Film School Blog

Acting School Student’s Balancing Act Pays Off

Super Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:57:13 +0000

Borgota Poker - Phil Neiman’s performances during the last week has gotten rave reviews both at the poker table and on stage.

Neiman won the Event 16 Deep Stack 4 am Wednesday morning and then drove to a 9:30 am rehearsal at the New York Film Academy.

“I was about a half hour late, but they forgave me when I showed them the winnings,” says Neiman who earned nearly $95,000.

Neiman is wrapping his first semester of a two year program that will earn him an associates degree in acting. Wednesday’s class was practice for his role as a doorman from the play “Lobby Hero.”

As for poker, Neiman’s back at Borgata playing in the Main Event and as Day 1 wraps his monologue skills come in handy.

“I told the guy that I didn’t think I could value bet on the river because he might shove and I can’t call with my pocket kings.”

After mulling it over, Neiman bets 5k and his opponent says, “you’re right, I’m all-in.”

“Oh my god, what did I do?” says Neiman recalling the hand. “I really wasn’t acting. I didn’t think I could call, but then I figured there’s no way he has a set and I made the call.”

Neiman’s relieved to see his opponent had a piece of the flop, but a busted straight draw. “I can breathe again,” he says after doubling his stack and ending the day with 153k.

As for the on-stage performance, Neiman says it was a thrill to preform on stage for the first time, in front of a packed house in Union Square, none the less.

“I just did the show Friday and came right here,” he says, “I’ve got about three hours sleep in four days.”

Neiman’s grade is pending, but says his peers gave him favorable reviews. He also didn’t think he could afford the second year of school, but his Borgata Summer Open payday changes that.

Film School Student Amleset Muchie Films President Girma Wolde-Giorgis Documentary

Super Admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:00:07 +0000

The 2006 Miss Ethiopia Amleset Muchie currently studying filmmaking at New York Film Academy is making a documentary on the life of President Girma Wolde-Giorgis.

The one-hour long documentary which is a school project for the actress, model and director would chronicle a day in the life of the president as told by himself, close associates and her own commentary. The documentary would bring an intimate look behind the Jubilee Palace showing as the president attending staff conference, meeting with dignitaries and ceremonial events.

The 84-year-old president who holds a symbolic office with little power has authorized Amleset to come and document him. Amleset is hoping to start shooting soon and have it ready in months’ time. The doc would be premiered at the Film Academy and other festivals.

Amleset has already written and produced a romantic comedy, Si Le Fikir (About love) and has also starred in another Amharic film “Ye Felegal.”

Attention Film School Students: You Can Win A MTV Moonman!

Super Admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:30:41 +0000

Rock Band and Pepsi are giving aspiring film makers the chance to shoot an original Rock Band music video and be honored with their very own MTV Video Music Awards Moonman. The creators of the winning Rock Band music video will travel to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, walk the red carpet where they may bump into other film makers, have their winning video featured in a spot produced by MTV to air the night of the awards show, and walk away with their very-own Moonman statue.
Here is the link to the contest www.PepsiRockBand.com with specific video submission details at http://pepsi.yahoo.com/rockband/video/.

Win a Moonman Contest details: Entrants can choose a song from the official competition list – available at www.PepsiRockBand.com and start making their Rock Band music video right now. Music video submissions can be uploaded to www.PepsiRockBand.com where bands and fans will be able to enter, view, rate and vote on their favorite Rock Band music videos. Please note that the deadline for the contest is July 28.

Dear Moviemakers, Make Movies!

Super Admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:28:39 +0000

Jason Brubaker (Filmmaking Stuff) - A few years back, with limited experience, and by scraping together a little money, my buddy wrote, produced and directed a short film. Forgoing the festival route, he decided to reach a global audience by uploading his movie to the internet. And within days, to his utter astonishment, thousands of people flooded his website to check out the movie. In the mix was a very wealthy gentleman who enjoyed the movie so much, he offered my friend a million dollars to make a feature.

While this sort of thing doesn’t happen every day, I share this story as a tale of inspiration. If you want to make movies, make movies. Put blinders on. And don’t let anyone discourage you from telling the story you want to tell. You just never know what sorts of opportunities might materialize.

