Film School Blog - Tag Archive for "film student"

Shooting a Film For $50

Published on May 18, 2012

One of the most common complaints of a student film is the lack of budget. Between tuition, housing, and living expenses, it’s very difficult to save funds for your thesis film. Unless you’re a killer salesman or have connections to wealth, it is also difficult to convince financiers to back your project. So, typically student filmmakers are cynical and blame a lot of their problems on budget. While this is an obvious hindrance, it shouldn’t be the dagger in the heart. You can still create a compelling film and feel proud that you’ve done so on a low budget.

This was precisely the case with graduate Tim Klein. His short film The Script was shot in NYFA’s ADR room, with three lights, and $50. The film was his semester final in the filmmaking program. “I remember being really frustrated with the fact that it was so hard to find good interior locations in the city. You probably end up shooting in one of your classmate’s apartments that is in no way cinematic, because you’ll most likely find white walls and no art direction at all. This will always be a problem, unless you have money to buy some art direction or pay for a location. For The Script, I had neither. I used the resources that were readily available and shot in NYFA’s ADR room. I wrote the story to take place in a little sound studio (similar to the ADR room.)” Pretty clever and a solid piece of advice for student filmmakers.

Tim started in the filmmaking program but found his passion lied with cinematography. Naturally, he switched over to the Cinematography program. “John Loughlin and the rest of the faculty were always nice, patient, and incredibly passionate about the subject matter. In both programs I had the opportunity to turn my ideas into films and got some satisfying results out of it. What counts is an interesting story and a good script. Everything else just supports that. During my time at NYFA I learned a lot about the collaborative aspects of filmmaking and how important it is to have a professional work-etiquette on set. Tim encouraged students coming out of film school to screen at film festivals in order to network and gain exposure for his or her project. Tim’s taking a bit of his own advice as he takes his short, The Script, to the Cannes Short Film Corner where he’ll have an opportunity to network with filmmakers from all over the world.

Have you shot a film for under $100? Tweet us about it. We want to hear from you!

Hear Ye! Open House Is Here Once Again!

Published on May 17, 2012

Want to see what New York Film Academy is all about? Come and join us for an Open House this weekend in New York City, Universal Studios, Australia, and India! #NYFA has been tweeting us their excitement. Who else is coming? We’ll be live-tweeting and taking photos so stay tuned for updates and a recap next week. Make sure to check in on Foursquare and leave us feedback on Yelp. Did we mention how much we love hearing from our students, alumni, and everyone else in the world? Oh, we didn’t. Well, now you know!

For more information on specific times and locations, click here.

Weekly Roundup: Halo in Purgatory and Another Fellini Remake

Published on May 11, 2012

“I mean, he would, you know, in a scene like where he was sort of supposed to be charmed by me, he would suddenly be threatening to kill me, or like calling me like a lesbian hobbit, or you know, grabbing me on the back of my head.” – Anna Faris on Sacha Baron Cohen

De Niro gained fifty lbs for Raging Bull and Anna Faris grew out her armpit hair for The Dictator. Sounds like method acting to us. How far would you go to fit the role?

8 Promising Movies that still haven’t been released. Remember hearing about the video game Halo being turned into a movie? What ever happened to that? Turns out it’s still in development. See what other movies are in “development hell” or purgatory for that matter.

The Avengers 2 gets a green light. As if they even needed an announcement from Disney’s CEO Bob Iger. It appears the mega hit is officially coming out with a sequel. Wonder if they can possibly squeeze another A-lister into the star studded cast? Which actor would you like to see join the team?

Have you ever wondered what goes on aside from the screenings at Cannes? Well, now you may find out. Alec Baldwin is reportedly shooting a behind the scenes film at next week’s Cannes Film Festival. Let’s just hope it’s not Alec playing Words With Friends for an hour and a half.

Well, they sort of remade Fellini’s masterpiece 8 1/2 with the movie Nine. Please don’t tell us they’re going to attempt another remake. Yep. It seems the forgotten Juliette Lewis will star in a remake of Nights of Cabiria. (Sigh) What’s next, La Strada? La Dolce Vita?

Tweet us @NYFA to discuss this week’s industry news!

Next on the Euro Trip: Italy

Published on May 10, 2012

After Paris and London, what’s next for New York Film Academy? Our admissions team hopes to find the next generation of Fellinis, De Sicas, and Sofia Lorens in Italy’s center of performing arts, Milan, and the Birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence, Italy. We had a chance to speak with our fellow Florentine and head of NYFA’s Florence Department, Diana Santi, about our upcoming trip.

Can you tell us what the audition process was like the last time you went to Italy?

The auditions and the Open Houses we did in Italy last year were amazing! Many prospective Italian students showed up to audition for our Acting Director, Roger Del Pozo. We also had a great turnout for my Filmmaking orientation session. The prospective students who participated were fantastic, very well prepared, talented, and ambitious.

Can you tell us about some of the talent you found there?

