Producer Julie Pacino with writer & director Jennifer DeLia

Following a summer run of the play Phoenix at the Cherry Lane Theatre in the West Village, Poverty Row Entertainment, founded by New York Film Academy Filmmaking graduate Julie Pacino, and Jennifer DeLia, went on a cross-country tour with their feature film Billy Bates. The tour held screenings at cities across the country and will conclude this upcoming week with screenings at the Quad Cinema in New York City. Prior to the Quad Cinema premiere tonight, we were privileged to have Julie return to her alma mater with writer / director Jennifer DeLia. Jen and Julie played gracious guest speakers as they presented their film along with moderator and NYFA Senior Director David Klein.

The film dives deep into the mind of an enigmatic artist and the arduous, psychological madness that goes into his creative approach. Bates, played by actor James Wirt, faces some rather disturbing inner-demons. While this is not your standard narrative, the film serves its purpose through its kaleidoscopic cinematography and provocative documentary style.

This was Julie Pacino’s debut as a producer, with her only previous experience from her short film, Abracadabra. She attached herself to the film about two-thirds of the way into the project after being taken by Jennifer’s footage. With Julie’s filmmaking background and training, she figured why not get the full experience of producing a film by tackling the project head on. From there on, Julie was one of the few leading forces in getting this film completed and distributed — a task that could be very daunting for an independent production.

“It’s essential to know all aspects of filmmaking,” said Julie Pacino. “I learned that in the short I directed. It’s just as important to know the business side as it is to knowing your actors and crew.”

Indeed it was clear that the success of a production, especially with this particular one, has to do with collaboration and respect for the entire cast and crew.

“As a director, it was important that I relate to all of the departments,” said writer and director Jennifer DeLia. “You realize that everyone, from actors to PA’s, should be treated the same — be humble — realize it’s a collaboration from everyone.”

As a result of the team’s humble and ambitious efforts, independent film lovers across the country and around the world are able to see this film in theaters, as well as online distributors iTunes and Google Play.

Poverty Row is now working on a feature based on the life of female silent film pioneer Mary Pickford, starring Lily Rabe, Julia Stiles, and Michael Pitt.

Jennifer DeLia, David Klein and Julie Pacino

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New York Film Academy students received the rare opportunity to participate in an intimate Q&A with one of the greatest actors in film history Al Pacino this past Thursday, December 4th at the Warner Bros. Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The discussion took place after a special advanced screening of Pacino’s new film The Humbling. In this, funny, observant, erotic comedy, Pacino plays an aging actor who feels he is losing his craft and after a breakdown becomes involved with a much younger woman but soon finds that it’s difficult to keep pace with her and makes the ultimate performance. The film was highly received by the students for its content and Al’s amazing performance in it. Producer Tova Laiter moderated the Q&A.

Oscar, Emmy, and Tony winning Al Pacino took the stage to an uproar of applause and a standing ovation from students. The legendary actor, who’s entertained and inspired us with iconic performances in The Godfather, Scarface, Dog Day Afternoon, Scent of a Woman, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Heat, to name just a few, was tremendously gracious for the warm reception. Pacino was all smiles and full of life, emanating that vivacious energy we’ve come to love him for.

In a profound statement about the actor’s process, and artistic process in general, Pacino stated, “I love the line that Michelangelo said in a poem when he was doing the Sistine Chapel, he said, ‘Lord, free me of myself that I may please you.’ Meaning, get to that place in us where we’re not censoring ourselves or trying to do it good or right but rather connect with whatever it is we’re trying to say in our work. Become. Become it, absorb it and let it come out and let the unconscious free. And I strive for that. And I rarely, rarely get it. If I do it’s for a moment or two… Sometimes I’m given a role… Then I have to look at the empty canvas and I say, ‘Wow, I don’t know anything about acting. I don’t know anything about anything. What am I gonna do?’ And you start. And the hope is that instead of figuring it out, you find it.”

Producer Tova Laiter with Al Pacino

But it wasn’t all serious talk. Al revealed the origins of his “Hoo-ah!” line in Scent of a Woman in an amusing story: “That came because I was learning to assemble and disassemble a .45 in forty-five seconds. And that ain’t easy. And I worked literally weeks on that, months, just with this Lieutenant Col. who would say to me every once in a while when I did it well, he would just say to me (pointing) ‘Hoo-ha!’ And I finally said to him, ‘What is that?’ And he said, ‘Well, you see that’s the way I talk to the troops. If they get in line and their suits are straight and their metals are straight, I just go up and I say ‘Hoo-ha!’ And that got into the movie. That wasn’t written.”

In closing, to the question of what the most important thing acting has taught him, Pacino answered, “It taught me to love people more. I feel more a part of the world. And that we’re all actors. Only some of us can really do it. Some of us have the ability to do it…and the desire to do it. And it taught me that desire can sometimes trump talent. Think about that. So that you may not have as much talent as you think you have, but if you have the desire, your talent will find you.”

When the Q&A ended, Al Pacino thanked and waved goodbye to students as they all stood and cheered once again. It was a wildly entertaining and inspiring night that was a special gift to NYFA. In a cosmic coincidence, Al’s daughter Julie Pacino, an alumna of NYFA, showed her movie to NYFA students at our Union Square square campus the same day!

We thank Al Pacino for sharing his time with us and look forward to the success of The Humbling (which Al also produced), directed by Barry Levinson. The film opens in theaters in limited release for a week on December 5 and wide release January 23rd, 2015.

