New York Film Academy, BFA, Filmmaking

The Filmmaking curriculum described below runs concurrently with general studies requirements as well as related courses in art and design.

BACHELOR’S OF FINE ARTS IN FILMMAKING: SEMESTERS 1-4

During the first year, students will learn the foundations of the art and technique of visual storytelling, including the requisite skills to write, direct, film, and edit four short films. This accelerated pace of study develops students' basic narrative and visual literacy, two skills that will be central to their success in the filmmaking BFA program. Students will also enter specialized liberal arts and sciences courses, designed to provide a foundation for a well-rounded education while also informing the artistic coursework to be completed throughout the remainder of the degree program.

First year students will focus on mastering the fundamentals of cinema production. Students will film an additional three short films incorporating new tools of dialogue, challenging them to increase their skills in directing actors, writing, editing, and visual style. Liberal arts and sciences courses accompany the filmmaking courses, creating a balanced course load that emphasizes critical thinking and develops college-level writing skills.

First year students improve their production and aesthetic skills. Intensive instruction, demonstration, and group sync-sound directing exercises increase students' comprehension of cinematography, producing, directorial style, editing, and collaborative and leadership skills. These skills will prepare students to direct their intermediate film in the fifth semester.

BACHELORS OF FINE ARTS IN FILMMAKING: SEMESTERS 5-6

Year two of the BFA in filmmaking will culminate in the production of the intermediate film. These productions can be up to 15 minutes in length, produced on double system high definition video or color negative film. This project represents an implementation of all the knowledge learned in the first year of filmmaking school.

Bachelor’s candidates are expected to spend an additional 20-40 hours a week beyond class time on the production of their film projects. Production or practicum hours are considered separate from lab and lecture hours; however, they are still necessary to successfully complete the program. The Academy recognizes, as should the students, that these hours will vary on a case-by-case basis.

Year two students split their time between post-production on their intermediate films and advanced cinematography, screenwriting, and liberal arts classes in foundation studies and natural sciences. Completed projects should show artistic maturity compared with the work of the previous year. Advanced equipment — such as the Red camera — is introduced, increasing capabilities for future projects. A course in critical film studies provides a context for student filmmakers to draw upon as they complete their first feature scripts.

Year two students will be asked to undertake projects of increasing complexity in an on-set mentoring class, where students bring craft and theory together in production exercises. Students will film a spec commercial, and prep work begins on the scripts for students' thesis films.

BACHELOR’S OF FINE ARTS IN FILMMAKING: SEMESTERS 7-9

The overall goal of the third year of the filmmaking BFA program is to challenge students to grow as film artists and help prepare them for thesis film production in semester eight. The production of a music video will broaden students' cinematic abilities as they complete the final draft of their thesis scripts. The advanced directing project will further develop student filmmakers’ ability to create dynamic and realistic performances on set.

Semester eight of the filmmaking BFA program is dedicated to the production of student thesis films. These thesis films are the capstone project of the BFA program, putting into practice the skills acquired throughout the previous seven semesters.

This final semester provides an opportunity for students to complete post-production on their thesis films and expand their knowledge of the entertainment industry. They will also receive instruction on how to produce their own projects outside of a film school environment.

All students pursuing an undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from the New York Film Academy must be proficient in English and have earned a high school diploma (at a minimum) or an acceptable equivalent. In addition to the Supporting Materials required, each applicant must submit a Creative Portfolio to demonstrate the applicant’s ability to take on undergraduate level study and show a potential for success within the profession.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS
Undergraduate (BFA) applicants must submit the following materials for admission:

• Completed Undergraduate (BFA) Program Application
• Application Fee
• High School Transcript
• SAT or ACT Scores (for Domestic students only)
• Narrative Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Creative Portfolio
• Proof of English Proficiency

*Please note: If you have applied to do your first year of study in New York City and the remaining years in Los Angeles or South Beach in the Degree Program you've applied for, only one application is necessary, and the application requirements will be the same as those above. You will receive two separate acceptance letters for both programs from NYFA - one for the Conservatory Program, and the second for the Degree Program.

The following sections provide detailed information regarding each required application material.

APPLICATION
Students must submit a completed graduate program application.

APPLICATION FEE
Students must submit a non-refundable $65 application fee, payable online as part of the online application.

HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT
All students pursuing an undergraduate degree from the New York Film Academy must submit an official, final high school transcript in order to complete their application. 

Hard copies of official transcripts must be mailed to New York Film Academy directly from the high school in a sealed envelope. 

Students wishing to submit transcripts digitally can do so by contacting their NYFA admissions representative for instructions. Digital transcripts may be submitted using a digital submission service (such as Parchment) or your high school’s own digital delivery service. 

Home-schooled students must submit an official, original transcript accredited by their home state.

GED earners must submit an official, original state-issued high school equivalency certificate.

The New York Film Academy generally does not consider prior experiential learning as a substitute for the transcript requirements described above. 

Students completing high school in a foreign country, where a language other than English is the official language, and who are able to produce an original transcript, must have it translated into English by an education evaluation service that offers translation services.

SAT OR ACT SCORES
The New York Film Academy does not have clearly defined, required minimum scores. Above all, our undergraduate programs are intensive, rigorous and specialized, and standardized test scores are not always the most useful factor in predicting success. However, when considered thoughtfully among many other factors, test scores can help give the admissions committee a useful indication of the BFA applicant’s academic strengths and weaknesses.