We found many talents! Not only in acting, but also in filmmaking, producing, and screenwriting. I think of Alexia Oldini, who just shot her first feature film here in New York and Jacopo Sarno who is currently a working actor in Italy.

Tell us why NYFA chose Florence as a location for its study abroad in Italy?

Florence is a beautiful city – very “international” and surrounded by a gorgeous country side. Florence is the perfect place to study filmmaking and acting for film. The city is extremely inspirational for students and its locations and monuments are ideal backgrounds for student films. Also, NYFA will give a free Vespa to all the students who apply for one year programs… a fantastic perk for scouting locations!

Do you feel it’s important for aspiring actors to come to the US?

I truly believe that acting is a constant research and an international experience can help the candidate grow as a person and as an artist. Also, the acting training we offer in New York City is totally different from the acting programs in Italy.

Want to meet up with us in Milan or Florence May 16th & May 18th? Click Here!

All Hail The Foursquare Mayor!

Published on May 1, 2012

A native of Milan, Indiana, Alex Dykes caught our attention with his digital savvy which earned him the Foursquare crown. After graduating from Purdue University, he came to New York City in order to complete the One Year Filmmaking Program. Although he has a background in 3D Animation, Alex developed an interest in filmmaking. After careful consideration of schools, he decided on the New York Film Academy due to the hands-on educational model and the flexibility it provides. As he says, “I had no idea what to expect but the hands-on training off the bat helped me see the mistakes and learn from them.”

Alex remarked that there were so many projects to work on. Students are encouraged to help each other in getting their work to completion. Thoughtful and inquisitive, Alex pointed out the common struggle every aspiring filmmaker must face. As much as the school stands out for its technical approach to the art of cinematic creation, Alex believes many students focus too much on technicality versus creativity. He noted that many of the students are younger and get dazzled by the equipment and the frenzied energy on the set. Alex believes a balanced approach to filmmaking is best. Yes, the equipment is important but the tools serve a greater purpose. “Good story trumps all.”

What are Alex’s next steps? After graduation, he plans to go back to Indiana and build his reel. But with all the students he is meeting and collaborating with, Alex may stay in NYC if the right networking opportunity presents itself.

Don’t forget to check-in on Foursquare and have your chance at usurping the throne currently vacated by Alex Dykes ‘12. Are you tough enough?

‘Mamitas’ Opens in Theaters Friday

Published on April 25, 2012

New York Film Academy instructor Nicholas Ozeki is anxiously awaiting this Friday’s theatrical release of Mamitas, his first feature length film. The coming-of-age romance follows Jordin, a cocky but charming Latino firebrand. On the day he’s suspended for insulting a teacher, he meets Felipa, a bookish, no-nonsense New York girl who sees past his swaggering facade. The two immediately embark on an unlikely friendship that inspires Jordin to find out who he really is.

Mamitas was developed from a short film Nicholas made in grad school. The short won awards at numerous festivals nationally and internationally. He explains, “We got a lot of people asking if [it] was going to turn into a feature. People in the industry saw the potential of the film being developed. It took about 3 years… to raise the money, cast, and shoot [the feature].”

“I wanted to develop a coming-of-age story,” says Nicholas. “[C]oming from a diverse background, I often try to have diversity… in the stories that I tell.” Being in Los Angeles, Nicholas took inspiration from the area’s large Mexican-American community. He explains, “It’s interesting because Hispanics are often portrayed through negative social issues like violence, gangs, and drugs. It was important that the story that we [told was] relatable and positive. It’s not something that you see too often.”

NYFA Events Coordinator Jordan Auten signed on as a co-producer in the early planning stages. Says Jordan, “I believe in the story and always believed in Nick as a director. I really wanted to be a part of the process and collaborate with the core group of people. I was 1000% in from the beginning.”

Nicholas decided to premiere the feature at the Los Angeles Film Festival. “Because it was an LA story,” says Nicholas, “it was an appropriate place to premiere the film at. [The festival] gave us a ton of exposure, got us on the radar, and got a lot of people interested in the film.” Since then, the film has travelled around the U.S., picking up awards and participating in 9 festivals.

Nicholas also received a nomination for the Someone to Watch Award at this year’s Independent Spirit Awards.

Nicholas says he enjoys teaching his courses in cinematography and film craft at New York Film Academy. “If you don’t have a job that is related to the film industry… you can lose touch with the craft,” he says. “Teaching is really good at reminding why you started your journey into film. It reminds you where you came from. You can both inspire your students and they can inspire you. It reminds you why movies and entertaining people [are] important”

“Indie filmmaking is a sheer act of will,” he muses. “There’s no studio that is supporting you, expecting to see dailies. It’s filmmaking at the purest it can be. There’s no safety net under you, and no room for huge mistakes. Working with a limited budget, you have to concentrate on the quality of acting and the quality of the story. You’re not going to compete on a production level with studio films, so indie films tend to steer [toward the] dramatic or comedic, but often those genres are what with people connect with most. I think you have a better chance of making a more truthful story than those big-budget action flicks.”