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There is a place that exists where heavily armed gladiators sharpen their blades and prepare to battle before thousands. It’s a lesser-known city that remains tucked away where hooved mythological creatures roam the streets and come together to feast with legendary gods while the Praetorian Guard continues its watch over the Roman Empire. Except this isn’t Rome, and this isn’t 117 A.D. Instead, it’s present day June in the northwest of Spain where Lugo, Galicia residents annually celebrate Arde Lucus: The pivotal day that the 3^rd century Roman rampart connecting the cities of Lugo, Astorga, and Braga was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. It’s also the only rampart entirely intact from the Roman Empire in the world.

New York Film Academy alumnus and Lugo native, Brais Revalderia has earned himself (so far) 17 international awards such as “Best Director,” “Best Documentary,” and “Best Concept” for his documentary Arde Lucus, and that doesn’t include his 26 international festival selections. The film takes an in-depth look at the 4-day celebration and its people that prepare all year to authentically transform Lugo back in time over 1700 years in celebration of the newly bestowed historical site. With the festival still just 14 years old, the city has overwhelmingly seen visitors recently reach half a million with 99% of its residents, including government officials, participating in the reenactment.

“I thought I knew everything about the city I was born in but I was completely wrong,” says Revalderia. “I decided to do this documentary to learn about Lugo’s past but also because I love Galicia. Spain focuses on getting tourists to visit the southern areas of the country and the same doesn’t happen for Galicia. To me it’s the most beautiful part, has the best food, and is home to very important history of the world.”

Revalderia graduated from the New York Film Academy’s Two-Year Filmmaking Program in 2013. With little budget, help from fellow NYFA alumnus, Ota Hsieh, and a crew of 15, Arde Lucus took an intense year of preparation, shooting, and postproduction to complete. When asked about his experience at NYFA, the award-winning director said, “I really liked the fact that it was a hands-on program. For someone like me who already had a Bachelor’s degree, it was exactly what I needed to learn how a movie really gets done.”

Revalderia’s goal of Arde Lucus is to help bring awareness to the rest of the world of his historical hometown and the Roman and Castrexo roots that surround it with his unique documentary. Already receiving more awards than he can count on both hands, it seems this is just the beginning for Revalderia as he is close to a distribution agreement in Spain for the film.So what’s next for the award-winning NYFA graduate? Piruleta & Media, a company Brais started even before attending NYFA, is riding its momentum and working on several films such as the completion of 237np, his 2^nd year Sci-Fi thesis project which he says will “Impress people for sure,” with visual effects he confidentially states will be up to Hollywood standards.

For those who loved Arde Lucus, Brais is also entering the postproduction stages to his latest documentary, Lordemani, which will transport viewers into the world of Vikings this time around. And if those films don’t sound intriguing enough, The Arkham Archives will showcase Revalderia’s take on Batman.

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Michael Zelniker as Red Rodney in “Bird”

One of the more enticing factors of studying at the New York Film Academy is its commitment to staffing its teachers and instructors with those who have sound experience and success in the film industry. In some cases our instructors come from a versatile background, having worked extensively in many artistic areas, including acting, filmmaking and theatre. Such is the case with Acting for Film and Acting Technique Instructor Michael Zelniker. Having starred in more than 20 feature films and countless television productions, Zelniker is perhaps best known for his portrayal of trumpeter Red Rodney in Clint Eastwood’s award winning film Bird. If you’re from Canada, you may recognize him for his Canadian Academy Award (Genie Award) winning performance in The Terry Fox Story, which also starred Robert Duvall.

“One of the reasons I love working at NYFA is — having spent my life learning how to do this work I love so much — getting to give it away to young people just beginning their creative journeys is an awesome privilege,” said Zelniker. “One of the great features to NYFA as an educational institution is it has a very large international student body. That unique mix of cultures, ideas and sensibilities makes for a powerfully dynamic artistic atmosphere.”

Zelniker was born and raised in Montreal where he trained as an actor at Dawson College’s Conservatory Theatre School. After graduating, Zelniker moved to Toronto, where he began working in theaters all across Canada doing everything from Shakespeare to David Mamet, appearing in more than 20 Equity productions, including Amadeus, Henry V, Mother Courage and American Buffalo.

Michael Zelniker as Martin in “Naked Lunch”

Since moving to Los Angeles, where he currently teaches, Zelniker has worked in both movies and television. His long list of credits include co-starring in David Cronenberg’s acclaimed film Naked Lunch with Peter Weller; Queens Logic with John Malkovich and Kevin Bacon; Touch and Go with Michael Keaton; and Bird with Forest Whitaker.

Some notable television movie appearances include the Showtime mini-series The Neon Empire; Masterpiece Theatre’s Glory Enough For All for PBS; and the ABC mini-series Crossings with Christopher Plummer. Zelniker guest starred many times on series such as The Dead Zone, Chicago Hope, Millennium, Profiler, The Inside, Strong Medicine, Veritas the Quest, For the People, In the Heat of the Night and Murder She Wrote. Zelniker has starred in many independent features including, Snide and Prejudice, directed by Philippe Mora; Air Time, directed by Gary Fleder; and the Sundance Lab developed film, After Image.

Zelniker’s theatre directing credits include the critically acclaimed Child’s Play, at the John Anson Ford Theatre, the sketch comedy show, White House Chicks at the HBO Workspace, Waiting for Lefty and Moonchildren at the Lillian Theater, and One Love and Love and Death and Other Trivial Matters at the Artworks Theatre.

