Like so many filmmakers, from amateurs to professionals, there came a time when New York Film Academy graduate Vilan Trub felt like a failure after being unable to complete his first attempt at directing a feature film. As the cliché goes, most people will fail many times before achieving something great.

To take his mind off of his disappointing debut, Trub went to the NY Film Forum to enjoy a screening of Jean-Luc Godard’s Bande a Part (Band of Outsiders) — a movie that was never completed. He kept thinking if Godard could make that film, there’s no reason he couldn’t put a feature together himself.

“That’s the ultimate lesson we, as filmmakers, should take from Godard’s work,” says Trub. “All you need is a simple story and the will to go out and shoot it to completion. If you’ve studied movies and why they work, you’ll know how to make even the smallest feature work.”
With a newfound motivation and reenforced confidence, Trub went out and completed the feature film, Susie Q, which surrounds two down-and-out brothers spending their days fighting over the attention of a neighborhood ‘bad girl’ while plotting how to rob her.

“This movie is meant to show what it’s like to be young, what it’s like to be in love, what it’s like to think you’re in love, and what it’s like to be stupid,” said Trub. “I want people to watch this movie and remember what specific emotions and feelings they had when they were the same age as the characters in the movie. The only way I could achieve that was by creating characters and a world that are ridiculous and generally unbelievable. Sometimes the only way to be reminded of a real feeling is by seeing the day dreams we create while living with that feeling. That is why the more ridiculous the characters’ actions seem, the more believable their emotions become.”

Susie Q, starring Antonio Robles, Ausar English, and Olga Elliot, will premiere Thursday, April 28 at 7:15PM at the NYC Independent Film Festival at the Producers Club in Manhattan.

“NYFA was definitely an important experience for me because it gave me the opportunity to work together with other filmmakers,” said Trub. “It showed me what kind of other personalities are going into this and what drives them and how. It was like being an athlete playing against the best competition. We learned how to work together for a common goal. There is a respect and at the same time the drive of knowing you want to be better than the other students and want to make the best movies ever made, because you know it’s in you.”

“Being a TA for a summer youth program at NYFA was just as important. It gave me the opportunity to see growing passions for cinema as they first start to develop. Everything is new to the students and what they consider important and inspiring and why is very interesting.”

With one successful feature film in the books, Trub is already preparing for his next movie, which he describes as an “anti sci-fi movie.”

“It’s about the gene inside us that drives us to explore, whether crossing the Atlantic Ocean for the first time to see new lands or exploring our own limits as human beings,” addes Trub. “Is that drive inherently part of our existence?”

For more information and tickets for Susie Q, please CLICK HERE. 

To view the trailer for Susie Q, please CLICK HERE.

The post Grad’s ‘Susie Q’ to Premiere at NYC Independent Film Festival appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

“I wrote the script with a clear idea of showing the two different faces of the same world,” said Lanzillotti. “In this case, the acting one. This short film is a psychological war between the youngest, most popular Hollywood actress, and Broadway’s most notable rising star. I wanted to see how the concept of the acting experience is interpreted in two completely different ways between these two worlds, so similar, but at the same time only divided by a thin line that defines the real expression of acting and the way that the audience experiences it.”

Lanzillotti recommends submitting thesis films to festivals, recognizing how rewarding the experience is both literally and from a general standpoint for him, his cast and the crew. Though, the festival run is still far from over for him, as he anticipates screening at several other festivals this year.

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On Thursday, April 28th, New York Film Academy Los Angeles campus proudly presented their inaugural Alumni Industry Showcase at NYFA Theater. This showcase represented the very best from the AFA, BFA and MFA programs who graduated from January 2015 through January 2016. The evening was filled with short live scenes, a short film, songs and improv.

“Our goal is to showcase our students to be competitive with all the top schools in the country. What sets NYFA apart is our focused Acting for Film training and international diversity,” said Anne Moore, director of the showcase and Associate Chair of Acting/Departmental Programming.

“This showcase is right on par with any other showcase we’ve seen this season. We found a lot of talent here,” said a rep from ABC casting.

Overall, the evening was a success with reps attending from ABC, NBC, and CBS casting as well as managers and agents from such agencies as UTA. Alumni have all ready been contacted from casting at CBS for meetings.

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Written by New York Film Academy Screenwriting instructor Doc Pedrolie and directed by NYFA Beijing alumnus Jonathan Lim, the romantic thriller Pali Road opened April 29^th in selected AMC, Regal and Consolidated theaters nationwide. Pedrolie has pitched and developed projects at Sony, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Universal, Fox, Fox 21, Jerry Bruckheimer, Parkes/MacDonald, Brillstein, and Gaunt Television. Before that, he worked as a story analyst for Amazon Studios for seven years. Lim has over 10 years’ experience in Film and Television in the Chinese market. He has created and produced several ongoing TV series for such international companies as the NBA, World Poker Tour and Sony Pictures Dr.Oz.

Pali Road, a US-China co-production, stars Michelle Chen (You Are the Apple of My Eye), Jackson Rathbone (Twilight series), Sung Kang (Fast and Furious series) and Henry Ian Cusick (Lost, the 100). It was produced by Daxing Zhang, Cathy Lee, Kenneth Burke, and Jonathan Lim. Anthony Lim of Cuixing Media Group, Jon Chiew of Huace Media Group Grace Zhang and Geng Ling of Dadi Digital Cinema & China Film Assist, and Ricardo S. Galindez and Roy J. Tjioe of Island Film Group serve as executive producers.