Mamitas opens in theaters across Southern California this Friday, April 27. For a list of theaters, visit the film’s website.

Al Qasemi Wins Abu Dhabi Screenwriting Competition

Published on April 25, 2012

The New York Film Academy at Abu Dhabi, The Abu Dhabi Film Commission, and director Nawaf Al Janahi recently announced that writer Afnan Abdelraoof Al Qasemi has won their 2012 script writing competition.

Al Qasemi’s project Shaye Karak (Karak Tea) beat out over a hundred submissions. Her script will be turned into a short film by Al Janahi, with a crew selected from New York Film Academy’s graduates. The film will be promoted at international film festivals by Abu Dhabi Film Commission.

Though she has dreamed of working in the film industry, she struggled to get the support of her loved ones. In an email Al Qasemi explained, “I come from a traditional family of teachers, doctors, engineers, [and] businessmen…. My family didn’t understand my interest in media and tried to [advise me to do] something more useful according to them, like medicine. I refused to stop and I tried to follow my passion in a way that is acceptable to the family. [L]ots of people said it’s impossible, but I think that there’s a place for a traditional conservative girl… in our media or film world. My family then supported me greatly. Film is an art and it’s a way to show your beliefs, way of thinking, point of view, lifestyle, and thoughts, no matter who you are or what you believe in.”

Al Qasemi also won a four-week hands-on filmmaking program to learn and polish her skills in script writing, cinematography, and digital editing. “The academy is amazing,” she says. “I, sadly, have poor knowledge in filmmaking and cinema but that wasn’t a problem because NYFA teaches me everything from scratch. I’ve met people from different countries and backgrounds and learned how to be more confident [in that] environment. I thank NYFA for giving me such opportunity and for giving me the push that I needed. I hope that I reach success and [that people] accept me for who I am. I also hope that [I inspire] young girls and boys follow their passion.”

She also offers the following advice for people hoping to get into the film industry: “Keep yourself surrounded with supportive, trustful people and try to overcome your obstacles no matter what…. [If] you believe in God, pray for guidance. I do that all the time, it makes me feel confident and relieved.”

New York Film Academy Grad Wins Best Short

Published on April 24, 2012

New York Film Academy grad A. James Marcolin’s film I Am Alive won Best Short Film at the 2012 Boston International Film Festival. Marcolin originally attended a NYFA 4 week program and enjoyed the academy so much he came back for the 1 year filmmaking program. “The experience was really great because we always had access to equipment and it was incredibly hands-on. At NYFA, if you have great ideas you can make them a reality – nobody will stop you. I always had support from my professors, even the one’s who weren’t mine.

Marcolin will be screening his award winning short, I Am Alive, Saturday May 5 at 7:30 P.M. at New York Film Academy’s Union Square campus.

In the meantime, Marcolin is hard at work raising funds for his next film, Left With a Bitter Taste in the Mouth, with NYFA instructor Piero Basso as Director of Photography. You can support his film on Indiegogo.

Community Highlights

Published on April 23, 2012

We had a slightly dark take on Earth Day, asking our @NYFA and Facebook followers what their favorite “end of the Earth” movies are. The Day After Tomorrow was the most mentioned, but there were some clever choices in the mix as well, like Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth.We also had a New York Film Academy crew sighting from @JacksonSimmonds in the West Village. Who was shooting this film? Tell us about it!

And finally, there’s a new Mayor in town. It seems a certain “Joe” has taken the reigns on Foursquare. Who will oust him?

As always, we thank our loyal followers and look forward to another week of engaging social media.

New York Film Academy Welcomes “Rocky” Director John G. Avildsen

Published on April 9, 2012

Oscar-winning director John G. Avildsen joined students at New York Film Academy for a Q&A following a screening of his film, Rocky. The excited students filled the theater to capacity, and cheered when the opening credits started rolling.

During his on-stage interview, Avildsen spoke about the film, saying, “When I first heard about it, I said, ‘Boxing is really dumb.’ But it’s a beautiful love story – a great character study. He’s a very engaging guy. The boxing is the background. It’s about a guy and a girl, and it’s a delightful story…. You have to have a great story.”

He talked to students about his long career, and his films that helped launch the careers of Sylvester Stallone, Peter Boyle, and Susan Sarandon. He also gushed about working with Jack Lemmon on 1973’s Save the Tiger, for which Lemmon won the Academy Award.

The energetic director offered up advice to his gathering of young filmmakers, saying, “The audience is very smart and they have nothing else to do but sit there an judge [your film]. Make sure you have your bases covered and make sure they believe it. When you do, they get their money’s worth.”

When asked why he chose to become a filmmaker, Avildsen responded, “It’s not work. I’ve worked. I’ve been behind a desk and punched clocks. It’s make believe with all of these creative people. They hang lights up, and try to find strange little props. They’ll find you a great jacket, better than anything you could have thought of. People laugh, they cry, and respond to things, and it’s amazing.”

Avildsen was extremely generous with his time, and stuck around after the event to sign autographs, pose for pictures, and give advice to eager students.