As a filmmaker, Zelniker co-wrote, produced, and played the title character in the critically acclaimed, festival award winning feature, Stuart Bliss. He also directed, co-wrote and produced the low budget, experimental feature, Falling… that premiered at Indie Fest USA International Film Festival in August 2012, winning their Best of Festival Award. The film is currently being distributed by Vanguard Cinema and Anderson Digital.

We’re thrilled to have Michael Zelniker on our team and confident in his ability to share his invaluable insight to budding talent at the New York Film Academy.

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The New York Film Academy Australia campus in Sydney held its first Inaugural Filmmaking Showcase at Event Cinemas, George Street in VMAX 2. The multiplex theater, which screens today’s top films, just so happens to be filmmaker Baz Luhrmann’s favorite cinema in Australia!

To kick off the event, filmmakers strutted the red carpet outside of the theater. After all, what would an award-ceremony be without a red carpet? Guests included our filmmakers and their families and friends, screen industry professionals, 2015 committed students, potential new students and NYFA Sydney alumni. NYFA Australia Director Simon Hunter and NYFA Australia Academic Manager Craig Proudley were also on hand for the night. NYFA is the first and only film school to have showcased thesis films in a VMAX cinema at Event Cinemas, George Street, Sydney. We love being pioneers.

The awards ceremony gave out 4 awards, including Outstanding Student, Best Cinematographer, Best Director and Best Film, which was chosen by a panel of screen industry professionals.

“It is an exciting partnership that Event Cinemas has with NYFA,” said Event Cinemas General Manager, Anthony Kierann. “Last night was a night of talented filmmakers and actors expressing their creative journey and discovering their voice within the magical process of storytelling in the art of filmmaking. There is a huge appetite within the film-going community to experience extraordinary stories with universal themes and social significance. Last night there was a range of styles, performances, screenwriting and visual bravery with astute detail and a willingness to explore all the nuanced options creatively available to tell a story — the films screened last night at the thesis screenings certainly were a testament to the talent pool at NYFA in Sydney. As an exhibitor, it is encouraging to see such a depth of talent. Events looks forward to furthering its support and partnership; to be in some small way a nurturing component that may allow these young filmmakers and actors wings to grow. Congratulations to everyone involved and a special congratulations to Ren Thackham for her audacious visionary film Lady Luck, which won the Best Film Award”

Anthony and Event Cinemas were so pleased with the night that they have committed to playing one of our filmmakers thesis films, Wolf by Ethan Thomas before a feature film. Overall, it was not only an entertaining night, it was a whopping success. We look forward to our next Filmmaking Showcase at Event Cinemas!

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photo by Mauricio Pazmino

Recently, New York Film Academy’s Co-chair of Photography Paul Sunday invited guest lecturer G.K. Reid. Reid is a celebrity stylist, editor, designer and filmmaker.

G. K. was a co-star of the Bravo television series Double Exposure with photographers Markus Klinko and Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri. He has worked with many of the most renowned artists and celebrities of our time, including Beyonce Knowles, David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Kanye West, Britney Spears, Anne Hathaway and Katie Holmes. His editorial work has appeared regularly in V, Harpers Bazaar, GQ, Flaunt, Arena Homme Plus, iD, Interview, Vibe, and Rolling Stone.

Mr. Reid’s visit was an inspiring evening of advice from an industry insider. He shared strategies for photographers interested raising the quality of their image-making. He also emphasized the importance of diligence in training your eye, following your dreams and transforming your ideas into images. He urged students to take full advantage of the opportunities that full-time study provides and also warned, “don’t save your great ideas for later, start working on them now!”

G.K. has a remarkable eye and has consistently been ahead of the curve on trends in fashion and photography. We’d like to thank G.K. Reid for sharing his insight.

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A frustrated screenwriter gets unlikely inspiration for his next “killer” screenplay. A young man is pressured by his father to leave his true love for an arranged marriage. A police detective viciously interrogates three suspects to uncover who murdered an innocent man over a parking spot.

These stories were but three of the twelve films and music videos recently screened at New York Film Academy’s Student Arabic Film Festival. With Dean of Enrollment Tami Alexander in attendance (all the way from New York!), the festival showed how the themes and stories created by our Arabic students were truly universal.

Recent alum Osama Alkhurayji along with current students Almotaz Aljefri and Fawaz Saleh organized the event with Dean of Students Eric Conner. After receiving submissions from several current students, a lineup was compiled which included an array of dramas, thrillers, comedy and romance.

In a Question and Answer session after the screening, the student filmmakers described the passion (and occasional problems) that went into creating their work. What came across from the comments was how relatable the material was to an audience from all over the globe.

At the end of the night, three projects were recognized by a judging panel that included Saudi film director Bader Alhamoud and Al Riyadh’s Film Critic Rja Almutairi.

First Place
NOT THIS WAY
Producer / Director of Photography – Abdullah Alshuridah
Producer – Mann Binabdulrahman

Second Place
SHARP
Director – Omar Said

Third Place
JOHNNY SHADOW
Director – Abdullah Abuljadail

Congratulations to all the filmmakers on their work!

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New York Film Academy Los Angeles Critical Film Art and Intro To Film Instructor Robert Pucci took a rather interesting turn in his career after passing the bar exams for both New York and New Jersey — a difficult feat in itself. What could be a more challenging career path than passing law school and two bar exams? Acting. Robert’s passion for the craft sent him on his way to Los Angeles to become an actor. However, while playing a recurring role on The Young and the Restless, he realized that, at heart, he is a writer.

