I could not have fathomed how much I would gain from attending NYFA. I never thought that anyone beyond my classmates and family would see my final project, a 13-minute documentary called “The Triumvirate” (made in four days during my final week). But at the encouragement of Matt Arnold and Gordie Haakstad, I submitted it to a couple of film festivals. It received the runner-up audience award for Best Documentary at the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films (selected out of 2300 entries, also being named to the top 20 Best of Fest), and went on to win Best Documentary at the Smogdance Film Festival.

After attending the screening of the film in Palm Springs, Andrew Crane from American Cinematheque approached me about including the film in his organization’s annual celebration of women directors of short films (it screened with six other films at the Egyptian in December). Then the Cinema Society of San Diego approached me to have the film included in their annual Award Winning Shorts program (a one-time screening to 800 members). The films in both of those programs were half international, half American — and each had a film that went on to win an Oscar (“Wasp,” which won for Best Short Narrative, and “Ryan,” which won for best short animated film). That my little NYFA film would be included in such company is a credit to the instruction and encouragement that I received from your staff.

The film is currently being used by organizations in New Jersey and Minnesota to help pass legislation to open records for adult adopters. In addition, a couple from San Diego are trying to help me get funds to be able to make a 35mm film transfer of the film (so it can be submitted for an Oscar next year). “The Triumvirate’s” journey continues. I’ll keep you posted.

None of this could have happened without NYFA. Saying thanks just doesn’t cover it!

When I finished the 8-Week course, I came home with my 12-minute, 16mm film in my hands and sent it directly to the Venice Film Festival, where it had been accepted. The film then received one Jury Prize and one Audience Choice Award at the Capalbio Film Festival in Tuscany, after which it was invited to several festivals in Canada, Turkey, France, Germany, and Switzerland. It was then bought by television stations in Italy and in Switzerland.
People are still very surprised that I edited the short film myself, just with what I learned at NYFA. In fact, what was aggressively taught at NYFA helped me to be an editor for a documentary shot in Italy for the French-German TV channel Arte.
Subsequently, I have written a script that received funding from the Italian government. I can say that I still have clearly in mind the basics that I learned at NYFA to write, produce, direct, and edit. In no other way could I have learned this in Italy so well, and in so little time.

I’d like to take a moment, here at the end of my eight-week course, to compliment you on the excellent “boot camp” filmmaking workshop you’ve put together at the NYFA.
I feel my time at your school has been enormously helpful in getting me ready — with additional preparation on my part — to launch into the shooting of a full-length independent feature film, for which I’ve already written the script. In fact, my final film from school is a 12-min trial-run portion of this feature.
Your focus on having your students actually write and direct four films in the eight-week program is, in my opinion, a stroke of genius.
So to everyone, I’d like to say, “THANK YOU.” I wish you all continuing success.

I attended NYFA and I have to say that it was the best experience I have ever had. Not only did it give me a chance to live in New York and meet many people, who I still keep in contact with, but it also opened many doors for my career.
After I finished my two-month course, I immediately went on to work on two feature films in NY! A film called “Fever,” directed by Alex Winter and starring Henry Thomas, and a film called “Other Voices,” directed by Dan McCormack and starring Mary McCormack and the brilliant Campbell Scott. If it hadn’t been for NYFA, I would not have plucked up the courage to try and work on such big projects.
I came back to England about eight months after leaving NYFA and I have to say that the career I had in television before I went to NYFA has become stronger. I was an assistant producer for a major independent production company and one day when our director fell ill, my producer remembered that I had directed at NYFA. He asked me to direct a three-minute comedy sketch in the director’s place, and using the knowledge I received from NYFA, I managed the task at hand. As a result of this “lucky break” I have been directing comedy shows for television ever since.
I am also producing and writing shows. At the moment I am working on a comedy documentary series, which I am directing and helping to write. In the New Year, I will be producing and directing a new comedy program. I am also currently working on a feature film; so all in all, life is pretty d*mn good for me at the moment.
I would like to thank all the staff at NYFA for their great support and knowledge. Especially Adam Stoner, a man who is definitely a giant among giants and without whom I would have nearly packed it all in. Also a big thanks to Geoffrey, in the edit room, for keeping me sane.

Since attending your two-month beginner workshop a few years ago, I’ve gone on to a career in film lighting. Following is a list of most of the projects I’ve worked on:
– “Agnostic Front” – Music Video – MBS Prod. – MTV Top 100
– “Miles From Nowhere” – Feature – Miles Prod.
– “Mortal Coil” – Short – Nico Films
– “Vacancy” – Short – Headroom Prod.
– “The Vegetarian” – Short – Headroom Prod.
– “Yankee Stadium” – Commercial – Adidas
– “Double AA” – Short – Sapphire Films
– “Morgan Stanley All-Stars” – Commercial – Morgan Stanley, Dean Whitter
– “The Jimmy Show” – Feature
– “LIE” – Feature – Alter Ego Prod.
– “Kissing Jessica Stein” – Feature – Foot Pajama Prod.
– “Dead Prez” – Music Video – Broken Records, Inc.
– “Tape” – Feature – Indigent
– “Jersey Guy” – Feature – Jersey Guy Films, LLC.
– “Girlfight” (Pre-Rigging) – Feature – Girlfight, Inc.
– “Recipe for Disaster” (Sub) – Feature – Disaster Films
– “Everlasting Sweet Desire” – Short – Sapphire Films
– “Mudvane” – Music Video – The Shooting Gallery
– “Sex and the City” – Television – HBO
– “Get Well Soon” – Feature
– “Beanie Man” – Music Video – Mars Media
– “Nickelodeon” – Commercial – Viacom
– “Thalia” – Music Video – Sony Music
– “The Brat” – Music Video – La Bouche Films
– “Upright Citizens Brigade” – TV
– Christina Aguilera / Genie Atrapado – Music Video
– “Ropewalk” – Featuer – Ikhan Prod.
– Mary J. Blige – Music Video – La Bouche Films
– “The Day the Ponies Come Home” – Feature – Ponies Prod.
– “Jump” – Feature – Jump Pictures
– “MTV Jams” – Promo – Viacom
– “Personals” – Feature – Personals Prod.
– “Buddha Monk” – Music Video
– “American Gospel” – Documentary – Big Mouth Prod.