The story is a mysterious and thrilling journey in search for true love between two different worlds. Lily (Chen), a young doctor, wakes up from a car accident and discovers she is living a completely different life. Now married to her boyfriend’s rival, Dr. Mitch Kayne (Kang), and a mother to a 5-year-old son, she has an established life she remembers nothing about. Everyone around her denies that her boyfriend Neil (Rathbone) ever existed. As Lily begins to doubt her own sanity, memories of Neil resurface, causing her to encounter unexplainable incidents. While desperately searching for the truth of her past life, she questions her entire existence; but in the end, she discovers the meaning of true love.

The film has already been nominated for the Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Narrative Film at the upcoming 32nd Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Pali Road also received an Honorable mention for Best Feature Narrative at CAAMFest 2016 and was nominated for the Halekulani Award for Best Feature Narrative at last year’s Hawaii International Film Festival.

See Pali Road is select theaters now!

The post Screenwriting Instructor and NYFA Alumnus Team up for “Pali Road” appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

Last month, the Burbank Parade Committee invited the New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing Arts (NYFA) veteran students to march in their annual parade. A NYFA veteran student graciously displayed New York Film Academy flags and decals on his Classic Corvette.

NYFA Veteran students also chose to walk with their fellow veterans displaying their commitment to their brothers and sisters who have served in the military.

Paul McKenna, who served in the Army and US Marine Corps said, “I’m truly grateful as a student veteran to be in a school that understands and supports their veteran community. It’s hard to find people who truly care and are willing to go above and beyond.” Paul is currently a student pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting for Film degree.

The New York Film Academy is proud and honored to have participated in this event along with the veteran community.

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For those of us in the film industry, the month of May has always been synonymous with the Cannes International Film Festival. This year’s festival, the 69th since its inception, will run from May 11-22nd, with Woody Allen’s Café Society being its opening film.

In more recent years, part of the prestigious festival is the Cinéfondation, which selects some of the best short films from young filmmakers around the country. This highly competitive competition is often the goal of many of our students and graduates. This year, the New York Film Academy proudly recognizes Malena Vain, who studied at our 8-Week Screenwriting Workshop in 2014. Vain’s short film, Business, is an official selection in the Cinéfondation.

The Short Films Jury—presided over by Japanese director and writer Naomi Kawase, as well as Marie-Josée Croze, Jean-Marie Larrieu, Radu Muntean and Santiago Loza—will be awarding prizes for three of the 18 student films shown as part of the Cinéfondation selection. The jury must also name the Short Film Palme d’or winner from among the 10 “In Competition” films selected. This will be awarded at the closing ceremony of the “69th Festival de Cannes” on Sunday, May 22nd.

We had the opportunity to ask Ms. Vain a few questions about her and Business before she heads off to Cannes.

Can you tell us a little bit about your film, Business — what is about?

A girl, alongside her guitar, reunites with her father in a hotel room. He’s a business man on a visit to Argentina, the country he once called home. She’s back from playing at a concert. Night falls between those four white walls, until the sun rises again.

Where did the idea for this film derive from?

It was slowly cooking for a couple of years. I first saw a site-specific type of a play called “Showcase,” by Richard Maxwell, which was staged in an actual hotel room. You were literally told to enter the room and sit there, while a man would perform the play. From then on, I was instantly attracted to the feeling of the hotel room, and its potential to create stories. These rooms are set in a way to make you feel comfortable, warm and safe, but in reality they’re also really impersonal and empty spaces. However, in a way, those places make you feel like nothing but who you are. The world is fast and chaotic outside, but inside the hotel room, time stops for you.

Once I got this straight, I also had two characters I wanted to explore. I thought it would be interesting to make them meet in this type of space, after a long time.

BUSINESS (2016) – TRAILER from Malena Vain on Vimeo.
Would you say your experience at NYFA was useful in terms of writing and directing this film?

Yes, for sure. My screenwriting skills definitely improved at NYFA. I had never had such intensive writing workshops or full knowledge of classical structures to generate conflicts and transform characters. It’s not easy. At first, you are really conscious of these tools and try hard to follow the rules, but then you let go and just write. Ben Maraniss, one of my teachers at NYFA, would ask us to write twenty pages in two or three days — it sounded impossible, but it really isn’t. As Kate Kirtz used to say, when you have a deadline there is no time for creative blocking. Eventually you incorporate what you learn in class and don’t feel so stressed out about finishing a script. If you keep your enthusiasm up, you will write something you can be proud of—even though you’ll always find mistakes—because you’re human and creativity is never perfect (and it shouldn’t). I’m also trying to refresh the pitching skills I learned with Nick Yellen, since I’m only two weeks away from Cannes Film Festival, those could be really useful now!

Is your feature screenplay related to this film or another idea?

Not really. However, I’d say they have similar topics in common. I’m really interested in distance between humans, and all problems regarding communication to bond with someone, especially in a time where our virtual selves are so present and our real selves are so concerned about our virtual selves. It’s hard to connect to what you really feel and what you really want. In my screenplays the question usually is: “Who would you like to share your time with?”

I’m also fascinated about cities, and that love-hate relationship you have with the place you live in. My NYFA script was set in New York, and the city played an important role to make the story move forward, even with the obstacles. Business, even though it’s mainly about a father-daughter relationship in contemporary life, also talks about life in my hometown, Buenos Aires.

Business will be screening on Friday, May 20 at 11:00a.m. (Cinéfondation programme 4) in Buñuel Theatre on the 5^th floor of the Palais des Festivals.