With tremendous experience in the industry, in addition to his grasp on the law, Robert provides invaluable insight to his students on the world ahead of them. “I feel any instructor who has been in the trenches, (and I’ve been in them as an actor, and to a far greater extent, as a writer) offers something worthwhile to young artists,” says Mr. Pucci. “That said, my aim is to make this experience about them and not me, but when I can impart lessons learned by way of trial by fire, I share them.”

Robert currently teaches two courses at the Film Academy that provide an overview of the history of cinema with a look at the many movements and techniques which shape film as they experience it today. In so doing, Robert aims to connect the past to the present and show the students that the filmmakers, actors and writers they currently admire are well-versed in the work of the artists who came before and incorporate what they’ve learned in their own work.

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Andrea and Matteo Cossi

In the industry, we use the term “elevator pitch” to refer to a summary of an idea that should be delivered in the hypothetical time span of an elevator ride. The hope is to have your pitch coherent and concise while keeping the listener entertained. A successful conversation could lead to an all important meeting with an agent or a producer. Such is the basis for One-Year Filmmaking students and brothers Andrea and Matteo Cossi’s film The Pitch. The short film is a comedy about Ben, a 20-year-old guy who wants to make a living in the filmmaking business. As storekeeper of Broadway Studios and an aspiring screenwriter, he decides with the help of a friend to pitch his film to the famous producer Mr. Bethorn in the elevator of Broadway Studios. The project was the brothers’ thesis film made with the intention of serving as a promo for a web-series.

“Our goal with this short movie is to not only entertain the audience, but also express the idea that if you really want to realize your dreams, you have to create your own opportunities,” said Matteo Cossi. “The filmmaking industry is a very dynamic field — thus you always need to be proactive and you always have to consider the ups and downs that come with this career.”

The brothers, originally from Italy, have already had success with the film, as it will be screening at the Italian American Museum in New York City on December 20th, 2014 at 7:30pm along with their first semester film, Colors. The first semester short is a drama that explores the theme of blindness with a tacit referral to organ donation. It also focuses on the parental love of a grandfather for his blind grandson.

“The idea that led to the birth of Colors is right in the title. Colors are an interpretation of the reality that surrounds us by the response of our eye to the light. Light determines the colors, and colors create an image. What better choice to make a short film that represents us as filmmakers if not talking about colors? Cinema is light, after all. For those who live in the light, for those who can see, the color does not need much explanation. It is something that is there and always has been. But for those who live in the dark, for those who can not see, there is no color.”

The goal with the short film Colors is to sensitize the audience to the theme of organ donation and show how love has the power to connect worlds that may seem far apart.

The brothers are currently working on two new projects. The first one is a fantasy horror feature about love, family and forgiveness. The second is a fictional, historical drama that shows the vicissitudes of an Italian family who moves to an early twentieth century New York City. The brothers intend to underline the difficulties that Italian immigrants had to face when coming to America. The stories enable us to witness their sacrifice, their love for family and their ability to integrate with a different culture.

“We had a life-changing experience at NYFA. We perfected our filmmaking craft while getting to know people from all around the world. We’d like to thank our teachers, in particular: Paul Warner, our directing teacher; Arsenio Assin, our cinematography teacher; and Liz Foley, our producing teacher, who all taught us to work as a group, a real crew, instead of as ‘singular heads’ before, during and after any shoot.”

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Hawk Koch and Jake Gyllenhaal

New York Film Academy was one of the sponsors of the Producers Guild of America “Produced by” conference at the Time Warner Center. NYFA had a strong presence at this historic event, staged for the first time in New York City. Participants included Producing Department Co-Chairs Neal Weisman and Nick Yellen, Admissions Reps Sal Irizarry (a Producing Program alumni) and Robert Gorrie, as well as a number of current Producing students.

NYFA reps attended a variety of session that addressed the entire spectrum of the producing process: from creative producing, to the latest in international and domestic financing, to the very dynamic and fluid distribution landscape that is challenging the entire industry. Prominent among the panels attended were such diverse sessions as “Inside Showrunning”, “Financial Models in the Era of Hybrid Distribution”, “Tax Credit Financing”, and “The Power of Female Driven Content”. A variety of participants included such speakers and NYFA colleagues such as producer and distributor Harvey Weinstein, actor/producer Jake Gyllenhall, director/producer Darren Aronofsky, television show runner Jenni Konner, producer Scott Franklin, writer/producer/distributor James Schamus, Academy Award winning producers Donna Gigliotti and Cathy Schulman, regular NYFA industry speaker and film finance expert John Hadity, and producer Steven Haft. Of special interest was the presentation by famed distributor Ruth Vitale on the subject of film piracy. Look for Ruth to be a guest at NYFA early in the 2015 where she will elaborate on industry efforts to confront this serious issue.

Mark Gordon and Terrence Winter

NYFA Producing students attending the PGA “Produced by” Conference not only participated in panel sessions and networked amongst industry professionals, they also spent a good part of the day posting social media messages across multiple platforms! All in all, the Conference was a valuable experience for all concerned.

Harvey Weinstein and Scott Feinberg

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One of our recent 8-week Filmmaking graduates, Nigerian R&B star Banky W, showcased his most recent music video work, which he filmed in collaboration with the New York Film Academy, at one of the largest theaters in Lagos, Nigeria. The “Music Film Experience” premiere event at the Palms Mall was attended by some of the Nigeria’s top celebrities and A-listers, and was sponsored by Samsung, Diamond Bank, Ciroc vodka, Oando Plc, and Fuse.

The night began with the screening of Mercy, which was Banky’s final film at NYFA. From there, he screened his music video, Lowkey, and ended with a viewing of Unborn Child. Following the screenings, Banky W spoke with the audience about his videos and experience working on the project. As for his overall game-plan with the videos, he plans to release his clips one at a time to give his fans a sneak peek.

Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, Banky enrolled in NYFA’s Union Square campus to study an 8-week Filmmaking course where he was able to develop his skills to co-produce and co-direct his largest music video to date alongside Jonathan Whittaker, Chair of Short-Term Filmmaking Program at The New York Film Academy. “Being on set with Jonathan, Til Neumann [NYFA Instructor] and the NYFA team provided me a priceless learning experience,” said Banky W. “I was fortunate enough to have Jonathan as a teacher in my cinematography class, and then again as a collaborator when we co-directed my Unborn Child video. I feel blessed to have learned so much from him, in and outside of the classroom.”

Banky W on set at NYFA

With a NYFA crew comprised of former students, assistants and faculty, Unborn Child was shot on the Red Epic at Gary’s Loft in Midtown and just off Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx in only two days. The video stars Banky, Lynxxx, and 8-week Acting for Film student Aminat Ayinde. “Til was absolutely phenomenal as well, and I can’t say enough about the alumni like Matthia Palombi and Philipp Pchelin, who I also worked with on the other films I shot, as well as the rest of the NYFA team. The videos I got to make wouldn’t be what they are without their invaluable help and expertise.”

Banky W took full advantage of NYFA’s hands-on experience, diving head first into several projects. “I consider my training at NYFA to be an important foundation for the rest of the filmmaking work I intend to do. I hope to build on this by putting into practice what I learnt, but I also hope to continue to learn. I have more classes to take, more work to do, and many more films/videos/clips to write and direct.”

Banky W and Dorcas

“Having already spent many successful years on the music scene in Africa, I consider this the start of something very exciting and limitless; something I will do for a very long time, and something I hope to excel in,” said Banky W. I can’t thank NYFA enough for helping me begin to make this dream a reality.”

We’d also like to thank Banky W for his kind words and wish his much success in the world of filmmaking! Be on the lookout for Unborn Child, which is officially scheduled to be released around the beginning of January.

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It’s been a month of showcases for our fellow friends and students in Australia. New York Film Academy Gold Coast showcased a record 25 films at this year’s annual Filmmakers Showcase. The films were screened over two nights at the new state-of-the-art library at Helensvale. Both nights were packed houses with filmmakers celebrating the end of a great year with family, friends and NYFA faculty. NYFA Director, Simon Hunter attended the event along with Chair of Filmmaking, Shawn Kassinger; Craig Proudley, General Manager, Gold Coast and Jennie Hughes, General Manager, Sydney.

The Australian Gold Coast campus offers a number of filmmaking programs including one and two-year programs as well as short term and evening courses. Students who wish to continue their study towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts can do so at our Los Angeles campus. In fact, one of our recent Gold Coast graduates, Dominic Polito, has decided to continue his studies with a Master Of Fine Arts at NYFA Los Angeles.

We’d like to thank everyone who made this special event possible, and wish the best of luck to our graduates as they head into the professional world of filmmaking!

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Some of the most successful and critically acclaimed horror films like The Exorcist and The Omen have dealt with the timeless idea of demonic possession. Growing up, New York Film Academy MFA Producing Alumnus and current instructor Justin Lareau lived near a home that had the first documented cases of possession in American history. “Seeing this house everyday, I knew that when I had the opportunity to make my first feature, I would want it to be something similar,” said Lareau. “So it inspired my original story idea.”

Justin wrote the original story for his horror film before entering NYFA and then wrote the treatment during one of his classes. He wanted to graduate and be able to make a feature right away. It was at NYFA that Justin met with two other producing students Ayush Banker and Helene Gonze. After incorporating an LLC, Justin brought his classmates aboard to write and produce the script, which would be become Nefas: The Wicked. “All three of us were an integral part of the project, getting great deals to make this a large production,” said Lareau. “We are a team that worked very well together and are in preparation for the sequel as we speak.”

The story of Nefas revolves around a small town skeptical doctor, who is forced to face his inner demons in order to save the life of a possessed teenage girl living in his family’s old house. It’s a unique take on possession which separates itself from the other similar stories yet it takes us back to the classics mentioned before like The Omen and The Exorcist.

As is often said and most certainly holds true on this project, it’s all in the re-write. After their original draft, the team wanted an outside opinion on the script, and decided to hire writer Michelle Beyda Scott. From there, the team of three went back to work, writing the next 21 drafts.

Once the team was confident in the script, they successfully pitched the project to private investors, raising the necessary funds for the film. With investment dollars secured and the help of talent agents, the two lead actors: Charlene Amoia, formerly Wend the Waitress on nine years of How I Met Your Mother and on American Reunion amongst many other projects, and Patricia Ashley who formerly hosted her own Nickelodeon show called Got Ya Covered. Aside from producing the film, Justin and Ayush directed the film as well.

In terms of distribution, the team is in talks with distributors but are waiting for the final phase of sound design to be completed before the project is open for sale. Nefas will be completed by the end of January 2015. Following that, the team will make a festival run.

“In a perfect world, I would like for it to get it’s distribution and then make a festival run for our marketing,” noted Lareau. “I would love for a limited theatrical that would lead to a wider distribution, followed by all of the other platforms. Our sound has been designed for a theatrical release and the quality of the image is that of a major motion picture.”

We wish the best of luck to Justin, Ayush and Helene on Nefas: The Wicked and look forward to seeing it in the theaters!

