Film School Blog - New York Film Academy

Weekly Roundup: Ridley Scott Sequels & Return of The Godfather

Published on May 18, 2012

Coming off an Oscar for his screenplay The Social Network, Aaron Sorkin agrees to write the screenplay on the life of Apple creator, Steve Jobs. If this isn’t Oscar bait, I don’t know what is. Could he win another one with the life story of the recently deceased computer genius? You better believe he can.

Paramount Pictures made Mario Puzo’s estate an offer they couldn’t refuse. Thankfully nobody will be taking a hit in the process and a new Godfather book will be released. The question is, should they make another movie after that third one? I mean, let’s be honest, it didn’t exactly live up to the first two.

The prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2012 kicked off and along with that came some pretty interesting movie posters. Some of them have the feel of a straight to DVD film, or perhaps an airplane screening. And is that Joey Fatone in what appears to be a comedy about a hangover in America? I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before.

Perhaps one of the most anticipated films of the summer is Ridley Scott’s Prometheus. Many have speculated that this could be a prequel to the classic Alien series. Or is it just an original Sci-Fi idea? Screenwriter Jon Spaihts clears up the originality of the premise and the Alien world.

Speaking up Ridley Scott, the master filmmaker has announced plans for a Blade Runner sequel. No word yet on whether Harrison Ford will return for this one. But, hey, if he’s still doing Indiana Jones why not throw him back into Blade Runner? As for Ridley, what’s next? Perhaps a Gladiator 2 will follow.

Do you think Harrison Ford should be in a Blade Runner sequel? Tweet us your thoughts!

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.

An Actor’s Journey in Europe

Published on May 16, 2012

New York Film Academy Acting for Film graduate Daniele Defranceschi recently reached out to share the story of his success with us. As he told us, “At NYFA I had the best time of my life and it’s been the most important acting training I’ve ever had.”

Daniele recalled how he got started, “I wanted to see if my passion for acting and filmmaking was just a hobby or if it was something real,” he said. “I remembered NYFA from some ads in film magazines. So I checked its programs, and few months later I was in New York City. It’s been the best break into professional acting I could ever hope for. Most of what I use when I act or write comes from the school.”

The Italian actor has kept busy since his graduation in 2005. He shared, “I played a role in Wilson Stiner’s feature film Ser o Estar, and I’ve been in a lot of short movies. A few years ago I started writing my own scripts. Among the shorts I wrote and starred in, there’s Common Sense that won at the Mestre Film Fest (in Venice, Italy) and Anónimos, that was selected for the Spanish Goya Awards in 2012. When in Spain I also did some commercials for Spanish TV.”

Daniele says he is working on two projects this summer, and is currently writing a screenplay. He muses, “Today, thanks to affordable technology and the internet, it’s easier to shoot and distribute a movie than it used to be, but it’s getting harder and harder to find new ideas and good acting. That’s my aim, my challenge.”

To learn more about the acting program, click here.

From a Roman Garage to Successful Filmmaker

Published on May 16, 2012

Luigi Benvisto was born in Varese, Italy with dreams of filmmaking and New York City. After discovering his passion while shooting short films on his digital camera, Luigi moved to Rome to try his luck in the Italian film industry. “For two years I lived in a garage with a bed and a bathroom, but kept shooting projects. One day I shot some casting videos for actors in a different way than usual; instead of recording just the actor saying the lines, I created a short movie where I was introducing the character and the actor was saying his lines. The actor wasn’t selected, but the producer called me saying that what I did was amazing and he gave me the possibility to direct and shoot the backstage of the feature movie they were shooting. I worked on set with actors like Valeria Golino, Alessandro Haber, Andy Garcia, and director Mario Monicelli. It was a very exciting experience. From there, I moved to Cinecittà where I discovered the New York Film Academy.”