The post Screenwriting Grad’s “Business” to Screen at Cannes Cinéfondation appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

With graduation coming up on May 27th, 2016 for New York Film Academy One Year Producing Conservatory student John ‘Six’ Reilly, the timing of his recent acceptance into the Producers Guild of America Student Membership Program couldn’t have been any better. The two-year program gives highly-motivated students currently enrolled in a producing-focused degree or certificate program the unique opportunity to become part of their own PGA community by attending regular meetings, creating and supporting events, networking with peers, receiving invitations to PGA events and screenings, and sharing and advancing their knowledge of film, television, and new media.

Reilly is currently producing programs for Brooklyn public access television and developing a spin-off of Black Ink Crew, as well as other projects in film and television. He is also a member of Veterans in Film and Television, The Independent Filmmakers Project and The National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences.

Reilly began working in the entertainment business in music production and promotion with the VH1 hit reality series Black Ink Crew. His work creating story arcs with the show runners prompted him to attend New York Film Academy to further his career in television and film.

With the exciting news of his acceptance into the PGA, we thought we’d catch up to learn more about John Reilly and what’s in store for the upcoming graduate.

Can you tell us a little bit about your military service? 

My military service was from 2002 to 2006, when I was medically discharged. I am currently a disabled veteran. I was in the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, an experimental urban combat unit. I was a Fire Team Leader in an Infantry platoon.

How would you describe your overall experience at NYFA?

My time at NYFA made me smarter than I initially believed I was. I walked in very knowledgeable about the film industry but what I thought I knew was nothing compared to what I learned. My ability to translate my ideas into content has increased tenfold. I no longer have to figure out how to get things done. I know now, and that’s the difference.

I came to NYFA because I realized that the people I worked with would only teach me enough to work for them. Now I’m their equal—if not smarter.

Congrats on becoming a member of the PGA Student Program. How did that come about?

I wouldn’t have had an opportunity to become a PGA member if not for NYFA. I wouldn’t have had the ability to impress their board had I not absorbed all the information put out in the producer program. The producer program at NYFA is one of the most comprehensive programs in existence. I speak to other students from other schools and I often hear, “I wish they taught us that at [school’s name].” I walked into NYFA knowing what I wanted and needed. I’m leaving with all I’ve asked for plus more. Though very challenging, if you meet the challenges put before you, there is no way you can’t succeed in a career as a producer. My biggest dilemma at this moment is do I leave NYFA and work for myself, or take one of the many offers on the table.

Would you recommend our current producing students become members of the PGA Student Program?

I suggest every student in the producer program apply for the PGA student mentorship program. It’s a natural progression from NYFA. There is nothing they can throw at you that you won’t be prepared for. The program starts this Fall, so one can ask “How do you know that?” I know what I’ve been trained to do and unless the craft of producing does some weird 180 degree turn on me tomorrow I know I’m prepared for whatever this program requires of me. This is an opportunity to be great, and if you work hard at NYFA the glory is yours.

If you had everything go your way: Where do you see yourself career-wise in five years?

In five years my goal is to be able to be an artist. Producing is administrative but I see it as artistic as well. God is a producer. God produced the heavens and Earth and all things on it. Working for a ginormous company like Disney, producing Marvel movies, is a dream come true, but for me I want to be able to create art that is appreciated and lucrative at the same time. Whether that is TV, film, music videos, commercials or new media, I want to be able to get the ideas in my head manifested into reality. I want people to indulge in my creations—and I would like to be able to afford one of those penthouses on the Brooklyn skyline while doing it.

Best of luck with that! Any final thoughts?

Lastly, I would like to thank all of my instructors at NYFA because their contributions to my education and success are invaluable. I would like to give an extra thank you to Richard D’Angelo for his countless hours of instruction and care; Nick Yellen for pushing me, raising the bar every time I have to perform and prepping me for the PGA program; and last, but definitely not least, Neal Weisman—not only for putting our producing program together, but for taking a big chance on me.

Prior to coming to NYFA I had some hang-ups with the military funding my education. I needed a few days past the course start date to work it out. Neal Weisman, without knowing anything about me, took a chance and vouched for me to start class while we worked out the details. He had no reason to trust I would be worth putting his name on the line but for some reason he did it. If he didn’t I would have missed this PGA opportunity. I really owe him a lot. In this world people don’t have faith in others, typically. He did what producers do and took a risk and I’m happy to have provided a good ROI (Return on Investment).

The post Producing Student Accepted into Producers Guild Student Program appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

As a graduate from the New York Film Academy Photography School, Sinem Yazici has worked with numerous clients, publications, and agencies. Some of her many clients include Mavi USA, Kikiriki USA, MBM Paris, and many others. Her photographs have appeared in Men’s Health (Turkey, Serbia & Crotia), Glamour Turkey, and others. She’s also worked with may of the top modeling agencies such as Ford, IMG, Elite, and others.

photo by Sinem Yazici

Yazici came to NYFA’s New York City campus from Istanbul, Turkey, where she had been working in advertising for over a decade before becoming a photographer. “I was the advertising manager of a big company when I was 29,” said Yazici. “That was the goal and, once I achieved it, I started to question what my next goal would be and unfortunately I wasn’t happy in advertising anymore.”

After watching Annie Leibovitz’s documentary Life Through a Lens in 2008, Yazici knew she wanted to be a fashion photographer. Her love for New York City and knowing New York is considered one of the capitals for fashion are what led her to study at the New York Film Academy.