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Casting director David Rubin visited New York Film Academy Los Angeles to screen the classic film The Talented Mr. Ripley, which he cast, and participate in a Q&A session with students. David is chairman of the Casting Directors Branch at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and is also the casting consultant for HBO, working on their upcoming series, movies and miniseries. He cast such films as the upcoming Wild with Reese Witherspoon and Warren Beatty’s Howard Hughes film. He also cast other acclaimed films like The Addams Family, The War of the Roses, My Cousin Vinny, The Firm, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Get Shorty, The English Patient, Men in Black, and My Best Friend’s Wedding. David won an Emmy for casting Game Changer for HBO and received the Hollywood Film Festival Award for Outstanding Career Achievement, as well as an honorary Career Achievement Award from the Casting Society of America presented to him by Baz Luhrmann. Producer Tova Laiter and NYFA acting instructor Michael Zelniker moderated the discussion.

Mr. Rubin has been a fan of live theater all of his life and admits to being a complete “theater geek.” In fact, he’s kept a program from every show he’s attended since he was a boy in a plastic sealed scrapbook. As a young man in New York, the encyclopedia-like knowledge of the city’s pool of acting talent and enormous vocabulary David acquired from seeing so many plays, and also directing his own, unconsciously prepared him in a perfect manner for a career in casting. It wasn’t until he took on a job as a casting assistant that he realized how well suited for casting he was and the deep-rooted passion he had for the profession.

David has a unique approach to casting that has led him to immense success. When he first receives a script, he crosses all of the writer’s character descriptions out. David knows that these labels are obvious, surface interpretations of the character and he’s going for something much deeper. He lets the character’s story arch clue him in to the type of actor appropriate for the role. And instead of bringing in a bunch of actors that all look and sound the same, which is the norm the casting world, he auditions actors of all shapes, sizes, races, and personality types. In this way, David uses the casting process to further investigate the right kind of person he’s looking for.

Mr. Rubin’s best advice to actors in the audience was this: “Be yourself.” Many actors fail in attempting to conform themselves to what they believe the role is and the result is always inauthentic. Expressing yourself fully is your most valuable commodity by far as an actor because there is no one else exactly like you. What David always looks for in auditions is the “Actor’s essence” and he then determines whether that matches what he has determined the “character’s essence” to be.

Hearing how David Rubin rose to success as a casting director and the invaluable advice he acquired along the way was an incredible gift to NYFA students. We sincerely thank David for his time and look forward to seeing all of his amazing casting work to come.

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On November 25th, 2014, screenwriter and New York Film Academy writing instructor Dan Kay swung by our Business of Screenwriting class to regale his story of how he went from a kid growing up in Larchmont, NY to a rising Hollywood screenwriter, whose movie Pay the Ghost, starring Nicholas Cage, is currently in post-production.

Kay grew up on the east coast and was always a lover of independent cinema. “Movies like Clerks, The Brothers McMullin, solid independent productions, these were the movies I looked up to and wanted to initially make,” Kay recalled. Kay studied English at the University of Pennsylvania, and upon graduation got his first movie into production, which he also directed, the indie Way Off Broadway about five recent college graduates who take a crash course in life as they explore the dynamic conflict in friendships, sex, love, and betrayal. Kay credits the movie getting made to indie producer Richard Perello, whose Cataland Films which financed the film has since gone on to produce all of the comedy troop’s Broken Lizard’s productions (Super Troopers, Beerfest, etc.).

“Traveling with the movie, as it played the festival circuit, is still one of the most memorable times of my career,” Kay remembered. Way Off Broadway played in over 30 film festivals and won the Grand Jury and Audience Award Prizes at the Westchester, Stony Brook, and Waterfront Film Festivals. Small Planet Pictures picked up theatrical distribution and the IFC Channel picked up its TV rights.

Kay spent his first few post-college years in New York, working production and post-production jobs at night so he could write during the day, something he adamantly recommended to our writing students. “In my opinion, you want to allow yourselves the maximum amount of time to write and crank out new material, so it’s best to get a job that allows you to have that precious block of time.” Still, it wasn’t long before Kay realized he needed to move out to Los Angeles. “The independent scene was changing and wasn’t as thriving in New York as it had been. There were fewer jobs…” Kay headed out west, where he soon found representation.

Kay’s first writing assignment may surprise some, as it’s outside of the spectrum of what he’s now known for working on (mainly thriller, action, and horror movies). It was Disney’s Tinkerbell 2, a straight-to-DVD animated children’s title. “Even though it was outside the realm of what I would normally do, I had to find a way to get excited about it, and put myself into it, something you always need to with your writing,” Kay explained. Kay was working hard on the script and Disney was planning a whole slew of sequels, which Kay had already mapped out, but when there was a regime change at Disney Animation, they scrapped the whole endeavor, including all of Kay’s work, a lesson Kay didn’t soon forget — “Some things are beyond your control, especially Hollywood company politics, and as a writer, you have better get used to that and not take it personally. And keep writing.”

Next up for Kay was his horror/thriller Timber Falls, his first foray into the thriller genre he’s now becoming increasingly known for, about a weekend of camping in the mountains that becomes an excursion into hell for a young couple, because of the grotesque plot hatched by the deranged locals. Kay spoke pretty frankly about the evolution of this project, “Basically the director (Tony Giglio) who came on rewrote my script. On the poster is a man with a hatchet blade threatening a scared, bloody woman – yeah, neither of those characters were in my initial screenplay,” Kay remarked, getting a few laughs. “It was in the era when ‘torture porn’ was increasingly popular due to movies like Saw and Hostel, so they transformed it into one of those,” Kay shrugged. He explained this is pretty common. “At some point, a director is going to make changes to your story – it’s inevitable. Sometimes they’re drastic alterations as was definitely the case here.”

