| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
| One Year Programs ▼1 Year ▼2nd Year |
Hands-on Intensive Workshops ▼8 Week ▼1 Week Cruise ▼6 Week ▼Evening ▼4 Week ▼Special X'mas ▼1 Week ▼Movie Camp |
What makes our filmmaking programs and workshops unique?  The New York Film Academy is a film school designed for a new generation of filmmakers who want to learn by making their own projects in a hands-on, intensive program. Traditional film schools often delay the moment when students get their hands-on the cameras and actually make movies. At the Academy you will learn by doing from day one. Whether you enroll in a four-week filmmaking workshop or our one- year film-directing program you will write, shoot, direct, and edit your own short films. Your teachers will demystify the craft of film production and challenge you to master the art of visual storytelling. Learning to be a filmmaker is not done “by the numbers.” It is done by immersion in the process and by knowing the "whys" that teach the "hows." It is done by hands-on experience, trial and error, feedback and correction, and questions and answers. In the creation of our film school and curriculum, we worked with students and faculty from around the world. We adapted the best ideas and elements from the top university film schools and designed an alternative which provides a thorough grounding in filmmaking, and is also flexible in meeting the diverse needs of our students. We teach the art and craft of filmmaking through a balance of classroom instruction, hands-on film workshops, and immediate directing experience. Students are behind the camera from the first day of class. Students will learn about and explore the numerous visual, dramatic, and technical challenges that directors face. In addition to writing, producing, directing, and editing their own films, students assist other members of their crews in the roles of director of photography, assistant cameraperson, and gaffer/grip, providing everyone with extensive set experience. Ultimately, through intensive hands-on instruction, our goal is to empower students to artfully, cinematically, and originally tell stories. Another wonderful aspect of our film school is the student body. The Film Academy draws an incredibly diverse, international group of film students who share a passion for telling stories with moving images. One recent film school class included students from the United States, Canada, France, Italy, England, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Australia, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, India, Israel, Japan, and China. The combination of non-stop collaborative work, diverse cultures and experiences, and a shared passion for film make our workshops and programs intensely enriching experiences. Students forge bonds, both professional and personal, that often extend beyond the film school. Students often say that the New York Film Academy's workshop or program was the most exciting, difficult, and rewarding creative experience they have ever had. At the end of each of the Film Academy film courses, the final films are celebrated in a school screening open to cast, crew, friends and family. All students who successfully complete the workshop will receive a New York Film Academy Diploma and leave the film school with a digital master tape of all their projects. ▼Equipment The equipment our Film Academy students use is comparable to that of the leading degree programs in the United States. Students in the Four, Six and Eight-Week Filmmaking Workshops shoot 16mm film with Arriflex-S cameras and portable Lowel lighting packages for every shoot. Students in the Digital Filmmaking Workshops shoot on the Panasonic DVX 100 digital video camera. Students in the One-Year Filmmaking Program will use Arriflex-S and Arriflex-SR 16mm cameras, the 35mm Panavision camera, and the Panasonic DVX 100 digital video camera. Students in the AMC One-Week Movie Camp will shoot on Arriflex-S 16mm cameras (New York City and Universal Studios) or Panasonic DVX 100 digital video cameras (all other locations). In all filmmaking programs and editing workshops students edit digitally using Final Cut Pro on Macintosh computers. Universal Studios' exclusive prop and costume collection that regularly supplies Hollywood blockbusters, will be made available at a special rate for New York Film Academy students attending at the Universal Studios location. ▼Final Screening / Portfolio At the conclusion of all filmmaking workshops, a screening of the students' final films is held, providing a unique opportunity for family and friends to see the work students have produced. Students retain the digital master tapes of their work to include in their portfolios. Each student, upon successful completion of the program, receives a diploma. |
|
| |
|
| One Year Programs ▼1 Year ▼2nd Year |
Hands-on Intensive Workshops ▼8 Week ▼1 Week ▼4 Week ▼Evening ▼1 Week ▼Special X'mas ▼Movie Camp |
▼History of Acting While the history of film acting is relatively short, acting itself can be traced back to 4000 BC, when it is believed that Egyptian priests worshiped the dead by remembering them in performance. Although acting may have begun as an element of religion it slowly evolved to become entertainment. Thespis, who introduced dramatic impersonation to Athens in 560 BC and 30 years later won the first dramatic competition, is considered to be the world's first actor. Good acting in ancient times, when actors used masks and exaggerated physical gestures to convey emotions, however, may be considered performance art or mime today. Acting as we know it, did not begin until the 16th century in Italy when actors worked together to perform a type of story. But even then performances were a far cry from what is familiar to the modern theater and movie going audiences. Louis Lumieres changed the craft of acting forever when he introduced the first motion picture to the public in 1895. Although the film, La Sortie d'usine, was nothing more than a train moving on the tracks, the impact of his work on the future of acting was momentous. Until that time, it was not possible to capture a live performance for future viewing. A great performance could only be experienced live and after that was nothing more than a memory. While theater actors also seek to deliver realistic and moving performances, the demands of film on absolute authenticity are so great that most theater actors find it necessary to hone their craft specifically for the demands