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Jason Brubaker is a Hollywood-based independent producer. You can find more of his filmmaking tips at www.FilmmakingStuff.com

Interview With Film School Alumni Princeton Holt

Super Admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:41:45 +0000

TCW’s Editor in Chief Clifford Kiyabu sits down with Cookies & Cream director Princeton HoltWay of One Way or Another Productions LLC. He wrote and directed a 20 minute short called Phish in 2006 which gained him an “Official Selection” at film festivals including the National Black Media Conference Film Festival in Philadelphia, he is the writer, producer, and director of the upcoming flick Cookies & Cream, a film that I personally had the pleasure of reviewing not so long ago, but with all that I have already said about him, there is still much more to be said from the man himself. for an exclusive interview. Princeton E. Holt has worked on several projects since graduating from the New York Film Academy in 2000 and launching his own film company…full article.

The 5 Stages of Blocking a Scene

Super Admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:30:32 +0000

By Peter D. Marshall - When a first time Director steps on a set, blocking a scene can be one of the most frustrating and terrifying parts of their job.

If a director doesn’t understand the concept of blocking and staging, and they also don’t know how to speak the actor’s language, they could end up wasting valuable shooting time.

Every film shoot is divided into five parts:

1. Block - determining where the actors will be on the set and the first camera position

2. Light - time for the DOP to light the set and position the camera for the first shot

3. Rehearse - camera rehearsal of the first set-up with the actors and crew

4. Adjustments - making lighting and other adjustments

5. Shoot - shooting the first scene (then repeat the process)

Blocking a scene is simply “working out the details of an actor’s moves in relation to the camera.”

You can also think of blocking as the choreography of a dance or a ballet: all the elements on the set (actors, extras, vehicles, crew, equipment) should move in perfect harmony with each other.

Here are 5 important blocking tips:

1. Having a shot list will help you during the blocking process. The shot list is like a map: it gives you a path to your destination but you don’t always have to follow it

2. Let the actors show you what they want to do first, then, when you make a suggestion, it is based on something you have already seen

3. Where the camera is placed is determined primarily by what is important in the scene.

4. Blocking is like a puzzle: directors need to keep working at it until the whole scene works.

5. In Television and low budget films, speed is essential, story and block some scenes so that your action takes place in one direction (to avoid turning the camera around for reverses.)

For a more detailed explanation about blocking a scene, check out Filmmaking Article

Peter D. Marshall has worked in the Film and Television Industry for over 35 years. He also publishes the free monthly filmmaking ezine “The Director’s Chair. You can check out his website at: Action Cut Print and his film directing blog at Film Directing Tips

New York Film Academy Partners With Drop.io For Students Success

Super Admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:36:34 +0000

The New York Film Academy announced today partnership with drop.io, a CNET 2009 Webware winner that has developed an innovative file-sharing and real-time collaboration service that has gained traction with film production professionals.

“We at the New York Film Academy are thrilled to partner with drop.io, which provides the simplest way for our students to share video, audio files and documents while collaborating in real time from anywhere in the world. drop.io saves students time and money…both of which independent filmmakers need a lot more of!” - David Klien, NYFA Provost

This service will help film students and alumni share with thier community because it provides a superior user experience to FTP and gives filmmakers the simplest and fastest way to do the following:

Share video clips, scripts, and any other production information
Collaborate via chat and conference call with teams and clients anywhere, instantly
Present with screen-sharing functionality and custom-branding options

These offerings are provided at a fraction the cost of the alternatives with no hardware to buy, no software to download and no IT support necessary.

Create 100 MB ‘drops’ for free to discover how drop.io can help your film-making efforts and gain special access to this exclusive NYFA-community 25% off offer that includes ability to manage multiple ‘drops’ of several GBs from a single interface, with enhances privacy, administrative, and customization capabilities.

Visit drop.io

New York Film Academy Scholarship Fund Announces Visa Credit Card Program

Super Admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:59:27 +0000

How would you like to support students who dream of creating films? Now, you can help future filmmakers and actors at no cost to you.

When you apply for our 6 month interest free NYFA branded Visa Credit Card $50 will be donated with every activated account to the New York Film Academy Scholarship Fund which awards scholarships to students who wish to take any of our world class acting and film programs in New York City and Los Angeles.

Help us raise $20,000 for student scholarships this year and show you are apart of and in support of the filmmaking industry. The application process is free and takes two minutes - the impact will be priceless and last a lifetime.

Get Your Own NYFA Visa Card Today!

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If you would like to raise funds for your organization with your own Visa credit card contact Kalin@nyfa.com for more information on how to get started.