Luigi attended the 8 week digital and film summer program in Rome. After completing the course, Luigi was awarded a scholarship from famous director, Bernardo Bertolucci, to continue his NYFA education with a one year filmmaking program in New York City. ”Not only does NYFA teach you how to become an expert in your field, it also shows you how to build relationships, friendships and industry collaborations. The program is intense, but I like it that way. It teaches you to work under stress and control the situation even when everything is going wrong – which is basically what happens on set in the real world.”

Currently, Luigi balances his schedule between teaching at NYFA and working on set. Luigi just finished a feature thriller, which is being shopped around to distributors. He wanted to share the exciting cast with us, but was told to wait until the film acquires distribution. He recently started his own production company, Jack Boar Pictures, which produced a documentary called The Paper House: Report. His next projects include a production in association with Lima Charlie Productions and a feature about the life of actor Mickey Rooney, that we will shoot in Minnesota at the end of the year.

To learn more about New York Film Academy’s filmmaking program click here.

To learn more about our Florence, Italy program click here.

Edward James Olmos Visits New York Film Academy

Published on May 15, 2012

Veteran actor Edward James Olmos visited New York Film Academy following a screening of his landmark film, Stand and Deliver. An inspirational story about East L.A. youths beating the odds to excel in school, Olmos portrayed the real-life instructor, Jaime Escalante. He spoke fondly about the film, saying, “As soon as you have the solid representation of truth, it’s timeless.” The Library of Congress agrees, and added the film to the National Film Registry in 2011.

Like many celebrity guest speakers in the past, Olmos spoke about the rise of social media and the low cost of filmmaking equipment, saying the opportunities are better than ever before for filmmakers. “If you’re a storyteller, there’s no excuse why you can’t get your product seen. The only people I know who haven’t made it are the ones who quit… but no one is going to give you a the break. You are going to give yourself the break.”

He encouraged the diverse student body to succeed on their own terms, telling their own stories, saying, “Everyone has a thumbprint and we each use it differently…. We need heroes. Women heroes. Ethnic heroes. You need discipline, determination, perseverance, and the key ingredient: patience.”

Community Highlights: City of Light and Miss USA

Published on May 14, 2012

Last week we discussed the revolution of digital photography and whether it could ever replace “chemical” photography. While it’s certainly a viable option, with many improvements over the years, it’s unlikely that the quality of chemical photography will ever be surpassed. Seems Annie Leibovitz was right.

Roger Del Pozo and Tami Alexander, from New York Film Academy’s admissions, were live tweeting from Paris. They were very impressed with the City of Light and the talent that came with it. Next up this week, Milan and Florence. Can Italy possibly top France?

Finally, Miss Teen USA, Danielle Doty, graduated from NYFA and was congratulated by Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella. Do we have a star in the making? Miss USA thinks so!

Dreaming of an Electric City

Published on May 14, 2012

New York Film Academy MFA Filmmaking graduate Nick DeRuve is in pre-production on his first feature film, Electric City. As Nick describes it, “[It] is a gritty drama about a thirteen-year-old who attempts to keep his family intact when they receive an eviction notice. I spent my pre-teen years chasing my older brother and his friends around the city of Schenectady. They were teenagers, and I was trying my hardest to fit in with their crew. I experienced a lot of things kids that age don’t, such as violence, crime, and witnessing a lot of drug use.”

“I would say around the age of thirteen is when I started having initial thoughts about making a film about two brothers stuck in an urban setting,” he explained. “When I was thirteen my family moved, not far from Schenectady, but to the suburbs, and that’s when I realized what I had experienced was different. Over the years I knew who the film would be about, but I still didn’t know what the film would be about, so I could never get the idea out on paper.”

Nick was no novice when he began at New York Film Academy’s Universal Studios campus. “I had been a working gaffer in NYC for four years after completing my undergrad,” says Nick. “My passion was to direct, so I spent that time on set studying everything that was happening. I decided to go back for my MFA to continue after my goal of being an indie filmmaker, and experience filmmaking in LA. No matter what my experience was prior I wanted to absorb everything my teachers had to offer. I developed good relationships with my teachers, who have great knowledge and experience.”

