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Students at the Academy’s Producing School receive an immersive, hands-on education in the creative and business sides of producing for film, television, and new media. This section supplements what our students learn in class with essential how-to guides, in-depth Q&A’s and interviews, and articles on the current trends in the field of producing.
Mastering the 7 Stages of Film Production
June 21, 2019A film is a living, breathing thing, and like all living things, from plants to humans, they start from something small before growing into its ...
How Does a Producer Get Paid?
September 28, 2018The film industry is brimming with roles that contribute to the creation of fun, unforgettable experiences. While a typical moviegoer is well aware of what ...
5 Ways to Write a Convincing Crowdfunding Pitch for Your Film
July 6, 2018By NYFA Guest Contributor Grace Carter
Crowdfunding is a competitive arena; there are a lot of people out there trying to get their film funded by ...
4 Online Organizational Tools Every Producer Needs
June 15, 2018As wonderful as it is to watch a masterful film play out in the theatre or comfort of your home, rarely do audiences consider the ...
How to Network in the Film Production World
May 25, 2018In reference to leaving his day job and surrounding himself with other filmmakers to perfect his craft, the great Tarantino once said, “if you run ...
8 Tips for Getting 1K Instagram Followers in One Month
March 30, 2018From ambitious models and actors to small businesses across the globe, everyone is discovering Instagram’s tremendous usefulness in today’s competitive world. The popular social media ...
9 Stages of Pre-Production
December 15, 2017The first day of shooting on a movie set is never the first day that film is being produced. Days, and sometimes weeks, months, years, or—in ...
The Impact of a Good Producer on Your Student Film
November 9, 2017People often think that a producer simply puts up the money for a film and walks away. Though raising funds is certainly part of what ...
Film Producing: How to Cast the Right Actors in Your Film
November 9, 2017Being a producer can have its ups and downs–after all, producers play a part in every creative, technical, and financial aspect of a film or ...
How to Craft the Perfect Movie Pitch
August 25, 2017A moving, persuasive pitch can be the difference between seeing your story idea come to life on the big screen or leaving it in your ...
A Quick Guide to Movie Production Incentives
August 25, 2017Sometimes movie producers are encouraged to film their projects in specific areas for reasons that go beyond the gorgeous scenery. To help stimulate economies and ...
4 Things Students Should Know About the Movie Production Industry
June 16, 20171. Successful people never make it alone.How many times have we heard ad nauseam that it’s all about who you know? Those who are at the ...
What Does a TV Producer Do?
June 16, 2017Do you have excellent organizational skills and a head for numbers? Are you also creative and able to see projects through from the planning stages ...
How to Produce a Super Soundtrack for Your Low-Budget Film
June 2, 2017The soundtrack sets the tone of your film, and connects with your viewers on an emotional, if often unconscious, level. But if getting the rights ...
4 Lessons to Learn from Major Film Producers
May 19, 2017A producer is the person most involved in any given project, all the way from pre-production to post-production, whether it’s a film, new media, or ...
10 Great Pieces of Advice for Beginner Producers from Filmmaking Veterans
April 21, 2017Low budget to blockbuster, getting a film produced is a huge endeavor. As PTA says, “It’s a miracle every time a film gets made.” Whether ...- How To Option The Film Rights For A Book
October 5, 2015Spotted a great book which hasn’t been made into a film yet, but really needs to be? Are you the filmmaker or producer for the ... 
Micro-Budget Filmmaking: Are You Making These 5 Mistakes?
September 8, 2015A little while back, we covered some of the finest indie movies ever to be produced on a tiny budget—superb features like The Castle and ...
How To Get Your Movie Soundtrack Onto iTunes/Spotify
July 28, 2015If you’ve got a soundtrack for your movie, chances are you’re looking to distribute it as a separate entity from the film itself.
Even if you’re ...- So What Exactly IS A Film Producer?
June 16, 2015Of all the jobs in film that we’ve covered so far, there’s one in particular that seems to cause a lot of confusion. Namely, we’re ... 