So Many Film Schools…So Little Time

Super Admin — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:31:57 +0000

If you are considering enrolling into a film school program or workshop, you have plenty of choices. After checking out a few school directories I counted over 950 film schools in 69 countries…with over 260 being in the United States! Check out Filmmaking.net for a comprensive list of film schools.

Consider this point when film school shopping.

If your dream is to make a living creating films, your #1 goal needs to be to create films. Going to film school is only a means to the end.

Having so many choices where to study filmmaking makes it more difficult to decide where to go, but it also presents you many opportunities to achieve what your #1 goal should be - creating films. When deciding where to go to film school, take the time to find a school that best supports you creating films. Check out my other post to help you decide what film school is best for you - “What is the Best Film School For You?”

It’s true you have little time, but if you spend it wisely you can create more of it.

A Documentary About Men Sticking to Their Principals & Living Their Dreams

Super Admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:51:15 +0000

New York Film Academy staff/instructor Geoffray Barbier releases new feature film, “Pardon Us For Living But the Graveyard is Full“, a 60-minute documentary on the legendary New York Punk Rock band The Fleshtones.

The story of the Fleshtones is less about a band and more about men sticking to their principals and dreams which is captured perfectly during the film.

The film has successfully premiered at the Florida Film Festival on April 3, 2009. “… Pardon Us captures the spirit for fans and fans-to-be alike.” – says the Orlando Weekly and we are happy to share the story of these musicians since it is definitely worth to learn a few lessons from them about longevity and engagement with a passion even if it does not lead to worldwide fame.

To watch the film visit ColdCutsProductions.com/fleshtones.html

Letter from the Director…

I grew up in France in the 80’s, at a time when the Fleshtones were omnipresent in the lives of anyone who was into rock n’ roll. They were regulars on the indie rock concert circuits and everybody and their big brother had an album of theirs in his collection. Yet I wasn’t particularly a fan.

Then, in the late 90’s, I found myself doing research on the New York punk scene of the late 70’s, and connected to that whole era. I felt deeply for the Richard Hells, Tom Verlaine and Dee Dee Ramone. I became somewhat obsessed with all those bands.

Again four years later, after moving to New York to pursue my career as a director, I met Keith Streng, guitarist of the Fleshtones, by pure happenstance. He was living in my neighborhood, and as we got talking, he mentioned that he was recording a new album.

I went home and checked out the Fleshtones on the Internet, and I found out that for 30 years, they had never had a year when they didn’t record or play live. In essence, that made them the longest running band of the era. The longest running band of my favorite era of rock n’ roll!

Among all the bands that were regulars at CBGB’s in the late 70’s, they were the only ones who were never taken in, never accepted – they were outsiders because they loved fun: when CB’s would close, they would go dance at Studio 54. Their whole approach to New York at the time, then to their own career, was always to make it about the fun!

They had their ups and downs: in the early 80’s they landed a great deal with IRS records, only to lose it two albums later. Today many people in America think the Fleshtones disbanded long ago, probably due to their low profile.

However, that never stopped them from playing on. They have always played with the same level of commitment and energy, of the sort that I think exemplifies not only the commitment a band should have, but also the integrity that I strive for.

Anyone who goes to see the Fleshtones in concert can’t help but be sold on their energy: the dancing on the bar, synchronized dance moves or jumping on and off stage.

They’re in their mid-50’s, in great shape, and full of self-deprecation.

Seeing them on stage made me want to go deeper into their story, and try to understand why and how they do it, and perhaps learn a few lessons from them about longevity and engagement with a passion.

As I’ve spent an increasing amount of time in their company, I can only hope you will too.

Please watch my film by visiting ColdCutsProductions.com

Geoffray Barbier

Director Jonathan Jakubowicz Takes Venezuela By Storm

Super Admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:00:33 +0000

Former New York Film Academy student Jonathan Jakubowicz, has seen a steady stream of success since graduating from our filmmaking workshop in New York City.

Jakubowicz says, “The workshop I did with you was an open door for a career beginning in filmmaking that could’nt have been better. I shot a 35MM documentary (Ships of Hope) on the arrival in Venezuela of two ships filled with Jewish refugees just before WWII. The film has been broadcast on HBO for all of Latin America. It has premiered in thirteen countries and received the many awards”.

Ships of Hope screened at the Director’s Guild of America’s Angelus Awards, and the Havana Film Festival. The documentary went on to win; Best Documentary at the Premios a la Calidad de CENAC (Venezulelan Oscars). Ships of Hope was purchased by HBO OLE and History Channel Latin America, and was in programming rotation for two years. Jakubowicz has a BA in Communications from the Universidad Central de Venezuela.

