When I first became interested in films and acting, I had no real idea what either of them entailed beyond what I saw on the big screen at the theatre, and since my curiosity never left me, I decided to enroll in the NYFA BFA Acting for Film program. Since then, my classes, peers and professors have opened up a whole new world for me that I have come to appreciate and am proud to be part of. I cannot wait to use all the techniques and tools that I have learned here to continue my journey into the film industry.

I got to know myself in depth thanks to the intensity and discipline of the program. I learned about endurance, patience and my own breaking point during my studies. Discovering what my mind and body was capable of at the toughest of moments has been my greatest asset in life since graduating from NYFA.

As a filmmaker who took a non-traditional route to directing, I decided to take NYFA’s Intro to Cinematography class to learn more about the craft and so I would be able to have more knowledgeable conversations with my DPs. Not only did the class expand my knowledge, it also inspired me creatively and gave me more confidence on set. It has become an invaluable resource to my filmmaking journey.

Coming into New York Film Academy as a high school graduate with absolutely zero film experience was a shock to the system, but one of the best kind. I was able to touch an Arri-S on my first day of class and that was only the beginning of the immersive hands-on experience that would continue on throughout the program. I learned an array of skills and concepts from block/light/shoot, the 180 degree line, and set etiquette, lessons I still carry with me to this day as an operator in the film and television industry. Best of all, I was surrounded by other like-minded students and teachers who would prove to be my greatest collaborators once the program was over.