Producing Movies? Produce Your Own Music, Too
June 12, 2015Aside from writing up a comprehensive film business plan, acquiring the rights to music is often the one job that filmmakers dread the most.
And it’s ...- Film Production Toolbox – Apps & Gadgets Every Producer Should Own
June 12, 2015It’s ll-in weird and wonderful world these days, isn’t it?
From self-driving cars to personal computers so small you can wear them as a watch, we’re just ... - Becoming a Producer – Tried and Tested Career Paths
June 12, 2015In previous posts, we’ve discussed the nature of what a movie production—specifically, how to become a movie producer, which continues to be a difficult role ... 
No, Not Lenny!: 5 Ways The Simpsons Can Keep Harry Shearer
May 14, 2015Simpsons fans around the world woke up this morning to news that veteran comic actor Harry Shearer may be leaving The Simpsons at the end ...
How To Self-Distribute Your Film
February 10, 2015Producing and filming an independent movie is laborious work, though not impossible. And while bringing your vision to life outside the studio system might seem ...
How To Make The Most Of Pre-Production
January 15, 2015A producer’s job is never finished, even after their movie has a definitive, final cut. But it does have a start—at the very beginning of ...
12 Massively Over-Budget Films That Every Film Producer Can Learn From
December 10, 2014When students at film school study producing, one of the first things they learn is how to make a budget film. That practice seems to ...
An Introduction To Chinese Films And TV Co-Productions
September 22, 2014Author: Brendan Davis, Instructor, Producing Department, New York Film Academy; Co-Founder, Kilin International
There is an old joke that goes something like this: “How do you make ...
What's In A Movie Poster?
September 16, 2014A Collector’s Guide to Movie Poster TerminologyAlthough many of us spend 90% of our time knee-deep in the technicalities of producing films, the marketing of ...
Get Your Independent Movie on Streaming Services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon: What You Need to Know
July 11, 2014Get Your Independent Movie on Streaming Services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon: What You Need to Know
Netflix is seen as the golden goose of film ...
How To Become A Film Producer
June 11, 2014Although a film is a collective creation of actors, writers, editors, and artists, the producer is the one who initiates the creation of a film ...
Star Wars, Marvel, and More: Your Ultimate Guide to Disney Investor Day Announcements
December 11, 2020It’s been quite an eventful year for Disney. Like many, they were left trying to figure out a whole new theatrical release model for big-budget ...
From Book to Screen: Adapting Philip Roth's 'Indignation'
March 15, 2019On Thursday, December 20, New York Film Academy (NYFA) hosted a guest lecture by producer, production attorney, and NYFA board member, Avy Eschenasy. Eschenasy is ...
2019 Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay Nominees
February 22, 2019The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced the nominees for the 91st annual Academy Awards, to be given out during ABC’s televised ceremony ...
2019 Oscars: The Best Original Screenplay Nominees
February 22, 2019The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced the nominees for the 91st annual Academy Awards, to be given out during ABC’s televised ceremony ...
How Does 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Fit the Biopic Mold?
February 15, 2019Bohemian Rhapsody, the story of rock band Queen and iconic frontman Freddie Mercury, has already won Best Drama at the Golden Globes and is a ...
2019 Academy Awards: The Best Picture Nominees
February 15, 2019The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced the nominees for the 91st annual Academy Awards, to be given out during ABC’s televised ...
Ten Iconic Films Written by Screenwriting Legend William Goldman
November 16, 2018William Goldman, one of Hollywood’s most influential screenwriters for several decades, passed away early November 16, at the age of 87.
In addition to writing several ...
7 Awesome Women in Film You Should Be Following Now
March 20, 2018From directing to cinematography, writing to producing, women in Hollywood are working hard to have an equal voice and share of power in the movies ...