In 2002, Jakubowicz treaded sensitive waters gracefully as he broached the subject of September 11 from a very different angle. _Distance (2002/I)_ is a poignant short film about a woman’s mysterious past unfolding during an unexpected trip to Holland in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Distance screened at the World Film Festival of Montreal, New York Independent Film Festival and Palm Springs Short Film Festival, amongst others.

In 2005, he wrote and directed Secuestro express; the frightening story of one young couple’s ordeal as they career through the underbelly of Caracas in the hands of three thugs who’ve made them their latest payday. The thriller became Venezuela’s highest-grossing film, eclipsing such movies as “Titanic” and “The Passion of the Christ.”

Q & A with T & B: Getting Support From Your Parents

Super Admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:11:51 +0000

As Admissions Counselor’s at the New York Film Academy we are asked a lot of the same questions by prospective students. So, we thought it would be helpful to post those questions and our responses on our blog in hopes others considering pursuing a career in film or acting will have a better understanding what our school is like.

Dear Brian and Tami, My mom is a lawyer and my dad is a doctor, I want to be an actor! They don’t support me! What do I do? -Cindy

Tami (T): Do you have any friends or other family members that have made a career in entertainment or film? If so, ask them to speak with your parents so that they may gain some firsthand knowledge about the reality of being a professional actor. Also, the admissions staff here at NYFA has a lot of experience speaking with parents. Get your parents to agree to at least visit the school and meet with our staff to learn about a career in acting and what acting school is all about. My point is, in order to get support of your dream from your parents you need to show them that your dream is attainable and you are ready and willing to work for it. Be aggressive and persistant with your parents…this is what you are going to need to do in the real world with casting agents!

Brian (B): The key is education and communication. A lot of times what happens is parents are unaware you can earn a degree in acting and that there are many opportunities for employment as an actor. You need to educate your parents on a career in acting and explain to them that this is not just a hobby, but a real career that people make a living at. Communicate to them how you intend to become an actor and how important to your career attend acting school is. If you can not get your parents support i.e. money , start saving money for school yourself and enroll when you have it…this will also show to your parents how serious you are and may just convince them to support your dream.

Movie Production Management System Saves The Day

Super Admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:01:10 +0000

Jason Brubaker (Filmmaking Stuff) - Almost 10 years ago, while working for an indie producer in New York City, I learned that making a movie happens in various stages. Assuming we found a screenplay that got us excited, the first step we took towards producing the movie involved creating an initial breakdown and schedule. Once we knew the schedule and the big ticket items (explosions, special FX, Stunts, etc) then we would work out a budget and use the information when pitching to potential investors.

To break down a script, I was given a bunch of different colored highlighters and a ruler. I then found each slug line, underlined it and numbered the scene. I also measured each scene by 1/8ths. Then I utilized the highlighters to highlight every element. For example, anything related to wardrobe would be a different color than a prop. I did this through the whole screenplay. And once complete, I then
entered the information into a popular filmmaking software program.

So you can imagine my excitement last month when I started working with Scenechronize, an online production management system that significantly reduces the time takes to schedule a movie. Simply upload a screenplay in PDF, and in 60 seconds the system completes the pain-in-the-butt stuff that used to take me an entire day. More than that, this system allows all departments to stay in sync during the course of a production. And if you’re making a short, it only costs
about 50 dollars to use. Check them out here: Scenechronize.com

While making movies will always require creative human collaboration, it’s nice to know there are tools out there to help make things more efficient.

—
Jason Brubaker is a Hollywood-based independent producer. You can find more of his filmmaking tips at www.FilmmakingStuff.com

The 27 Best Websites For Filmmakers

Super Admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:45:22 +0000

There are thousands of websites out there for filmmakers. Some of them are a waste of your time, others offer awesome services and resources. So we asked our film school students to share with us their favorite filmmaking websites. Here is our list, in no particular order, of “The Best Wesbsites For Filmmakers”.

AFCI.org - With over 300 Film Commissions on six continents, there’s almost always an AFCI member office nearby to help you navigate local laws, customs and procedures.

ArtOfTheGuillotine.com - Online film community for film editors. Connect editors and future editors with ideas and techniques that make films great as well as connect them with each other.

BigStar.TV - The site offers distribution, networking and a monthly short film contest.

