-time workshop, focusing on essential screenwriting concepts such as story, structure, character, conflict, story engines, and dialogue. Throughout the program, students work towards writing a pilot script, coming up with original episode ideas, and using their concepts to develop an idea for an original series, then, a series proposal.
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Online Screenwriting Workshops
Students can also choose from a selection of online workshops offered by NYFA’s Screenwriting School. These programs provide students the opportunity to attend full-time and part-time screenwriting classes remotely.
In this part-time workshop, students plot a feature film idea, create a treatment to break into a detailed beat sheet, and start to work on their script. This program is a project-based and intensive course, and designed for aspiring screenwriters who want to strengthen their narrative storytelling skills.
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The 15-Week Online Writing for TV Spec Workshop teaches students how to write a spec script. By studying half-hour and hour-long television series, students learn the basics of television structure and format and how to examine and analyze the structure and story engine for shows already on the air.
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In the 15-Week Online Television Pilot Workshop, students already familiar with television format and structure will learn how to write a television pilot. To attend, students must have completed our 15-Week Online Television Spec Workshop or submit a formatted TV script with their application.
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In this 15-Week Online Television Rewrite Workshop, students learn the basic tools of rewriting a TV pilot teleplay, such as taking notes, finding their original intent, and working with producers, directors, and development execs. To attend, students must have completed our 15-Week Online Television Pilot Workshop or submit a complete, properly formatted television pilot script and series proposal.
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In the 15-Week Online Screenplay Workshop, students can develop and complete their feature film screenplay, working in a live, interactive creative environment. To attend this workshop, students must have completed our 15-Week Online Screenplay Story & Structure Workshop prerequisite or submit a full-length treatment and beat sheet with their application.
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In our Online 15-Week Screenplay Rewrite Workshop, students collect notes on a completed screenplay, from their instructor as well as their peers, which they incorporate during the editing process. At the end of the class, students have a completed rewrite of their script. To attend this workshop, students must have completed our 15-Week Online Screenplay Workshop or submit a finished, full-length, properly formatted feature film screenplay with their application.
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In the 15-Week Online Writing For Comic Books Workshop, students learn how to write a comic book. Many students complete this workshop with a proposal for a graphic novel, manga, or comic book series, and the script for the first issue or chapter of that project.
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The 4-Week Online Screenwriting – Story And Structure Workshop provides students with the essential building blocks of story – structure, character, dialog, and industry-standard formatting. Students apply their knowledge from the Elements of Screenwriting course and create their own treatment for a feature-length screenplay.
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In the 4-Week Online Screenwriting – Television Pilot Workshop, students complete the program with a Completed Series Proposal, a Pilot Beat Sheet, and a written Teaser for their Pilot. No prerequisites or prior experience is required to attend.
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Screenwriting
School Faculty
At NYFA’s Screenwriting School, students study under our prestigious faculty of professional screenwriters and filmmakers. Each faculty member comes from a distinct and distinguished screenwriting background and currently works in the industry, with experience at networks and media companies such as the Disney Channel, HBO, Sony, Oxygen, Imagine Entertainment/Universal Pictures, and Fox Searchlight Pictures, as well as work that has been screened at The South By Southwest Film Festival (SXSW). With their mentorship and guidance, students learn the realities and challenges of working as a professional screenwriter.
Screenwriting
School Alumni
The Screenwriting School at NYFA strives to offer an intensive and focused education that provides hands-on experience and practical training. The achievements of our NYFA alumni are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances, and we’re proud of our alumni who have gone to find great success as Screenwriters, Showrunners, Story Producers, and more. Many NYFA alumni have gone to win and receive recognition from prestigious writing organizations, film festivals, and awards, including the Writer’s Guild Award, The Emmys, the Broadcast Press Guild Award, and the BAFTAs.
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Please note: Equipment, curriculum, and projects are subject to change and may vary depending on location. Students should consult the most recently published campus catalog for the most up-to-date curriculum.