New York Film Academy sports photography students really get a hands-on experience with the New York Jets.
Ever wonder what it’d be like to direct a master director? Emmy winning professor Tony Gerber speaks to New York Film Academy students about working with James Cameron on National Geographic’s documentary about the Titanic.
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Ridley Scott’s on a roll with Prometheus and now a sequel to Blade Runner. Plus, Aaron Sorkin is writing the screenplay on the life of Apple’s Steve Jobs. See what else happened this week on New York Film Academy’s Weekly Roundup!
New York Film Academy’s Weekly Roundup
- Morgan Spurlock’s Mansome Super Size Me documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock investigates male grooming habits. Are you Mansome?
- Experimental Film Lives An examination on experimental film’s life in the underground. Is there still a place for it?
- Beetlejuice 2? If the script is solid, Tim Burton and Michael Keaton are in.
- Indie’s Too Pretty With the advent of digital HD, many are missing the grit of indie filmmaking.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Honest Daniel Day Lewis The versatile actor prepares for the role of a lifetime - Abraham Lincoln. Wonder how the film will end?
Al Qasemi Wins Abu Dhabi Screenwriting Competition
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’s Weekly Roundup
“Oh, I’ve been in the film business for a while, but I just can’t seem to get one in the can.” - Tobias Fünke (Arrested Development)
- Arrested Development Season 4 In bulk! Finally, we’ll be able to see the Bluths in another season and it’ll be coming out in one chunk on Netflix.
- Cannes Announces 2012 Lineup Drum roll please…Moonrise Kingdom to open the festival. And did we see horror legend Dario Argento in the mix?
- Mitt Romney on SNL? Can the GOP candidate possibly have an ounce of humor in his body? We may soon find out.
- The Amazing Spider-Man A new trailer has been released for The Amazing Spider-Man. What do you think of the Lizard as the villain?
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Tarantino’s Django Unchained Quentin Tarantino unveils the poster for his upcoming film, Django Unchained. Can’t wait!
Between Earth and Sky
Last year, Maria Stanisheva moved to New York City from Bulgaria to study documentary filmmaking at New York Film Academy. “I chose the NYFA Doc program because it was the most intense hands-on program I could find and I think it was a great choice! The program is structured around 6 film projects (two video logs and 4 shorts) in 11 months, which keeps us extremely busy (often meaning more than 10 hours per day in school.) I have had the steepest learning curve in my life and have learned from some of the best in their field - professors who are also very productive filmmakers. I also met some amazing young and diverse filmmakers. Doing a documentary program in a city like New York is amazing fun because you quickly get to know the city in its endless diversity.”
The New York Film Academy documentary student’s thesis Between Earth and Sky will focus on the healing process of a Sioux spiritual leader stricken with cancer. “I hope my next project will take me across America all the way to Nebraska where, together with my team, we will follow an Omaha Native American family.” Maria and her crew are joining Shoshana Phillips and her family hundreds of miles from their Omaha reservation. Cancer forced Shoshana to leave her tribe and move with her family to urban Michigan for treatment. Five years into the treatment, still suffering, her husband Nathan believes the traditional ways of the Sioux are her only chance.
Between Earth and Sky follows Nathan and the family as they travel back to their Omaha reservation in search of the most suitable willow poles from which they will construct a purification sweat lodge and ceremonial tipi. Nathan will build the tipi at a gathering of elders that takes place each May in front of the White House. Nathan plans to perform various rituals in which he will engage the elders and together they will pray for healing.
To support Maria’s documentary thesis Between Earth and Sky, visit her Kickstarter or Facebook page.
New York Film Academy Open House
Please join us at our monthly New York Film Academy OPEN HOUSE this SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 2011!
Location: Union Square, 100 East 17th St, New York City
• Filmmaking • Producing • Screenwriting • Documentary • 3D Animation • Broadcast Journalism • Cinematography • Photography • Acting for Film • Musical Theatre
- 12 PM - 1 PM: 1 & 2-Year Conservatory, Bachelor’s Degree Opportunities, Two-Year Fine Arts Degree & MFA Programs (everything but Acting/Musical Theatre)
- 1 PM - 2 PM: Hands-On Intensive Workshops (everything but Acting/Musical Theatre)
- 2 PM - 3 PM: Workshops/Summer Camps For Teens and Tweens Ages 10-17
- 3 PM - 4 PM: 1 & 2-Year Conservatory, Bachelor’s Degree Opportunities, Two-Year Fine Arts Degree, MFA Programs, and Short Term Workshops - Acting for Film and Musical Theatre programs
Location: Universal Studios, Los Angeles
3801 Barham Blvd, Lakeside Plaza, LA
- 12:30 PM: Open House Presentation starts promptly at 1:00 PM for all programs and workshops
- 2 PM - 3 PM: Workshops/Summer Camps For Teens and Tweens Ages 10-17
EMAIL studios@nyfa.edu
Location: Australia
Queensland University of Technology Creative Enterprise Centre,
Level 4, Z1 The Works 34 Parer Place, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059
- 12 PM -1 PM: Open House Filmmaking Programs and Workshops
- 1 PM - 2 PM: Workshops/Summer Camps For Teens and Tweens Ages 10-17
Tel: +61 7 3337 7888
Visit our website for more information about any of our open houses.
Writer, director, and New York Film Academy graduate Rubaiyat Hossain has travelled with her short films to international festivals since her graduation in 2002. She is currently promoting her first feature film, Meherjaan, which has proven to be quite controversial, and has been unofficially banned in Bangladesh. Despite this, the film has been shown at over 30 film festivals, garnering accolades and winning over audiences across the nation and around the world.
The Hindustan Times sang her praises, saying, “Kudos to Rubaiyat Hossain who had the courage to showcase such a wonderful and inspiring love story, standing at a time when we are facing cross border terrorism.”
Set in 1971 during Bangladesh’s war of independence, Meherjaan tells the story of a a young woman who falls in love with a soldier from the enemy’s side. When her affair is discovered, she is shamed and silenced by her family. Thirty-eight years later, a young stranger forces her to face the truth about her past.
Rubaiyat Hossain works as a researcher and lecturer in her native Bangladesh, exploring issues of women’s rights, sexuality, Sufism, and Bengali nationalism, and how these issues intersect.
In a statement on Meherjaan’s website, Rubaiyat explains, “A war is always made into a glorious narrative with certain male [heroes] and villains. Women mostly appear as sacrificing creatures, [mothers] and sisters who bravely let go of their men for the cause of the nation. Women also appear synonymous to the landscape – ready to be raped, plundered, and give their lives and… chastity for the cause of the nation. The purpose of ‘Meherjaan’ is to break the glorious narrative of national history, and open up a modest avenue to explore… multiple narratives of war.”
Meherjaan screens in New York City as part of the SoHo International Film Festival on Tuesday, April 17 at 9 p.m. at the Sunshine Cinema at 143 E. Houston.
