Filmmaking

Animals with GoPros may not have gone to film school or won any Oscar awards, but they may have something to teach us about filmmaking.
Filmmakers ...
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How to Plan an Effective Shooting Schedule
Given that it can quite literally make or break a production, the value of a good shooting schedule cannot ...
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Film business plans. Whether you’ve learned how to make one in film school or not, it’s likely that it’s an essential aspect of your production that ...
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Or, more importantly, how do you find the right producer for your film?
It’s a daunting prospect for any filmmaker, let alone for independent filmmakers who ...
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Social media marketing.
Few words strike quite as much dread in a filmmaker’s heart than these, save for perhaps “film business plan,” but today we’re going ...
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Over the past year, we’ve shared a lot of great tips for those who are just getting started with filmmaking as a hobbyist, along with more ...
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Even if you’re at the top of your game or currently getting hands-on at an intensive filmmaking school program, it can pay dividends to do ...
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There’s no one ‘true’ path that can lead you to filmmaking success, but there are certainly a lot of best practices that can make the ...
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Using green screen – or chroma keying – is a great way of reducing costs and making your film project fantastic, even if (or especially ...
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It’s no surprise that in an age where everything is accessible through the touch of a screen, your existence is basically void without a website. ...
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So you’ve worked your way through film school, studied the craft from every angle and thrown everything you’ve learned at your debut film. Over the course of ...
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When asked about the biggest piece of advice he could give to aspiring actors, Edward Norton once famously said, “The more you do your homework, ...
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You’ve managed to give up every social occasion that’s come your way in God knows how long; sacrificed all that income and more sleep than ...
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It would be disingenuous to pretend that attending film school – or any higher level education, for that matter – isn’t a costly endeavor. At ...
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An amazing career in filmmaking often starts with a great education, and prospective students have more than a few options to choose from in this regard. Since ...
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Those who are interested in taking their acting studies to the the next level may well be considering an MA or MFA in Filmmaking program – ...
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Scouting locations for your film can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of preproduction, and carries with it a tremendous artistic, practical, and financial ...
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The first challenge of independent filmmaking is always finding the budget to do what you want to do. Unless you happen to have a few ...
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By its very nature, filmmaking is a collaborative art form and it’s far more enjoyable – and usually a lot more successful – when done ...
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Entertainment and filmmaking are famously cutthroat industries, and the amount of competition for comparatively few jobs can be daunting for those looking for a break.
Hopefully, ...
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“What do I do next?” is probably the most asked question posed by hundreds of thousands of undergraduates every year as they face graduation and ...
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As filmmakers, we all dream of being given the opportunity to direct a film with a big budget, unlimited resources, name actors, and a solid ...
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Taking part in any creative hobby with your kids is a great thing for all parties involved, and making films together is no exception. Not ...
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Although filmmaking is a highly technical discipline involving a variety of skills, making a short film is a good hands-on way to learn about filmmaking. ...
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Over the past decade, The Tribeca Film Festival has become one of the most prestigious international film festivals for aspiring filmmakers. It’s an honor when ...
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Author: Matthew Ladensack, Filmmaking Department, New York Film Academy Los Angeles

There are a lot of different crowd funding sites out there including the two most ...
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Author: Michael Sandoval, Co-Chair, Filmmaking Department, New York Film Academy

Let’s say you’re between the ages of 16 and 30 and you’ve never made a film. ...
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New York Film Academy instructor and filmmaker Abraham Heisler provides an in-depth look into creating the visual feel of his short film “The Typist.” In ...
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When you’re an amateur filmmaker or just starting out as a film student, budget often guides your decisions. For instance, unless you have substantial financial ...
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New York Fashion Week is in full swing, which means fashion lovers all over are ready for their first look at anticipated trends and lines. ...
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For the last few decades, music videos have grown to be an important part of the music industry. Once seen only as marketing tools, music ...
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For many Americans, Labor Day weekend is a time to celebrate the achievements of workers in our country … by doing the opposite of work. ...
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Who’s a Good Boy? The Real Dogs Behind 10 Iconic Canine Roles
There are more than a few bizarre national holidays out there. Take National Punctuation ...
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The average person walks into their local theater and walks out mesmerized by the incredible visual effects. They talk with friends about how vivid a ...
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Whether you aspire to make movies of your own or simply enjoy watching them, a love for great films is something people all across the ...
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The wait is over.
“Suicide Squad” has hit the theaters, and while the initial reviews are looking less than favorable, it’s undoubtedly the biggest coming-together of ...
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For much of human history, athletes have inspired unity, strength, and respect. Popular culture idolizes athletes, and today that doesn’t just mean that their achievements ...
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Combing through cinema history, we thought we’d list ten unforgettable and well executed scenes that have stood the test of time. While we’re not listing ...
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If you’re about to begin film school, consider this your essential viewing guide. Below is a list of classic and modern films, in no particular ...
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Previously in the Directors Essentials series:

Wes Craven
Kathryn Bigelow
The Coen Brothers
Danny Boyle

Every now and then, we delve into the filmography of not just directors who have ...
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2016 has shown no departure, thus far, from the successful trend of adapting social media-exploding, literary best-sellers into ultra hyped, big screen affairs. Consider Room, ...
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Like every season that preceded it, Season 6 of HBO’s Game of Thrones has provided its audience with some unforgettable moments that are completely original ...
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With the recent passing of boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, the New York Film Academy has been scouring film and TV history to highlight some of ...
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This upcoming Monday marks Memorial Day, a holiday honoring the brave veteran men and women who have served our nation. For many of us the day ...
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While there’s always something to get excited about when it comes to Cannes, 2016 in particular feels like a bumper year.

The promise of further Studio ...
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Love is in the air once again, and is there any city more romantic than NYC?
Okay, maybe Paris. But few cities have such a deep ...
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Whether or not Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow this year is yet to be observed, but one thing’s for certain: we’ll be seeing the ...
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With this year’s bountiful crop of movies behind us and 2015 rapidly drawing to a close, it’s the perfect opportunity to revisit some of the ...
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Very few franchises can claim to have an extended universe quite as in depth as Star Wars, but the mythos surrounding the creation of the ...
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Question: Is there anything Danny Boyle can’t do?
Answer: Nope. Not a thing.
Sure, there may be a couple of misfires in his back catalog (we don’t ...
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Welcome to development hell. Today, we’re looking at movie concepts that have not just languished for years but decades, but don’t look as if they’re ...
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In previous installments of our Director’s Essentials series, we’ve examined the works of the Coen Brothers and the late master of horror Wes Craven.
Today we’re ...
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It’s commonly held that you’ve got to hustle for many years to work your way up to the hallowed position of director—and for the most part this ...
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Terrifying people through stories? It’s been a pastime of we humans since antiquity, with a large swathe of folklore centered around things that go bump ...
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Last time in our Director’s Essentials series we took a look at five must-watch Coen Brothers titles, but given that Halloween is upon us we ...
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Welcome, one and all, to a brand new series here on the Student Resources portal.
Each week, we’ll be taking a look at the essential titles ...
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As digital cameras have become the norm in 21st century movies and production work and more and more films and clients want their projects shot in 4K ...
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This morning, the world woke to the news that one of Hollywood’s most celebrated composers, James Warner, is no longer with us.
The tragic news was ...
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Product placement is such big business that it has become an industry of its own, with around $14 billion being paid to shoehorn real-world brands ...
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The following infographic has been researched and designed by the Film School at the New York Film Academy Los Angeles.
For as long as cinema has ...
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As a budding filmmaker, digital editor and/or cinematographer, I’m sure you’ve crossed paths with a little application called Adobe Premiere Pro. And if you haven’t, ...
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As a species, we’ve always been keen storytellers and we’ve never stopped finding and inventing new ways to tell those tales. From the fantastical to the ...
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As with many roles within the filmmaking industry, a tried and proven method of acquiring professional work as a casting director is to prove your ...
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It’s a big world out there, and Twitter has got it’s fair share of filmmakers and other movie professionals. You can’t possibly find them all ...
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Oscar-winning—no, scratch that, EGOT-winning Mike Nichols died this week at the age of 83. A great loss for the world of stage and screen, Mike ...
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Any indie filmmaker glancing down a list of cinema screenings at any given point would be forgiven if they felt dismayed. It’s increasingly rare to ...
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Sometimes, when we’re lucky, real life can be more exciting than the movies. Like when Michael Jordon wins a championship while practically dying of the ...
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Nobody involved in the early stages of making a B-movie “Jaws in space” plotted Star Beast ever expected it would evolve into the billion-dollar plus ...
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The TED conferences have long been a superb source of inspiration in many areas of human advancement, and filmmaking is no exception. Over the years, ...
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Note: Since we first published this list of 37 websites over a year ago, we’ve been inundated with numerous suggestions about sites, podcasts, and other resources ...
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Superhero movies have made up a large bulk of Hollywood’s Summer output in recent years, and that trend doesn’t seem likely to change given they ...
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Back in 2007 I posted on YouTube my first 20 minute video analysis of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, putting forward interpretations of a hidden theme ...
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Although movie audiences are taught to root for the good guy, everyone loves those characters who indulge in the darker end of ...
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Author: William Dickerson, Filmmaking Department, New York Film Academy Los Angeles
While the one-shot master, or oner, is impressive, it’s most impressive when executed in service ...
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We live in a world where gray copyright laws cause rampant confusion, furious debate and even lawsuits between content creators in every field (but arguably ...
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As Los Angeles is the country’s leading hub for movie and television production, the city’s many neighborhoods and attractions have appeared in countless films and ...
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For many film fans and aspiring filmmakers, their first exposure to the varied and historic streets and sights of New York City is on screen ...
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Author: Mike Civille, Chair, Filmmaking Department, New York Film Academy Los Angeles