of modern filmmaking to deliver good performances in this medium. The New York Film Academy seeks to give acting students a thorough foundation in traditional acting techniques, yet allow them to have a true understanding of the differences between acting on the stage and performing for the camera on a film set. ▼Cutting-edge actor training How do you become a professional film actor? Well-trained professional actors who have discipline, technique, and a working knowledge of the entire filmmaking process are rare. This is why the New York Film Academy's Acting for Film school is on the cutting-edge of the actor- training field. Designed equally for beginning actors as well as those with experience, our Acting for Film programs provide actors not only with modern on-camera acting techniques, but also a foundation of acting training rooted in time-honored theatrical traditions. Our instructors are all professional working actors, writers, directors, and producers-veterans of Hollywood and independent film, television, and Broadway, Off- Broadway, and regional theater. They give each student the personal focus and rigorous discipline necessary for launching a career in film and television. In addition to full immersion in the craft of acting, we also believe that well-trained actors are made even better by understanding all of the rigors and nuances of a professional film set. Better than any other acting school in the world, the New York Film Academy is equipped to provide all of our acting students with a real-life professional filmmaking experience. Working in collaboration with the New York Film Academy's Filmmaking program, acting students are frequently working on-camera, whether as a part of their class work or if they are cast in short student films and then develop important networks with screenwriters, directors, producers, and editors. And, unlike any other acting school, we introduce all of our acting students basic concepts and conventions in a variety of filmmaking crafts: directing, producing, screenwriting, and a range of different crew positions. Students come away from the Acting for Film program not only with solid acting training, but also with practical filmmaking experience under their belt. ▼Program Preview Many of our acting students are: - People with little or no acting experience - People who have some theater experience but no film experience - People who are wondering if they should pursue acting as a career - People with careers in other fields - An eclectic group of people with diverse backgrounds, from all over the world ▼What you can expect: - An intense learning experience - Total immersion in the craft of acting - On-camera training within the first few days - A professional working atmosphere - A complete spectrum of acting classes - Access to veterans of stage and screen - Opportunities to work on actual film scenes and productions - A network of students from all over the world |
|
| |
|
| One Year Program ▼1 Year ▼2nd Year |
|
▼What makes our Producing School Program unique? Our full-immersion Producing for Film and Television program takes students through the entire production process in close collaboration with expert faculty. The Ambition to succeed The Producing for Film and Television program is demanding yet rewarding. When seeking students, we look only for a dedicated passion for learning and an ambition to succeed. ▼What You will Achieve Take one feature film or television pilot project from concept to package. Pitch the project to fellow students and faculty insiders. Produce and direct a short film on video. Line produce a short film by an NYFA filmmaking student. At the end of the course, producing students will be evaluated by the faculty. As part of this process you will be advised and mentored about future producing work or study you can pursue. ▼Our Student Profile Students must be prepared for full-day intensive work five to six days a week, throughout the entire year. Committed to a fast-paced, intensive learning and production schedule. Willing to work collaboratively with Film and Acting School students ▼Program Details Get real world producing experience Producer: one of the most misunderstood jobs in film and television and one of the most important, one part entrepreneur (you find the property, the talent and the money), one part physicist (you shape the chemical reactions of these three elements), one part chief-cook and bottle-washer (you keep everybody happy). Producers need to know how to pitch their product to financiers and studios and then how to make them happen once they have secured the deal: how to hire the talent, the vendors, the caterers; how to get the best deals on equipment, special effects, locations, shooting stages and so on. The borders of the job are limitless which is why producing is so fascinating and so challenging. Producer's Craft This introduction outlines the essential roles, tasks and obstacles faced by film and television producers in Hollywood and in independent production. Why are their so many titles with the word producer in them: co- producer, executive producer, associate producer, supervising producer and just plain producer? What do these titles mean in narrative film, in dramatic television, in reality TV, in documentary etc.? What are the different paths people follow to become producers? As part of producer's craft, you will screen a new release the way it was meant to be seen - in a movie theatre filled with "real people." Then, in the weeks to come, you track the marketing and box office performance of these film in your Producer's Craft class. This experience provides exposure to the exhibitor mind and an understanding of how movies are distributed. Pitch Meetings Each week you will practice your pitch skills. You'll begin with a tutorial from some seasoned pitch masters. By the end of the first semester you will graduate to speed pitching your own ideas to a room of captivated future filmmakers (your fellow NYFA students) who hope to pick up tips on effective pitching technique. Industry Speaker Series In this class you will begin to develop your year-long producing project - either a feature film or a television pilot. We will learn from case studies of recent films and television programs that have been successful and also some that have failed. Throughout the semester we will cover the following topics: understanding crew positions in film and television, how to attach talent to you project, finance and