“NYFA was very responsive and professional from the very first day,” recalls Yazici. “Training with great photographers such as David Mager and Brian Dilg was an honor and definitely took me to the next level in my photography education.”

photo by Sinem Yazici

After graduation, Yazici returned to Istanbul and assisted a very famous fashion photographer. In her spare time she would test shoot male models at an agency. After getting some post-graduate photography experience, Yazici moved back to New York and immediately started shooting 2-3 times a week while submitting her work to online magazines. It was this hard work and dedication—as well as talent—that enabled her to establish herself as a men’s fashion photographer.

Now she’s based in New York, but always open to travel where the work is. She is currently working on some editorial projects that she is excited to share with us soon!

To view Sinem Yazici’s work, please visit her website at www.sinemyazici.com.

The post Sinem Yazici: From Advertising Manager to Fashion Photographer appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

Horror Red Velvet turned out to be a very successful first directing experience for New York Film Academy BFA Filmmaking student Valerio Mazzarella. His thriller, about recovering ambiguously addicted couple who struggle to adapt and live a normal life, recently won Best Short, Best Actor for Klemen Novak, Best Director for Valerio Mazzarella and Best Supporting Role for Jean-Paul Barjon at the Independent Horror Movie Awards (April, 2016).

“The main idea of this movie is that madness is always close to you,” said Mazzarella. “People hide behind masks and you never even really know who your neighbors are and what they do behind their doors.”

To create this project Valerio Mazzarella teamed up with NYFA alumni producers, Keline Kanoui and Konstantin Frolov. They say that if you have a clear idea of what you would like to shoot, NYFA gives you all the needed resources. The rest depends on your true desire to be a filmmaker — you can’t get lazy in this very competitive business.

“What is also very important is knowing how the equipment works and you can’t learn it once you’re on a real set,” stated Mazzarella. “At NYFA we have very intensive hands-on training. Each Filmmaking student tries different roles in the crew.”

Red Velvet team is planning to screen their movie at several other festivals this year, including Russian International Horror Film Award, Independent Horror Movie Awards (January 2017), Move Me Productions Belgium Short Film Festival. And currently the same team is working together on a new horror called Big Bad Beast.

The post “Red Velvet” Crushed it at Latest Independent Horror Movie Awards appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

New York Film Academy One Year Filmmaking and 4-Week Producing graduate Anthony James Faure’s short film, Your Secret, will be showcased at the Short Film Corner in Cannes this year and will be available throughout the whole event in their video library (from May 16th to May 22nd, 2016). A special screening will also be held on May 19th, at 4:20PM in screening room PALAIS G.

Shot in New York, the film is the French native’s first American film, which stars Jason Arcaro, Leah J. Clark, Giacomo Rocchini, Felipe Muñoz and Scott Schutzman.

The story surrounds George, a building concierge who blackmails random people in New York, always asking for the same amount of money, pretending that he knows their secrets. One day, he blackmails the wrong person—his neighbor Harley—who just so happens to be an art thief

Also showing at Cannes, from Les Films de l’Ours, is Rosetta’s Blues, produced by Faure and directed by another One-Year Filmmaking graduate, Rabia Sultana.

With two short films being showcased, Faure is hard at work in post-production of his first feature film Kids with Guns, co-written with Antony Renault and produced in 2014 through an online French crowdfunding platform, KissKissBankBank.

Check out the first teaser before its launch at festivals later this year.

TEASER KIDS WITH GUNS from Les Films de l’Ours on Vimeo.

The post Grad to Screen Two Shorts at Cannes Short Film Corner Before Releasing First Feature appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

Three years ago famous Brazilian actress Franciely Freduzeski, known from her work on O Clone, América, Zorra Total and Malhação for Globo TV as well as the Brazilian Version of Desperate Housewives for RedeTV and A Fazenda for Rede Record amongst many other credits in Film, Theatre and TV, came to Los Angeles to attend an 8-Week Acting for Film Workshop at the New York Film Academy. After that program she made a very brave decision to start a new career in the entertainment capital of the world.

In a friendly conversation with NYFA, Franciely Freduzeski shared some useful tips for newcomers to Hollywood based on her personal experience:

• Learn English and take accent reduction classes! Know that language will stop you a lot. My English wasn’t good when I came here and because of that I was denied for some roles. Scene study and Monologue classes helped me a lot to improve my English. When you do scenes or monologues you are not only practicing language, you are also learning how to act in this language and how to add emotions to what you are saying.

• Different country, different rules. Before jumping into the industry, study very hard, every day. Not just acting, but how Americans work here—learn about culture. There is a lot of competition here. Be prepared to miss family, friends and hear a lot of no’s.
• Be sure you have the right headshots and know the general auditions rules. At the beginning I didn’t know what pictures I should submit for auditions, what the requirements were, or what the right headshot for different castings should be. Also, I never did cold readings before coming to Hollywood. We don’t have them in Brazil, so I wasn’t prepared for that. At NYFA we had special class where we practiced cold reading technique and it helped.

• After all, it is Hollywood and, as they say, you have to be in the right place at the right time. So always be prepared. You never know when that “right moment” will come. In Brazil actors are usually notified about upcoming auditions at least a week in advance and are provided with lines. In Hollywood you might be called and asked to come for the audition 2 hours before the actual casting. Now I am always ready for that: I always have high heels in my bag and a makeup set, just in case.

• Know that it won’t be easy. You have to really dedicate yourself. Sometimes you might feel lonely and desperate. To be honest there were moments when I was crying and wanted to give up, but, as Coco Chanel said, “Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.”

