New York Film Academy, Manhattan

The New York Film Academy was founded by veteran producer Jerry Sherlock in 1992, who produced such classics as “The Hunt for the Red October”. Encouraged by friends of his who wanted to send their children to film school, but found the prices too costly, Sherlock designed a school that was not only affordable, but more importantly, was founded on the principle of learning by doing.

Inspired by the idea that to learn how to make movies, one must actually make movies, Sherlock and his colleagues designed a truly unique curriculum. Blending a mixture of traditional film school instruction with a new approach, the Academy emphasizes coursework based around students actually going out and shooting films as part of their coursework. Students write, produce, direct, and edit their own original films while also serving as crewmembers on their fellow classmates�� films to gain extensive on-set experience.

This commitment to learning by doing applies to all of the programs the Academy now offers, with students working with industry standard equipment in world-class facilities. At the Academy, students can choose from a wide range of visual and performing arts programs that includes Filmmaking, Acting for Film, 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Broadcast Journalism, Cinematography, Digital Editing, Documentary Filmmaking, Game Design, Musical Theatre, Photography, Producing, and Screenwriting.

The New York Film Academy is expanding its curriculum as well as its global presence, with five established campuses and many destination programs worldwide. At NYFA campuses in New York City, Los Angeles and South Beach, Miami, campuses students can earn their degree, while at NYFA Gold Coast, Australia, students can immerse themselves in long- and short-term conservatory programs and workshops.

It is the Academy’s belief that the most significant art form of our time is the moving image. Through the medium of film, individuals, communities, and nations express their most profound visions of humanity to the world. The ever-growing and evolving mediums of animation and video games are creating new platforms for creative professionals to express themselves and the Academy’s programs have grown to reflect these advancements in the visual arts.

Intensity is a hallmark of the Academy’s workshops, which range from screenwriting to documentary filmmaking to producing for film and television. Students who partake in these workshops eat, drink and breathe filmmaking, acting, or photography from day one. Their classes emphasize hands-on learning and inspire creativity. They also provide hard facts students need to begin the process of developing creative, thought provoking, and entertaining work. This is not a course for passive participants. Students must take an active role in every aspect of the workshop.

Students write, direct, shoot, and edit their own short films, create their own video games, or design their own animated characters in the Academy’s hands-on workshops. Students in the workshops develop skills that apply to all their future pursuits. The organizational, leadership, writing, and critical thinking skills learned through producing complex productions will be of enormous value to students at the Academy and in all their future endeavors.

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