Pilot Season 2017 Part 2: Here's What's Coming Your Way
May 12, 2017Pilot season is a secret peek into TV’s future, when broadcast network execs decide which pilots go to series and which get scrapped. That trend ...
Projects That Made the Most of Their Monstrous Production Budget
March 24, 2017The amount of new movies hitting the market continues to grow every day, and each new film uses more exotic filming locations, special effects and ...- Celebrating Women Film Producers
March 17, 2017With this year’s Best Picture going to producer Dede Gardner for “Moonlight” and the top-grossing “Rogue One” produced by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, you’d think ... 
The Biggest Writers Guild of America Award Winners
February 21, 2017February is an exciting time to be a fan of film and television. The BAFTAs arrive early in the month to honor the top British ...
4 Films That Won Both The PGA and The Oscar
January 25, 2017It’s mid-January and the award-season excitement is palpable. Which is exactly why you must tune in to your television on Saturday Jan. 28 to watch ...
5 Brilliant Screenplays That Were Rejected … Repeatedly
October 8, 2016In an industry dominated with rejection, sometimes a single “yes” is all it takes to change the face of cinema forever. Here are five truly groundbreaking ...
5 Actresses Who Became Successful Producers
December 15, 2015Patricia Arquette’s call for wage equality during her Oscar acceptance speech earlier this year; Emma Watson being appointed by the UN as a Goodwilll Ambassador, ...
Producing Movies in 2015: Subcultures and Niches
September 22, 2015As mentioned the last time we covered the role of the producer, it’s a very fluid role that is extremely hard to sum up with a ...
Top Emerging Screenwriters Of 2015
July 27, 2015Even some of the most talented screenwriters making great strides in the industry get very little credit or recognition for their work—in fact, notoriously so.
Today, ...
Top Indie Producers Shaking Up Hollywood
June 16, 2015To an outside observer looking in, it would appear that the film industry of late is comprised solely of gigantic corporate entities churning out endless, CGI-laden ...
Diversity Programs, Initiatives & Incentives For Screenwriters
May 26, 2015At the time of writing, Cannes 2015 is underway and it was touted by the organizers themselves as a festival that would look to redress ...- Most Successful Female Producers In Hollywood
February 2, 2015The film industry is notoriously male dominated, to such an extent that only 25% of Hollywood producers are female. Other professions within Hollywood are even ... - 2015 Oscars: A Look at the Nominees for Best Original Screenplay
January 22, 2015From birds to boys to everything in between, the Best Original Screenplay nominees for this year’s 87th Academy Awards are a diverse, intriguing mix. Most ... - What Does Amazon Studios Mean for Hollywood?
January 21, 2015This week, corporate juggernaut Amazon.com announced it would be producing feature films for theatrical release, a huge if not all-that surprising move for the company ... 
The Interview And The Demand For On Demand
January 6, 2015When Seth Rogen first pitched The Interview to his buddy and future executive producer , he likely didn’t expect the film to eventually become a powder ...- What Are Best Picture Winning Producers Working on Now?
December 17, 2014In the field of producing, the highest honor Hollywood can bestow is the Academy Award for Best Picture. When the final Oscar of the night ... 
10 Reasons The Walking Dead Got Good
November 26, 2014The Walking Dead ...
Why is China Investing in LA Movie Production?
November 12, 2014LA production companies are struggling to raise capital within their own ecosystem, and have been for some time now. The issue isn’t a lack of financially ...
Hey Marvel – Here’s Five Ways to Make a Solo Hulk Movie
October 31, 2014Everybody’s talking about what’s on Marvel’s docket after they released their slate of upcoming movies for the next five years. The core of their cinematic ...
Pixar's Rules For Great Storytelling
October 29, 2014Emma Coats, a former story artist at Pixar Animation Studios, tweeted a series of “story basics” a while back which not only illustrates the kind ...