Franciely Freduzeski is very thankful for the great support of her son, her boyfriend and her family. With time she managed to find balance between living and working in both countries: Brazil and the United States. Her latest projects in Brazil were a television series called Mascara and a stage play, Exilados, where she played Bertha — a woman with a strong personality who comes to challenge the ideals defended by her husband.

The post Brazilian Actress Franciely Freduzeski Gives Tips to Foreign Actors in Hollywood appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

MFA Producing graduate Robert Pallatina’s directorial feature debut, Fortune Cookie, co-produced by Sony and The Asylum, aired on the Fuse network this past weekend.

His film is a horror/thriller set in present day Los Angeles about eight friends who fall victim to an ancient curse after receiving mysterious black fortunes at an Old Chinese restaurant. The movie stars James Hong (Big Trouble In Little China), Dina Meyer (Starship Troopers) and Ryan Merriman (Final Destination 3).

James Hong in “Fortune Cookie”

Pallatina initially developed the script after being offered an already greenlit feature project from The Asylum, a production company that he frequently works with.

“My intensive studies [at NYFA] from conceptual scriptwriting to technical on-set production really helped prepare me for what I was getting myself into,” said Pallatina. “I researched Chinese folklore to intertwine real mythology into a modern day supernatural thriller and wanted to create a common threat for the characters, which was unpredictable and unstoppable.”

Thus far, 2016 has been very busy for Pallatina as he’s currently editing a number of features, developing scripts, as well as pitching himself to direct another film.

Fortune Cookie will continue to air on Fuse this upcoming Wednesday, May 18th and Thursday, May 19th.

The post MFA Producing Grad’s “Fortune Cookie” Airs on Fuse appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

Since completing both the 4-Week Summer Program and the One-Year Photography Conservatory, New York Film Academy alumna Ana Paula Henrique Tizzi has worked on several photography projects including works from her excursions to the Dominican Republic and Cuba. The Brazilian native and current photography teacher’s assistant broke down some of her astounding work for us, and took the time out to answer some questions about her time at NYFA.

Dominican Republic

“The NYFA trip to the Dominican Republic was absolutely incredible to me. It was the first time I was able to put into practice all of my new skills and techniques I had learned, and really see the development of my style and ability—it’s a very special and unique piece of work.”

Cuba

“I went to Cuba in the beginning of this year to work on a short documentary movie and had the opportunity to also work a little bit on my own project, in which I was able to show a little bit more of my point of view.”

Circus

“The circus project really means a lot to me as a person and also as a photographer. Circus taught me to embrace falling and making my own mistakes without being self-conscious.”

Encarando

“Encarando is a project that was very challenging and fun for me. I love people’s reaction and movement. With a flashlight I light up people’s face on the streets, capturing crazy and funny moments that made my life easier.”

(All photos above are by Ana Paula Tizzi)

What made you decide to come to New York Film Academy?

New York Film Academy is a very well known school in Brazil, so it was my first thought when I decided to come to New York for the Intensive 4-week Summer Program. After that, I began planning for my next course at NYFA, which happened two years later with my One Year Conservatory Photography Program.

What was your most memorable moment at NYFA and what is one of the best lessons/skills you have learned while attending?

During the one year program most of my most memorable moments were the day-to-day interaction with the students and staff on top of the first hard experience of a professional photographers work schedule. The one year program was incredibly intense and packed with learning and new experiences, but by the end of the course it felt like not only had the time flown by, but I had also learned a lifetime of knowledge in such a short period of time. I have been lucky to meet amazing people and the greatest mentors I could ask for. Needless to say, it was the greatest two years I could ask for.During my overall experience at NYFA, I developed not only as a professional but also as a person.

How did the program help you in terms of the projects you’ve presented to us?

NYFA not only taught me to become a photographer, it also allowed me to believe in what I do. I’d like to thank all of my teachers and friends that I have made my NYFA experience an intensive and unforgettable year.

What do you see yourself doing in the future?

I am applying for a Masters Degree in Digital Photography, so after graduating I see myself growing and learning more about this amazing field. I also hope to jump-start my career as a photographer and travel to improve my portfolio and professional experience.

Do you have any advice for anyone interested in entering the photography industry?

Be patient and never be defeated. Never miss an opportunity. Keep shooting. Your eye is as good as your next shot.

The post Photography Alumni Spotlight: Ana Paula Tizzi appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

Coming off of his directorial debut, Tapped Out, Toronto native and former New York Film Academy student Allan Ungar returns to the action genre with his film, Gridlocked. Written and directed by Ungar, and co-written by Rob Robol, the film stars frequent NYFA guest speaker Stephen Lang, as well as Danny Glover and Dominic Purcell.

Gridlocked is about a former SWAT leader and a hard partying movie star who have to cut their ride-along short when a police training facility is overrun by a team of mercenaries. It’s a throwback to 80’s and 90’s era action films that spawned the buddy cop genre.

Recently, we had a chance to chat with the writer/director before his film’s release On Demand and BluRay / DVD this upcoming June 17th, 2016.

Are you primarily interested in creating action films?

I’ve always been fascinated with the action genre; there’s a great adrenaline rush to it. My goal is to continue pursuing projects that have action in them but they need to have heart. I don’t think audiences care about action unless they’re invested in the stories and the characters. Ideally, I’d like to work on films that can resonate with viewers. I want projects that are largely character driven so that the set pieces have more impact.

Would you say your experience at NYFA was useful in terms of writing and directing GRIDLOCKED?