Nicholas Cage on set of “Pay the Ghost”

However, since Timber Falls, Kay has had increasing levels of success in the thriller genre. In 2007, Kay set up Details at Paramount Vantage with then rising (now-uber) horror producer Jason Blum, which tells the story of a daughter who disappears after uncovering a demonic force that only she can see, and the father who stops at nothing to bring her back. And it was actually back in 2010 that Kay initially set up Pay the Ghost, originally with financier SKE (Sidney Kimmel) and director Dennis Iliadis (Last House on the Left). The script tells the story of loving couple, whose young son is mysteriously abducted Halloween night, who one year later begin to sense his presence in frightening ways.

Despite all the elements in place, however, this incarnation of Pay the Ghost never came to be and it was only when the script went into turn-around and financier Voltage Pictures and Nic Cage came aboard that it regained momentum, which happens sometimes, Kay explained. In the interim, Kay kept writing and has a host of other projects in development as well, including the tech-thriller I.T. with Pierce Brosnan attached to star and John Moore (A Good Day to Die Hard) attached to direct. Kay has also ventured into TV, something he recommended to NYFA’s students, setting up his supernatural thriller pilot Diabolic with eOne. “There’s been a seismic shift in the film and television landscape, and it definitely behooves young writers to try their hands at both,” Kay advised.

Kay closed out with a wise piece of advice on how he comes up with his ideas. “You have to remember that a good idea can really come from anywhere. And in the idea phase, it’s a fragile thing, so don’t stymie yourself early on. Let the idea grow, as you really never know what it might become…”

Kay is repped by APA and New Wave Entertainment. Pay the Ghost is currently in post-production and slated for next later this year. Kay lives in Los Angeles and teaches writing at the New York Film Academy Los Angeles.

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Meera as Kashika in Hotal

Growing up in Pakistan on Hollywood films, TV and even cartoons, New York Film Academy Producing graduate Khalid Hasan Khan found his venture to NYFA Los Angeles’ film school inevitable. It was at the Academy that Hasan learned the craft of filmmaking and began to develop the basis for his award-winning film, Hotal. The independent Pakistani feature film is a psycho-thriller about an Indian woman who ends up in a hotel where she meets her unborn sister. In addition to its original storytelling, Hotal is completely groundbreaking in that it is the first Hindi feature film shot outside the Indian Bollywood industry.

The film boasts Lollywood star Meera and singer Jasmine Sandlas, who sings her “Mombatti” song in the film. After winning Best Film and Best Actress (Meera) at the Delhi International Film Festival, Hotal is arguably the most talked about film in Pakistan.

The Hindu wrote, “The screenplay by Khalid Hasan is being viewed as a bold attempt which will go a long way in making Pakistan’s small yet rapidly growing industry more creative and original.”

Khalid Hasad Khan inking a deal with IMGC

Before Khalid attended NYFA, he claims he had no real desire to write and direct a feature length film. Once he had the opportunity to experience the filmmaking process from start to finish in a hands-on environment, his outlook changed. “It dawned upon me that I can do everything from start to scratch,” said Khalid. “I have learnt a lot by doing hands-on filmmaking during my graduation program.”

Indeed he did. Khalid not only developed an original screenplay, he was able to attach significant talent from Pakistan in what is now an award-winning film with a global distribution deal. “I owe it all to my faculty and management,” added Khalid.

Pakistan’s distributor, IMGC Global Entertainment has acquired the global distribution deal for Hotal, which is set to be released on March 13, 2015. Interestingly enough, Khalid admitted he was wearing his NYFA jacket when he officially inked the distribution deal with Chairman, Sheikh Amjad Rashid.

Have a look at the trailer for Hotal and let us know what you think!

Hotal (Theatrical Trailer) from Khalid on Vimeo.

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With the NFL Playoffs in full swing, remaining teams are battling it out on the field for their dream of playing in the biggest sporting event of them all: the Super Bowl. Comparatively, creative directors, ad agencies and filmmakers have been competing all year for the opportunity to have their ad broadcast on what is also the “Super Bowl for commercials.” Such is the case for New York Film Academy Los Angeles Senior Directing Instructor Nick Sivakumaran, Filmmaking alum Dave Horowitz, as well as writer Richard Jindapornsuk for their entry into the Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” contest. Their hilarious spec commercial, The Lemonade Stand, was announced as one of ten finalists to potentially air during the Super Bowl XLIX broadcast—one selected by fan votes and the other by the Doritos brand. Not only that, if the trio receives the most votes, they will win a guaranteed $1 million grand prize!

“We’re thrilled to be selected as Finalists and cherish the opportunity to have The Lemonade Stand air during the Super Bowl,” said director Sivakumaran. “It would be an incredible honor to have a project I directed viewed by over 110 million people.”

The team’s 30 second spot already aired on NBC’s The Today Show during Matt Lauer and Carson Daly’s segment that announced the finalists.

We encourage you to check out and vote for their commercial by visiting: https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/finalists#/6514.

Each of the 10 “Crash the Super Bowl” finalists are invited to Arizona to attend Super Bowl XLIX and watch the game from a private suite, where they will tune in to learn which finalist ads will air for the world to see. The eight finalists whose commercials don’t air during the broadcast will each win $25,000. The runner-up whose ad airs, but does not receive the most fan votes, will win $50,000. The Super Bowl XLIX broadcast will be on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, on NBC in the United States and local broadcast networks around the world.

