New York Film Academy Director of Acting Admissions, Roger Del Pozo teaches a Masterclass at 3IS Institut International Image & Son in Paris, France.
{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!
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Next on The Euro Trip: Italy
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!
New York Film Academy Auditions in Chicago!
New York Film Academy is holding auditions for all musical theater and acting programs in Chicago at the Palmer House on Tuesday, February 7th. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet Director of Acting Admissions Roger Del Pozo and Admissions Representative Blake Babbitt. Roger’s vast experience in the industry includes casting hundreds of commercials for Apple, Microsoft, Dunkin Donuts, Nickelodeon, Cheerios, and more. Blake is a New York based actor who has starred in a variety of shorts, commercials and off-Broadway plays. Take this valuable opportunity to receive feedback on your strengths as an actor.
For acting programs please prepare 2 contemporary contrasting monologues 60-90 seconds each. For Musical Theatre prepare 1 contemporary monologue and a 32 bar cut of a song. Please choose material within your age range. If you have them, please bring a headshot and resume. Auditions will take place at The Palmer House in Chicago: 17 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60603.
Spots are limited and RSVP is necessary. To attend, email blake@nyfa.edu.
New York Film Academy Director of Acting Admissions Raising Money For Charity Through Theater
New York Film Academy Director of Acting Admissions Roger Del Pozo is raising money for charity To Write Love on Her Arms, a non-profit dedicated to helping people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. Roger, whose vast experience in the industry includes casting hundreds of commercials for Apple, Microsoft, Dunkin Donuts, Nickelodeon, Cheerios, and more, is directing play “Some Girls” by Neil Labute at the American Theatre of Actors, Sargent Theatre 314 W. 54th St on December 8-11th and 14-17th at 8pm. 80% of all ticket sales go directly towards To Write Love on Her Arms. The NYFA blog checks in with Roger…
Roger, where did they idea to raise money for charity through theater stem from?
The producing theater company Nunya Productions has the goal of “Great Theater for a Great Cause.” Their last play was after the Haiti earthquake and raised money for charity Doctors Without Borders. I thought it was a great idea to raise donations through the arts, and I had been looking to contribute to a charitable cause. It was a way to give while entertaining people and helping people simultaneously.
Why did you select this particular charity and play?
I read Neil Labute’s “Some Girls” and fell in love with the text - it is edgy, provocative and complex. The play is about the lives of five women, so we really wanted to do a show that focuses on helping females. We researched several charities. When we came across To Write Love on Her Arms cast member Mariya King was really touched. She felt strongly about the cause and her passion caused us to jump on board and dedicate ourselves to the project.
Do you think that arts can really help the world?
I think the arts aren’t just about expressing yourself. We have an opportunity as artists to really use our voice and power to make a difference. The arts are interactive and bring people together towards a common goal. If you combine that principle with the opportunity to help others at the same time, you have a richer experience and combine two of my favorite things.
Tickets are available for “Some Girls” at smarttix.com or by calling 212-868-4444. To learn more, visit nunyaproductions.com. Follow Nunya Productions on Facebook.
New York Film Academy Opens Coca-Cola Cinemagic Film Festival
Roger Del Pozo, New York Film Academy, Maire Campbell, Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland Ltd, Game of Thrones actress Hannah Murray and T4 TV Presenter Jameela Jamil officially open the 21st Coca-Cola Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People
New York Film Academy is thrilled to be a part of the Coca-Cola Cinemagic Festival, which opened in Belfast on November 16th and runs for 17 action packed days until December 2nd. The opening ceremonies included Game of Thrones actress Hannah Murray, TV Presenter Jameela Jamil, and New York Film Academy Director of Acting Admissions/Casting Director Roger Del Pozo. To help open the festival, Roger held a workshop on breaking into the entertainment business.
Over the course of the festival, Cinemagic has a host of industry professionals scheduled to speak included highly acclaimed film music composer Patrick Doyle (Thor, Rise of The Planet of the Apes), Belfast actor, Martin McCann (Killing Bono, Clash of the Titans), BAFTA award-winning director, Aisling Walsh, (Song for a Raggy Boy, Wallander), Oscar-nominated writer Tim Loane (Dance Lexie Dance) and more.
Be sure to enter the Titanic Podcast Competition co-sponsored by New York Film Academy and Cinemagic Worldwide for a chance to win a one week scholarship to a hands-on film camp for teens!