NYFA helped me build and utilize the basic skills that eventually lead to writing and directing Gridlocked. In the three summers I spent doing workshops, I found that the fundamentals of filmmaking were largely grasped due to NYFA’s intensive and hands on programming. The ability to grab a camera and work with industry professionals vastly helped kickstart my career.

When did you and Rob begin your working relationship? Did you meet while at NYFA?

Rob and I met in my final year at NYFA. He was a counselor and I was a student. We became friendly, but it wasn’t until he saw the shorts I was making that he got excited. Most people thought I was crazy for trying to bring guns on the Universal Backlot. He applauded it. After that, it was happily ever after. We began writing scripts immediately.

You’ve worked with Lionsgate, and now Magnolia and Magnet to get your film distributed. Can you tell me how you’ve formed these relationships or how that came about?

It’s kind of the same thing with trying to break into the industry in the first place; you knock on a lot of doors and you try to turn heads. Lionsgate came from cold calling and sending around a trailer. With Gridlocked, it was a lot easier because there was already a foundation that was built. Sales agents had already become familiar with us and distributors remembered our conversations from the first film. When we got invited to premiere Gridlocked at Fantastic Fest in Austin, there were a lot of agents and buyers who attended the screenings. We got to shake hands and get to know more about that side of the business and expand our list of contacts. In the end, we were fortunate that we had several options lined up for the film, but Magnolia was ultimately the right home.

Allan Ungar

Was there something you learned from TAPPED OUT that you were able to implement or correct in GRIDLOCKED?

Like anything, you learn a great deal from your first experience. You get accustomed to the inordinate amount of pressure that falls on you as captain of the ship. There’s a lot of do’s and don’ts that you pick up pretty quickly, but you’re always learning and adapting. Being extremely prepared is one of the most vital things I took away from Tapped Out. Even though I considered myself prepped and focused, there were so many things that happened on a daily basis which made me realize that I hadn’t even scratched the surface. When things don’t go as you planned, you need to think on your toes and be more creative. Having learned that the hard way on my first film definitely paved the way for some great scenes in Gridlocked. Being able to communicate your vision is also extremely imperative, especially when you’re under the gun and the clock is ticking. Gridlocked was such a daunting task, so I’m glad that I got to go through boot camp with my first film.

Are you currently working on anything else?

I was recently brought on to write a new action film for director Dominic Sena called Johhny Two Guns. He did Gone in 60 Seconds and Swordfish. Another NYFA alum is actually producing that; Alex Lebo. I also just produced a thriller with Rose McGowan and Christopher Lloyd called Lower Bay, which should be out later this year.

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On May 4^th, students at the Los Angeles campus of the New York Film Academy enjoyed a screening and Q&A of the Ron Howard film In the Heart of the Sea. On hand to discuss the film was the composer of its musical score and current NYFA Filmmaking MFA student, Roque Baños.

Originally from Spain, Roque is an acclaimed film composer whose credits include The Machinist, Sexy Beast, the 2013 remake of Evil Dead, Spike Lee’s Oldboy, and many award-winning films from Spain, including the 2004 hit El Crimen Ferpecto.

Roque Baños

Roque was trained as a jazz saxophonist and classical composer, and he brings an eclectic blend of styles to his film scores, making him a much sought after composer for filmmakers of all genres.

In addition to mastering many musical genres, Roque doesn’t rely solely on traditional instruments for his scores. For In the Heart of the Sea, Roque created samples for his score by bringing the actual whaling ship from the film into the famed Abbey Road Studios in London and playing it like a percussion instrument.

This willingness to work beyond the typical is what makes Roque’s scores so appealing and memorable. When the moderator, NYFA’s Dean of the College Sonny Calderon, asked Roque about his approach, Roque replied, “Music is all experimentation. You never know what could make your movie more powerful. The best thing to do is collaborate with someone, and experiment. Fifty percent of the movie is sound. You might have a good movie, but if you have the wrong music, your movie will be bad.”

When Sonny asked how Roque was hired for the film, he explained that legendary composer Hans Zimmer (Batman v Superman, Interstellar, Sherlock Holmes, Pirates of the Caribbean) recommended him for the job. After meeting with Ron Howard, Roque was hired. This story illustrated the importance of having a network of collaborators who support you and your work.

When a student asked what kind of language a director should use when working with a composer, Roque responded, “You have to say what you expect from the music, just as you do with any actor; it’s the same emotions.”

NYFA’s Dean of the College Sonny Calderon with Roque Baños

Finally, Roque explained that he wanted to earn an MFA in Filmmaking from New York Film Academy in order to better understand the entire filmmaking process. In this way, he said, his musical contributions to film can be even more effective.

Roque’s latest work can be seen in the biblical epic Risen, starring Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love) and directed by Kevin Reynolds (Waterworld, The Count of Monte Cristo, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves).

We thank Roque for sharing his wisdom with our students, and wish him continued great success.

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Often times kids discover their life’s passion at an early age. Such has been the case for Charlie Cracknell, who says he knew he wanted to be a professional filmmaker since he was nine years old when he made his first film.

The former New York Film Academy Los Angeles Summer Camp student, born in England and raised in Dubai for 14 years, has been actively pursuing the life of a filmmaker; and has the awards to prove it.

In the last four years, Charlie has entered the Dubai 48 Hour Film Project where he has had to write the script and original music, cast, direct, film and edit a movie in 48 hours. In 2011, Charlie’s film Alone was voted Top 10 in Dubai and he won the award for Best Use of Character. In 2012, his entry Dish of the Day made it into the finals and was voted the Favorite Film of the Screening Night and won the Grand Audience Award and the Award for Most Promising Filmmaker. In 2013 Dish of the Day also earned him a nomination for Best Young Filmmaker at the Murdoch Film Festival in Dubai.