In recent years, consumers have seen exciting new levels of quality television programming. Binge ...
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Criticism is an ancient and revered art form. Pretty much since stories were first written, other people were writing down their opinions about those stories. ...
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Recently, we had an opportunity to sit down with Paul Feig, famed director of Spy, Bridesmaids, and the recent re-launch of Ghostbusters. Feig is also an actor, producer, ...
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NYFA: Hi Dylan, would you mind telling us a bit about your background and what drew you to filmmaking? How long have you been interested ...
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While it’s not uncommon for students at the New York Film Academy to come back to further their studies, filmmaker Tanner Cusumano has the distinction of attending our ...
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Filmmaking is a strange beast, and there’s no other artform quite like it. It involves the culmination of not just creative prowess but also technical ...
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NYFA: Would you mind telling us a bit about your background and what drew you to film criticism?
Rob Ager: As a child I was introduced ...
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Name: Alfred Joseph Hitchcock
Essential DVDs: The 39 Steps (1935), The Lady Vanishes (1938), Rebecca (1940), Shadow Of A Doubt (1943), Notorious (1946), Strangers On A ...
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Name: Martin Scorsese
Essential DVDs: Mean Streets (1973); Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980); King of Comedy (1983), After Hours (1985), Goodfellas (1990), Age of Innocence ...
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Name: Stanley Kubrick
Essential DVDs: Paths of Glory (1957); Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964); 2001: A Space ...
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Name: Sir Ridley Scott
Essential DVDs: Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Thelma & Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000), Matchstick Men (2003)
Oscars: Best Picture (Gladiator, 2000)
In His Own ...
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Name: Akira Kurosawa aka The Emperor
Essential DVDs: Ikiru (1952); Seven Samurai (1954); Throne Of Blood (1957); Yojimbo (1961); Sanjuro (1962); Ran (1985)
Oscars: Honorary Award (1990)
In ...
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Name: Peter Jackson
Essential DVDs: Braindead (1992); Heavenly Creatures (1994); The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001); The Two Towers (2002); Return Of The King (2003)
Oscars: Best ...
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Name: Quentin Zastopiul aka Quentin Jerome Tarantino
Essential DVDs: Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), Jackie Brown (1997), The Kill Bill Collection (2005), Inglourious Basterds (2009), ...
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Name: George Orson Welles aka Orson Welles
Essential DVDs: Citizen Kane (1941), The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), Macbeth (1948); Touch Of Evil (1958)
Oscars: Best Screenplay (Citizen Kane, ...
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Name: Allen Stewart Konigsberg aka Woody Allen
Essential DVDs: Sleeper (1973); Love And Death (1975); Annie Hall (1977); Manhattan (1979); Broadway Danny Rose (1984); Hannah and ...
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Name: Clinton Eastwood Jr. aka Clint Eastwood
Essential DVDs: Play Misty For Me (1971) ; High Plains Drifter (1973); The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976); Pale Rider ...
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Name: David Lean
Essential DVDs: Brief Encounter (1945); Oliver Twist (1948); Great Expectations (1946); The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957); Lawrence Of Arabia (1962); Doctor ...
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Name: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Essential DVDs: Blood Simple (1984), Miller’s Crossing (1990), Barton Fink (1991), The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998), ...
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Name: James Cameron
Essential DVDs: The Terminator (1984); Aliens (1986); Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991); True Lies (1994); Titianic (1997); Avatar (2009)
Oscars: Best Director, Best Picture, ...
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Name: Francis Ford Coppola
Essential DVDs: The Godfather (1972), The Conversation (1974), The Godfather: Part II (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979), Tucker: The Man and His Dream ...
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Name: William Oliver Stone
Essential DVDs: Salvador (1986); Platoon (1986); Wall Street (1987); Born On The Fourth Of July (1989); JFK (1991); Natural Born Killers (1994); ...
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Name: Sergio Leone
Essential DVDs: A Fistful of Dollars (1964); For a Few Dollars More (1965); The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966); Once Upon ...
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Name: John Martin Feeney aka John Ford aka “Pappy”
Essential DVDs: Stagecoach (1939); My Darling Clementine (1946); She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (1949); The Searchers (1956); ...
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Name: Samuel Wilder aka Billy Wilder
Essential DVDs: Double Indemnity (1944); The Lost Weekend (1945); Sunset Boulevard (1950); Ace In The Hole (1951); Some Like It ...
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Name: David Samuel Peckinpah aka Sam Peckinpah aka Mad Sam
Essential DVDs: Ride The High Country (1962), Major Dundee (1965), The Wild Bunch (1969), The Straw ...
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Name: Steven Allan Spielberg
Essential DVDs: Jaws (1975); Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977); Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981); E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial (1982); ...
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