Back to the Drawing Board: Hollywood’s Fastest Reboots
October 24, 2014Reboots have been a key cornerstone in Hollywood’s Reduce-Reuse-Recycle policy of the past decade and a half. With bigger budgets to recoup and more competition ...- Gone Girl Reviews Herald Brighter Times For Hollywood Production
October 17, 2014After hitting a home run with The Social Network back in 2010 and following on with the remarkably well-adapted Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, director ... 
Vimeo as a Distribution Service – Is Google’s Monopoly Under Seige?
October 15, 2014Despite having been among the top five most-visited websites for some time now, the Google-owned YouTube has gone through numerous changes over the years while ...- A Tale Of Two Ellisons: The New Generation Of Movie Producers
October 3, 2014When your father’s a billionaire, you can pretty much spend tons of money on anything you please and do anything you want, whether it’s racing ... 
From Cops To Pirates: Inside Jerry Bruckheimer's Blockbuster Career
September 24, 2014There are only a handful of producers in Hollywood who utterly dominate their field, whether they are box office champions or MVPs of television ratings. ...- The Evolution Of The Sitcom: The Age of the Single Camera
September 24, 2014If you don’t know what a single-camera sitcom is, you’ve almost definitely watched one at some point. While it’s been around for quite some time ... 
Evolution Of The Sitcom: How Friends Invented The Hangout Comedy
September 22, 2014Twenty years ago today Friends debuted with a pilot that might as well have been called “The One Where that Show Became the Biggest Thing ...- Pittsburgh Producer's Path To Success
September 22, 2014Scott Ferguson almost missed his calling as an award-winning producer. He began his adolescent career as an engineering student at Cornell. Self admittedly, he said ... 
Green Filmmaking: Producing Carbon-Neutral Movies
September 19, 2014Historically speaking, the movie industry doesn’t have a fantastic reputation when it comes to creating art in an environmentally friendly manner.
It probably comes as no surprise ...
Q&A With NYFA Filmmaking Alum Somasekhar “Som” Kovvuri on Becoming a Filmmaker, Working With His Wife, and Producing “Freddie’s Piano”
November 9, 2020In 2018, Somasekhar “Som” Kovvuri decided to leave his job and pursue his dream of finally becoming a filmmaker. With a younger son in Berklee ...
Q&A With NYFA Producing Alum Max Peltz on the Role of a Producer and His Recent Documentary Releases ‘In The Cold Dark Night’ and ‘Bad Hombres’
October 14, 2020UK native and co-founder of Lone Wolf Studios Max Peltz has had a bustling career since he finished his 1-Year Producing program at NYFA in ...
Q&A with New York Film Academy (NYFA) Producing Alum Emilia D’Agata
February 14, 2020New York Film Academy (NYFA) Producing Alum Emilia D’Agata has come a long way from her hometown of Rome, Italy, where she first attended an ...
A Q&A With NYC- based Independent Producer Jane Applegate
April 14, 2017There’s more than one way to break into the film industry. We’re curious about how other people are making it work, and eager to gain ...
A Q&A With NYFA Producing Alumna Yuxiao Wang
April 7, 2017New York Film Academy Alumna Yuxiao Wang had a long road to get to NYFA. After three countries, two degrees, and a ton of work, she’s ...
Staying A Step Ahead: Interview With Producing Grad Dorottya Mathe
July 28, 2014NYFA: Would you mind giving us some background information and what drew you to the producing program at NYFA?
Dorottya Mathe: After working in the television ...
Q&A With Cheryl Bedford, Chair, Diversity Development, New York Film Academy
July 21, 2014NYFA: What is your personal background and how did you get your start in filmmaking?
Cheryl Bedford: My mother took me to see my first Broadway ...
Never Waste A Second: An Interview With Diego Foyo
July 21, 2014NYFA: Would you mind sharing with us a little bit about your background and what drew you to producing initially?
Diego Foyo: The initial factor ...
Culture of Collaboration: Interview With Producer Sal Irizarry
June 20, 2014NYFA: Would you mind telling us a bit about your background and what drew you to NYFA and its producing program in particular? Were you ...