In 2013 Charlie entered the 48 Hour Eco Film Project with his film Enviro-Man which won the award for Best Youth Film and screened at the 2013 Youth Eco Summit in Sydney, Australia. Enviro-Man then went on to win Best Junior Film at the 2014 THIMUN Qatar Film Festival. This film was also an official selection for the 2014 International Student Film Festival, Hollywood.

In 2014 Charlie produced a short commercial for a local ice cream company ‘Desert Chill’ which was very well received. Later, he submitted a film to the Sydney Parramatta SciFi Film festival in Australia. Doubles was a finalist and received a nomination for Best Special Effects.

Charlie then went on to enter the 2014 Dubai 48 Hour Film Project and his film Mission HXK was awarded prizes for Best Use of Prop, Best Costume, Best Writer, Best Director and Best Film runner up.

Charlie’s most recent film, an advocacy short film on the dangers of texting and driving entitled Safe Driving Saves Lives had been nominated for Best Picture and Best Editing awards at the 2015 THIMUN Qatar Film Festival in April where he took home the Best Editing Prize. Safe Driving Saves Lives later went on to win the award for Best Public Announcement in the 2015 International Student Film Festival Hollywood.

Charlie was featured as a “Dubai Home Grown Hero” in Dubai What’s On/Good Magazine and also in the Khaleej Times. That same year he also attended a Digital Filmmaking summer program at New York Film Academy where he was able to film on the famous Universal Studios backlot.

“NYFA not only taught me more about the technical aspects of filmmaking but the whole process of production as well,” said Cracknell.

In March 2016 after many requests for another Road Safety film, Charlie created Click, which was well received and endorsed by Road Safety UAE and later by VOX cinemas who are currently showing it in their 180 screens across the UAE, Oman and Lebanon for 2 months.

Charlie plans to continue making films while he completes his schooling and then further develop his skills at a university in the United States, and NYFA is certainly on his radar.

The post Former Summer Camp Student Produces Award-Winning Videos appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

Former New York Film Academy 4-Week Filmmaking Workshop graduate, Yico Tseng, is a Chinese singer-songwriter who was a finalist on the popular singing competition show, Happy Girls, which has been dubbed the Chinese version of American Idol.

Today, in alignment with “Chinese Internet Valentine’s Day,” she released her debut music video, “Can I Kiss You,” which she produced at the New York Film Academy.

The video is about two girls from different countries who fall in love with each other, knowing they can never be together.

From a singer-songwriter to a music video director, the multi-talented Yico says she decided to pursue music video production because it incorporates two of her main passions in life: music and film.

“My experience at the New York Film Academy was great— it was very creative and practical,” said Yico. “I could access terrific teachers and meet wonderful people. And it was very helpful for my career.“

Have a look at her brand new video below, and Happy Chinese Internet Valentine’s Day!

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Pre-production is an essential aspect of Broadcast Journalism. The goal is to be ready for any eventuality, or at least as prepared as available time and your budget allow. BuzzFeed is using Facebook Live to increase its audience reach, and last week it scheduled a live video interview with President Barack Obama. The broadcast networks do this sort of thing all the time. But while Facebook Live had previously been used to stream a wide range of video content, this was something of a first. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out too well.

A still undefined technical “glitch” resulted in the video freezing. A memorable experience, to be sure, but hardly the one that Facebook and BuzzFeed wanted. Despite valiant efforts by the Facebook tech staff, the interview couldn’t be saved. Fortunately, BuzzFeed had a “plan B.” Simultaneously, it was live streaming the interview on YouTube. While the project wasn’t a total loss, it had to be embarrassing for the folks at Facebook. The day was saved by none other than their arch rival Google, the owner of YouTube.

A more successful digital project is Finding America, a collaboration involving 15 public media organizations. It is a brilliant effort to capture diverse aspects of American life. Given that these reports are not limited by available air-time, the producers can explore their subjects in-depth.

It is a wonderful example of how new technologies have transformed both the production and distribution of non-fiction video. Even more important, the series provides genuine insights into contemporary America. It reminds me of a landmark series that was produced at WNET here in New York back when I was a very young producer. Called The Great American Dream Machine, it was the first magazine-style program in U.S. television history. (60 Minutes was the second…)

Barbara Makarevich

In alumni news, NYFA Broadcast Journalism grad Barbara Makarevich celebrated the second anniversary of her TV talk show in Moscow. Barbara is the producer/host of the broadcast, which airs on Russian public television.

In Brazil, grad Paula Varejao tested out the running track at the site of the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics. Paul noted that her time was considerably slower than the runners who will be competing there in just a few months.

Liz Rose at Mt. Everest

And in one of the most stunning pictures of the past week or any week, NYFA alum Liz Rose has her oxygen mask in place as she continues to explore the ever dangerous Mount Everest. Stay safe, Liz!

Back here is New York, the Fall 2015 1-Year students are now only days away from graduation. Last week, Broadcast Journalism instructor Marta Dhanis arranged for them a tour of the Associated Press headquarters in Manhattan. Besides getting a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the most influential news agencies in the world operates, they were also able to try out some of the Virtual Reality (VR) equipment the AP is now using to cover major stories.

Last Thursday was the final studio session for the Fall 2015 students. And at the end of a long (and productive) studio day, we took a final picture of the some of the instructors, production staff and students.