development, pre-production, production, post-production, marketing and distribution and much more. Information sessions featuring producers of American independent, foreign and Hollywood films, and network and cable television, as well as directors, actors, agents, managers, lawyers, foreign sales representatives and many others. These sessions may be coupled with screenings of new films or television shows brought by these guests. Directing for producers Even if you never plan to direct anything you need to know how directors carry out their vision. As a producer you will need to create production environments that enhance each director's skills and provide the support they need to make the best possible film or television show. Here you'll learn about using the camera, and working with actors - the two central tools of any director. In hands-on sessions you will break down a short script into a shooting plan and direct a scene with actors on digital video. You will have the opportunity to edit the scene and present it at your final class meeting. Editing for producers The person who gets final-cut has the final creative say on which scenes, shots, and even characters will stay in the released version of the film and which end up on the cutting room floor. Only a handful of directors, like Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen, are powerful enough to get final-cut on their films. Most directors work with the editor to offer the producer a Director's Cut early on in Post Production. From then on it is up to the producer to ask for changes and ultimately decide when the film is finished. In order to take on this responsibility, you will learn the basic principles of editing and put them into practice on Final Cut Pro. You can edit the scenes from Directing Class or edit dailies from a feature film. This workshop will help prepare you to make intelligent suggestions and decisions when you get final-cut. Business of Producing Finding and Securing Intellectual Property- Learn how to find scripts that need producers, how to option a book, story or magazine article, how to proceed once you have an option on a piece of property. Rights Clearance- Learn how to research and secure rights to film and video footage, music, still photos and written material to be used in film and television projects. Entertainment Law- Get the essential knowledge every producer needs to negotiate contracts and to protect themselves and their property. Line Producing Budgeting & Scheduling - In this class you will begin with budgets and schedules of already-produced films and shows to gain an understanding of these two key elements in preparing a project for shooting. In later sessions you will prepare a budget and a schedule from scratch and learn how these two elements interact and drive the production of projects. Project Development Practicum This practicum, along with Producers Craft, will provide the key classroom setting for developing your year- long film or television project. The instructor will help you design strategies for your particular project whether it involves optioning an existing feature script, hiring a screenwriter to work with you on an idea, developing a concept for a reality television pilot or any other producing project you want to pursue. This workshop will allow you to use your fellow students as a sounding board for the early stages of your project, much as studios and production companies use weekly development meetings to foster and track the progress of their projects. Screenwriting for Producers This class will help you get inside the screenwriting process. You will write your own short script as a way to learn the basics of dramatic structure. You will also study feature film and dramatic television writing, which will prepare you to work with film and television writers on the projects you plan to produce. Film Analysis The best producers are creative entrepreneurs who take projects from an idea to the distribution of a finished film. Taking the principals you learned in screenwriting you will study scripts, and the films they became, to learn the most important aspects of successful filmmaking - how to structure a script dramatically and how to tell a good story. We will use three very different films - a low-budget, independent feature, a medium budgeted studio project and a Hollywood blockbuster - as case studies. Television Pilot Development This class will cover the entire gamut of television pilot possibilities including sitcoms, dramas, educational shows, reality series, news magazine programs, documentaries and cable specialty shows such as sports, cooking, decorating etc. Key issues in concept development, scripting, talent, product placement, budgeting, scheduling and any other production issues for television pilots will be discussed. Project Development Practicum Here you will meet once a week, or more, with your project mentor to track the progress and discuss ongoing strategies for your year-long project. Advanced Production Issues in Film & Television Working with case studies of films and television programs you will work on all aspects of pre-production including casting and crewing - union or non-union? vendors, budgets, all aspects of scheduling including day out of days, production boards and calls sheets. Pre-production of a short film In this once a week course you will plan the production strategy for the short films you are producing from the NYFA 1 Year Filmmaking Program. Producing Reality Television Reality is the hottest genre in television and the most diverse. You come up with the concept and this class will help you figure out how to package it, pitch it and produce the teaser or the pilot that can get you on the air. Finance, Marketing & Distribution These three aspects of film and television are intimately woven together. Access to distribution drives finance. Marketing strategies spring directly from the type of project your are producing and on who your audience is. Without finance you will not have a project to market or distribute but without understanding and planning for marketing and distribution up front it is almost impossible to secure finance. Using case studies of actual films and television shows this workshop will focus on successful strategies for each of these vital aspects of producing. By the end of the semester you will develop plans for the finance, marketing and distribution of your own project, which will help you turn your one-year producing project into an actual film or television show. |
|