After graduation, Nick developed the feature length script for Electric City, and reached out to his former advisor, NYFA instructor Brendan Davis, for feedback. Brendan raved about the script, saying, “He nailed the tone, the arcs, and the characters, and kept it real while keeping hope. He’s done a really exceptional job on it and has the chance to make an exceptional film. To me this is a… studio quality drama with award-worthy writing. The roles in this piece are something that serious actors would fight to play. But the material speaks for itself.”

Though they have secured some funding for the film, they have also started a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. Twenty-percent of the proceeds will go to support Small Can Be Big, an organization that supports victims of domestic abuse and families in need. “It’s a social issue that we have to stare in the face everyday,” says Nick. “[W]hy not try to help people as much as we can, whenever we can, because at the end of the day, that’s the goal. Make a difference, make a change, even if it’s for just one kid who needs a reminder that even when times are hard, we can never give up on ourselves and our goals.”

When asked about future plans, Nick said, “Right now my main focus is getting Electric City in the can, and screening at festivals by 2013. I’m not really thinking about any other projects. I have a wallet full of receipts, ticket stubs, and business cards that I use to jot notes down on. When the time comes to start developing a new story, I’ll have that as my resource. For now, all I got is this script, and a pocket full of dreams.”

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!

Sal’s Guide to Being An Independent Producer

Published on May 11, 2012

Sal Irizarry is making a splash with his debut comedy feature film, Bert and Arnie’s Guide to Friendship. Sal met his producing partners, Jane Basina and Waj Arshad, while attending NYFA. After graduation, they decided to work together under Sal’s company banner, Justified Ends Entertainment. From there, they ran a nation wide script contest through indieWIRE.com, raised private equity, and produced the film in 2011.

So, where did his passion for the industry begin?

“I was looking to go to film school and I didn’t want to spend three years on theory before learning the process hands-on. After looking into several programs and seeking the advice of several of my friends who were already in the industry, I decided to attend NYFA because of its intensive, hands-on program, from day one. Just as I had hoped, in the first week of school we were working on our first short film. The Producing Program taught me real world skills and industry practices that were relevant throughout the entire process of production; from development to festival screenings and everything in between. Let’s be clear though, there are some things you can’t learn in a classroom, but the education I received at NYFA was the perfect foundation to get me through the process.”

What drives you as an artist?

“As a creative producer, I enjoy the process of finding a story worth telling as much as I enjoy the wheeling and dealing side of the business. Though my primary responsibility on set is to support the director, I have a responsibility to my investors to finish the movie on time, on budget and to get it out for the world to see. Maintaining the balance between art and commerce, managing expectations, finding creative solutions to problems that will come up both on and off set is just the beginning. After all, if your investors don’t recoup, you don’t get to keep making movies!”

What is your perspective on screening at film festivals? Advice on the process?

“You feel this sense of validation for all your hard work when you get into a fest and yet you can’t help but feel disappointed when you’re not accepted. The fact of the matter is that navigating the festival circuit takes a lot of time and energy. What I mean is, not every festival is a good fit for every movie and submitting to every upcoming fest can get really expensive really fast. I’ll research what movies played in a particular festival the prior year to get an idea if they’re truly indie friendly and support first time and up and coming filmmakers, or if it’s geared towards screening Hollywood Tentpoles.

At the end of the day, film festivals are great for exposure and buzz, but the ultimate goal for a producer is to get the movie sold. Have a web presence. Make sure your press kit and marketing materials are in order. Lastly, don’t forget about the deliverables you’ll need in order to get a distribution deal! If your plan is to DIY your film’s release, make sure you’ve built a community around your movie that you’ve cultivated and nurtured throughout the process. Keeping your fans updated as well as supporting other filmmakers in their efforts as best you can, will go a long way in this day and age.”

Final words of advice to NYFA students dreaming to succeed?

“Persistence, patience, 100% dedication, tons of hard work, long hours and a lot of luck. I cannot tell you how much I have sacrificed to realize my dream of being a producer. The commitment necessary to see a project through to the end is not for everyone. But hey, somebody’s gotta do it and I figure, why not me!”