Voting ends January 28th, 2015, so vote now and support our fellow NYFA peers!

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NYFA President Michael Young and the Honorable Dr. Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna, former president of the Dominican Republic

Founded by the Honorable Dr. Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna, former president of the Dominican Republic, the foundation serves as a bridge for Dominican students seeking higher education in the United States of America.

In support of the efforts of FUNGLODE/GFDD in regard to student mobility, the New York Film Academy will offer a 25% tuition reduction for students approved by FUNGLODE/GFDD and accepted by NYFA for its degree programs.

“NYFA is excited to partner with FUNGLODE/GFDD,” said NYFA Director of Outreach and Development, Jack Newman. “Planning is underway to expand the opportunities for Dominican students to experience the hands-on and intensive education provided by the Academy.”

All applicants will be pre-screened by FUNGLODE/GFDD and will follow the admissions requirements noted at https://www.nyfa.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements.php. Applications and supporting materials will be forwarded to NYFA by FUNGLODE/GFDD for review, processing, and final approval for admission to NYFA.

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Actor and NYFA Acting Instructor, Ken Lerner

One of the finest and most accomplished feelings for a teacher is when his or her pupils succeed in the real world. Such is the case with New York Film Academy’s Acting for Film Instructor Ken Lerner, who is not only recognized for his long-standing career as an actor but also for his help in getting thousands of actors cast in movies, television shows, pilots and plays.

Ken’s audition technique and scene study classes are exciting places to grow as an actor. His technique combines the wisdom of the great acting teachers with whom he has studied—London, Stella Adler and Peggy Feury—with his own extensive hands-on experiences in movies, TV shows, plays and commercials.

“I love teaching at NYFA because of all the countries that the students come from,” said Lerner. “It is a melting pot of experiences — the enthusiasm of these actors is energizing.”

Similar to many of NYFA’s staff of talented instructors, Ken has continued to work in TV, movies, and commercials for the last 36 years, making his a recognizable face everywhere he goes. He has appeared in more than 100 top television shows, including The Mentalist, NCIS, In Plain Sight, Two and a Half Men, Desperate Housewives, Castle, Weeds, CSI, Without a Trace and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. He has had over 40 film roles, including Unlawful Entry, The Doctor, The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Running Man, The Story of Us, Immediate Family, Irreconcilable Differences and Project X. In addition to film and television, Ken has starred in productions at The Pasadena Playhouse and Garry Marshall’s Falcon Theater and off-Broadway.

“My experience in the industry seems to be the biggest factor in my ability to be trusted that I know what I am teaching them, especially about auditions. I constantly use my acting jobs as reference for my students’ learning.”

Ken’s experience on sets and on stage give him the ability to share inside information with his students. Ken’s positive approach to the work and outstanding ability to break down scripts help him to nurture and bring out the best qualities in his students. Ken works and auditions all the time and imparts his experiences in his own funny, gentle but firm way. His technique gets results, as evidenced by the success of his students, who star on shows such as House, CSI, Cougar Town, Burn Notice, Scrubs, CSI: Miami and many others.

Ken uses his extensive contacts in the industry with directors, producers, casting directors and agents to offer special events for his students and monthly industry nights as a public service to the acting community.

His advice to all of his acting students and those pursuing the craft is to work hard and bring their special qualities to their auditions. “They are unique, and they must bring that into the audition rooms.”

The post Ken Lerner Brings His Vast Acting Experience to NYFA appeared first on New York Film Academy Blog.

Photo: Paul Drinkwater, AP

With last night’s 72nd annual Golden Globes taking place in Los Angeles, the ceremony continued to cement its reputation as the best indicator of who will likely be taking the top awards at this year’s Academy Awards. And while co-hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler—hosting the awards for their third and final time—offered plenty of laughs and well-meaning digs, the winners of the night gave the best insight on how this awards season will likely play out.

To that effect, Boyhood continued to clean up the awards circuit, nabbing the Best Picture, Drama award along with a Best Supporting Actress award for front-runner Patricia Arquette and the Best Director award for Richard Linklater. While Ava DuVernay is still widely believed to be receiving a nomination for Best Director on Thursday when the Academy Award nominees are announced, making her the first African-American woman to ever receive the honor, last night’s win for Linklater seems to indicate that it is his category to lose. However, with The Grand Hotel Budapest picking up the Best Picture, Comedy or Musical category, this dark horse seems more likely than ever to earn a few nominations on Thursday and add some intrigue to an increasingly predictable awards season.

While Boyhood was widely believed to be a lock for those three awards, the other likely Oscar front runners also got their due last night with Julianne Moore winning the award for Best Actress, Drama for her turn in Still Alice while Michael Keaton picked up his award for Best Actor, Musical or Comedy. However, as the Globes breaks up the best picture and actor categories into Drama and Musical or Comedy, both Keaton’s and Moore’s main competitors also walked away with awards, with Amy Adams winning for Big Eyes and Eddie Redmayne picking up a Best Actor, Drama for his turn as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. However, both the Best Actor and Actress categories remain highly competitive with actors like Jennifer Anniston, Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhall, and David Oyelowo making these categories the least predictable.

The same cannot be said of the Best Supporting Actor category, with JK Simmons accepting the award for his terrifying turn in Whiplash. Simply put, at this point it seems hard to imagine any actors other than Arquette and Simmons cleaning up the Supporting categories when the Oscars air on February 22^nd.

What did you think of last night’s telecast and who would you like to see walking away with nominations on Thursday? What films do you think might end up giving Boyhood a run for its money?

A full list of last night’s winners can be viewed here.

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