New York Film Academy Offering Scholarships and Special Workshop in Ireland!
New York Film Academy representatives will visit Ireland on Wednesday, November 16th for a special workshop in collaboration with Belfast’s Cinemagic. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from NYFA’s Director of Acting Admissions Roger Del Pozo about what it takes to audition for jobs in film, theatre and television. Outside of his work at New York Film Academy, Roger is a seasoned casting director whose credits includes hundreds of national campaigns for Apple, Microsoft, Dunkin’ Donuts, Sony, General Electric, AT&T, Fisher Price, Nickelodeon, Cheerio’s, Verizon, IKEA, Nintendo, Toyota, Mercedes and Heineken. Learn how to figure out and cultivate your “type,” how to get seen for an audition, what is expected of an actor at an audition, and how to book the job! The event will be held at Odyssey Cinemas from 10am-12pm and tickets can be booked through the Cinemagic Office at 028 90 311900 or by emailing chris@cinemagic.org.uk.
NYFA offering scholarship to winner of Titanic Podcast Competition
NYFA has also partnered with Cinemagic on the Cast Away - International Podcast Challenge. Young filmmakers (18-25) are invited to submit a short video pod-cast (5min max) around the theme “Titanic.” The challenge will run through Friday, January 27th, 2012 and entry to the competition is free. The winning prizes include a one-week scholarship to any NYFA program worldwide. To learn more, view the contest rules and requirements here! Filmmakers from around the globe are encouraged to apply!
New York Film Academy Reps Hitting the Red Carpet at the Village Voice’s 2011 Obies Tonight!
New York Film Academy is an official sponsor of the 2011 Obie Awards taking place tonight, Monday, May 16th at Webster Hall in New York. The Obie Awards are an annual tradition sponsored by the Village Voice that recognize the persons and productions of excellence on the Off-Broadway stage. Many of the most celebrated names in theater, film, and television say their Obie Award was the first major recognition of their professional career. Past winners include such well-known stars such as Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Felicity Huffman, Viola Davis, Kevin Kline, Nathan Lane, Tony Kushner, Kathy Bates, James Earl Jones, Edward Norton, and Sigourney Weaver, to name a few.
Celebrated Actor Al Pacino received an Obie nomination early in his career for show Why Is a Crooked Letter (1966). Pacino also sent a family member to study with the New York Film Academy.
“New York Film Academy is very excited to be a sponsor at the 2011 Obie Awards,” says New York Film Academy Assistant Director Roger Del Pozo. “Though we are known as a film school, we have a terrific appreciation for theater arts and have many graduates of our Acting Conservatory programs appearing on the New York stage.”
Stars including Oscar-nominated actress Anne Hathaway are known to frequent the Red Carpet at the Obie Awards.
Admissions reps including Director of Admissions Tami Alexander will be present at the Red Carpet tonight, mingling with celebrity presenters including Oscar-nominated 30 Rock star Alec Baldwin, Tony-Award winning composer lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) and Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning actor Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory).
“New York Film Academy prides itself on recognizing the abilities of artists early in their career,” says Admissions Director Tami Alexander. “We are thrilled to recognize an award ceremony that does just that - shinning a light on theater artists who are just breaking through in their careers.”
Check back during the week for exclusive photos and video footage from the NYFA blog! For the latest content, be sure to follow New York Film Academy on twitter!
NYFA Staff Quoted by MTV
New York Film Academy Assistant Director of Admissions Roger Del Pozo was recently contacted by MTV to evaluate Nicki Minaj’s “Moment 4 Life” video for MTV news. Roger is an authority on the subject having auditioned thousands of actors for New York Film Academy’s Acting Conservatory, in addition to casting several film and television projects outside the academy. Last month, Roger served as the guest speaker at January’s CASTNYFA event, speaking to acting and film students about how to get the job before giving the actors an opportunity to audition for the filmmakers in the room. He is one of many professionals in the industry working on the staff at New York Film Academy. So how did Roger weigh in on Nicki’s abilities? “I think she has a great personality that comes through; very vibrant. I love her energy. I love her rapping ability. As an actress, probably not that subtle, but I don’t think that subtlety is going to be her strong point anyways.”
NYFA East Coast Audition Tour