BlssResearch.com - The service provides a variety of pre-packaged reports on popular topics for movie producers, independent filmmakers, corporate financiers, and other entertainment entities.

Drop.io - Use drop.io to privately share your files and collaborate, thinks screenplays, film productions and animations, in real time by web, email, phone, mobile, and more.

DetonationFilms.com - Detonation Films is dedicated to putting the fun back in filmmaking by establishing a new paradigm between digital media and online entertainment. And also by blowing stuff up.

DVcreators.net - Training and resources for digital video makers.

DVXuser.com - An online community for filmmaking.

EarthProtect.com - With over 2,000 videos online about things you care about. You can
start a blog, forum or find you favorite non-profit.

ExploreTalent.com - Auditions and job listing board.

FilmmakersAlliance.org - Helping independent filmmakers achieve their goals since 1993.

Filmmaking.net - The site provides reference and a community for new and independent filmmakers around the world.

FiveSprockets.com - Develop and produce a variety of media projects with this online production software.

FreeSound.org - A collaborative database of Creative Commons licensed sounds.

HollywoodOmniBook.com - From agents to extras to screenplays for sale, the Hollywood OmniBook is your one stop source for connecting with Hollywood.

IMDb.com - The “Internet Movide Database” says it all.

IndieProducer.net - A social networking site for Hollywood filmmakers

InkTip.com - Find good screenplays and professional writers. Access is free to qualified producers, directors, agents, managers, and name actors.

JohnAugust.com - Useful information about screenwriting.

Mandy.com - International TV and film production resources.

MakingOf.com - Natalie Portman intervies industry professionals on filmmaking.

MovieMaker.com - The nation’s leading magazine on the art and business of making movies and the world’s most widely read independent movie magazine.

MovieMarketingMadness - Movie marketing news, reviews and opinion.

ProductionHub - The Community search site for film, television, video, live event and digital media production.

StoryLink.com - One of the largest online communities for writers and filmmakers.

StudentFilmmakers.com - Searchable community of filmmakers - both new-and-emerging and professional - talents in the film and video industries.

TakeZer0.com - Everything you need to know before take one.

Script Analysis: Understanding the Script as a Film Director

Super Admin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:37:26 +0000

There are many facets of a Director’s prep on any film or TV production - from location scouts and creative meetings to casting and scheduling. But the first, and most important part of a director’s job, is to understand the script: what the story is about; the themes; the story points; and the characters.

When you first get your script, read it all the way through without making any notes so you get an idea of what the story is about, where it takes place and who the characters are.

This first read is very important because it’s when you form your initial impressions of the story and it is also probably the only time you will ever enjoy the script as a story - because from now on it’s all work!

Then read the script again (and again and again..) and start jotting down the answers to the following questions:

1. what is the PLOT? (what is the story about)
2. what is the THEME? (what is the message)
3. what is the LOGIC? (does the story make sense)
4. what is the EXPOSITION? (what are the characters doing/thinking)
5. what is the COMPLICATION? (what is the drama in the story)
6. what creates the TENSION? (what will happen next)
7. what is the MAIN QUESTION? (what problem is to be solved)
8. what is the MAIN ACTION? (what event hooks the audience)
9. what is the CAUSE OF THE ACTION? (what happens to the main character)
10. what is the RESULTING ACTION? (the answer to the main question)
11. what is the CONCLUSION? (how does the story end)
12. who is the PROTAGONIST? (the main character)
13. who is the ANTAGONIST? (could be one or more characters)
14. who is the MOST INTERESTING CHARACTER? (not always the main character)
15. where does the story TAKE PLACE? (location, time period)

Keep in mind that your script breakdown will be a never-ending process because each time you read the script, you will find something you didn’t see before about the story, the dialogue or the characters.

And as you go through pre-production, the script will constantly evolve. It will change because of your creative notes, writer suggestions, actor suggestions, producer suggestions, network suggestions, location availability and on and on and on…

So how does a director cope with all these changes?

As long as you have completed a thorough script analysis, you will always know what the story is about and where the story is going. With that information, you can adjust to all the changes.

For a more detailed explanation of Script and Scene Analysis, check out - Script Breakdown and Screen Analysis

Peter D. Marshall has worked in the Film and Television Industry for over 35 years. He also publishes the free monthly filmmaking ezine “The Director’s Chair. You can check out his website at: ActionCutPrint.com and his film directing blog at FilmDirectingTips.com