 

The post May 2016 Broadcast Journalism Recap appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

Already with an extensive list of noteworthy credits in producing, writing, directing and acting, 8-Week Filmmaking and 4-Week Acting for Film graduate Tanner Beard has recently released his newest feature, 6 Bullets to Hell, which Tanner stars in, co-wrote, co-directed and is Executive Producer of through his production company Silver Sail Entertainment. His film is a Grindhouse style Spaghetti Western shot and made to look like the classic European Westerns of the 1960s and 1970s. 6 Bullets to Hell is loyal to its predecessors as it even stays true to the form of how these were filmed in the late 1960s, all the way down to the dubbing of the audio. In the film, Beard plays a bandit, Bobby Durango, who heads up a ruthless gang in the West.

Aside from Tanner paying homage to Sergio Leone, his company is actively producing projects including: a travel show, award-winning short films, award-winning documentaries, commercials, music videos, two seasons of a web-based television series and feature films such as the critically acclaimed Hellion starring Aaron Paul and Juliette Lewis. Established during the 2008 writers’ strike, the company set out to create professional media content, and exploded from there.

Outside of the company, Tanner has been the Executive Producer of three films under the iconic director Terrance Malick and producer Sarah Green, starring some of Hollywood’s most well-known actors like Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman. The third of which is a documentary, Voyage of Time, executive produced by Brad Pitt, who also narrates the film.

Tanner’s next two projects are an animated feature entitled Fridgeport, which he co-created with Paul Khoury and is producing alongside Liam Hemsworth and Ashley Greene. His latest passion project is a Christmas comedy Just Be Claus, which he co-wrote with director Tim Skousen and is producing with Jeff Kalligheri and Jared Hess of Napoleon Dynamite.

We caught up with the extremely busy actor / filmmaker following his recent trip to Cannes.

Congrats on all of your success thus far! Can you bring us back to your time at NYFA. What stood out for you the most?

I remember how incredible it was filming on the [Universal] backlot (and with actual film in the cameras). Even though that is obsolete these days it gave me a great appreciation for all the moving parts that go into each and every shot, each and every frame. I hope NYFA still has students shoot on film—it can train you for anything. I also did the 4-Week Acting for Film program immediately after. That was the first real “acting for film” study I had, as I came from theater studies in London.

Would you say your experience at NYFA was useful in terms of what you’re doing now: writing, acting, producing, directing, etc. ?

Absolutely. The requirements of the week-to-week assignments prep you well for the intense competition of the film/tv workforce. You have to stay creatively sharp to write, direct, and shot list your own projects, and the editing courses helped me immensely. It also shows you the importance of doing your best for someone else’s project because you would want them to work hard on yours. I’ve always loved that design of the 4 to 5 person teams.

How did your working relationship with Terrence Malick begin?

I produced a movie with Aaron Paul called Hellion and I met and worked with Sarah Green who has produced almost all of Mr. Malick’s films over the last couple of years. They had already been working on these projects I was involved in but there was still work to be done; and after we had seen Hellion through to the finish line, we continued to work together and she brought me in on the Malick films. And that’s another interesting thing about NYFA — I still work with three people who went there the same time I did.

You started your production company during the writer’s strike. Did you get any backlash for that or do you think that it actually helped jumpstart the company?

Well, during the strike, we were all out-of-work actors living on the same street. One other NYFA student—Phil Donohue and some other friends—just said, well, we own some cameras. People are talking about making these “series” and putting them on the “web.” It was the “Wild West” of web series and we just starting shooting on our street, really for something to do, or just to feel like we were working/acting. Once we started seeing what the results were, and we were also flying so far under the radar, no one was going to stop “a couple of kids with cameras.” It turned into something more lucrative than we thought and I never looked back with Silver Sail Entertainment which is now a company with credits I’m very proud of.

Indeed the company is something to be very proud of. Anything else you’d like to share, specifically about your most recent film, 6 Bullets to Hell? 

I’d like to share something that’s new to us. Silver Sail has created a mobile app video game as the films advertisement. It’s an arcade or “duck hunt” style shoot ’em game based on the movie, with direct links to buy or rent the film. Kinda of an experiment competing in the indie world of the 2016 market!

We hope you get a chance to check out 6 Bullets to Hell, which also comes in a “Drive-in Style’ version with two Grindhouse trailers before the film begins.

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Abi Prieto graduated with honors from New York Film Academy Los Angeles’ Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Filmmaking in September 2015. Remaining in Los Angeles, she was quickly able to get involved in the documentary community there. Since graduating she has worked with and for an impressive array of production companies and projects. Abi has worked for the distribution company Good Docs, volunteered for the International Documentary Association, and acted as Associate Producer for a short film called “Free2luv” for Riot Life Films.

She currently has three independent documentary projects in the works and has just joined the team of a documentary feature called “Moving Portraits Project” directed by lifestyle photographer Bryan Alano.

Abi says, “This project is very close to my heart because it was shot in my home country, Philippines, and follows the story of a photographer and a prosthetist (a person who, designs, fabricates, fits, or services a prosthesis) as they travel to Cagayan de Oro, Philippines to help amputees who cannot afford proper health treatment. I am very excited for this project as a video editor and am looking forward to giving a voice and identity to Filipinos when it comes to documentary films by telling a story that will touch hearts across all cultures. In addition, Abi is shopping her thesis film “Lola Divas” about a troupe of Filipino drag queens facing discrimination and aging with humor and grace, to various film festivals.

The post Catching up with MFA Documentary Grad Abi Prieto appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.