NARRATIVE STATEMENT
The narrative statement should be a mature and self-reflective essay (max. 3 typed pages) detailing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in their chosen discipline. The essay should take into account the individual’s history, formative creative experiences, contemporary influences and inspirations, and personal artistic dreams.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
BFA applicants must submit a minimum of two (2) letters of recommendation verifying the applicant’s ability to successfully take on undergraduate study in the relevant field. Letters must be sealed and stamped, and should be submitted directly to the Admissions Office from the individual writing on the applicant’s behalf.

BFA CREATIVE PORTFOLIO
BFA applicants must submit a creative portfolio, which may include: 

Writing Sample For Filmmaking, Producing & Screenwriting applicants: 

• Excerpt from an original screenplay, spec or short story (5-page maximum.)
• 2-3 samples that include any original short stories, articles or persuasive essays relevant to their chosen discipline (5-page maximum).
• Treatment or outline of a film, webisode or television series concept (2-page maximum.)

Visual Sample for Filmmaking applicants: 

• 1-2 live-action, fiction or nonfiction film/video submissions on DVD or hyperlink, where the submission can be viewed, regardless of image capture format (20-minute maximum.) Collaborative material is accepted if the candidate details the exact nature of their contribution to the piece.
• 3-5 sample storyboards or visual designs with a 1-2 page accompanying description.

For Photography applicants: 

• Photographs (10 maximum), either printed (no larger than 8x10) or jpegs on a CD/DVD (1200 pixels longest side, SRGB, 72dpi), with an accompanying description contextualizing the submission.

For Acting for Film applicants: 

• A DVD or hyperlink with an introduction and two one-minute contrasting monologues from either a published play or screenplay.
• Applicants may also choose to make an appointment for an on-campus audition.
  * Acting for Film applicants should select roles that are age and type appropriate.

For 3-D Animation, Game Design & Graphic Design applicants:

• 3-5 drawings, paintings, cartoons, comics, conceptual illustrations, graphic renderings, digital images, slides of 3-D models, sculptures, or other visual designs which display the applicant’s creative abilities.

All portfolio materials must be submitted with an accompanying description contextualizing the submission and purpose of the project. Portfolio materials will not be returned.

If you are applying for programs at our Los Angeles Campus please mail all documents to New York Film Academy, Office of Admissions, 3300 Riverside Dr., Burbank, CA 91505. These documents will not be returned.

If you are applying for programs at our New York Campus please mail all documents to to New York Film Academy, Office of Admissions, 17 Battery Place, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004 These documents will not be returned.

If you are applying for programs at our South Beach Campus please mail all documents to New York Film Academy South Beach, Office of Admissions, 420 Lincoln Road, Suite 200, Miami Beach, FL 33139. These documents will not be returned.

PROOF OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
New York Film Academy believes that to be successful in our degree programs an applicant must have a strong command of the English language. Non-U.S. residents or international applicants, for whom English is not their first or native language, who apply to NYFA’s MFA, MA, BFA, BA, AFA, or long-term certificate programs, are asked to provide one of the following as proof of English language proficiency:

• A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score iBT of 68 or an IELTS score of 5.5 for AFA, BFA, BA, and Conservatory programs. For the MFA and MA programs, the required score for TOEFL iBT is 79 and IELTS of 6.5.
• A report from a valid English Language School verifying completion of course level equivalent to a 520 Paper-based TOEFL Score.

Applicants might be eligible to receive an English proficiency waiver under the following conditions:

• Verification that the applicant has been studying in a college or university where the sole language of instruction is English for at least 1 full year at the time of his or her application; or
• Verification that the applicant has been studying in a high school where the sole language of instruction is English for at least 3 full years at the time of his or her application.

Applicants who wish to confirm eligibility for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver can contact an admissions representative for assistance.

For short-term and long-term non-degree certificate programs, NYFA will accept a positive language evaluation via phone or Skype in lieu of the other requirements.

PLEASE NOTE: All students will take English assessment tests during the registration period at the beginning the program. Students may be referred to additional English study in an ESL program or a blended program depending on their English level. This may add a semester or more to the time needed to complete the program of study at NYFA.

All courses at all NYFA locations are taught in English.

The New York Film Academy at its sole discretion may evaluate English proficiency in the form of oral and/or written tests in lieu of TOEFL or IELTS scores.

INTERVIEW
As part of the admissions process, BFA applicants may be required to have an interview by phone or in person with a New York Film Academy representative. The purpose of the interview is to identify the applicant’s goals and prior experience. The ideal applicant has a passion for storytelling, creative expression, and artistic collaboration. The interview is also an opportunity to review the curriculum of the program with the applicant and to ensure that s/he fully understands the level of commitment required to successfully complete the degree.

TUITION DEPOSIT
Once admitted to NYFA, students may pay a deposit to secure their place in the BFA program. The deposit for all long-term programs (one year or longer) is $500, which is applied towards the first term tuition payment. Most of the deposit is refundable except a $100 administrative processing fee.

Our three-year Bachelor's in film is for highly motivated students who would like to enter an intensive, hands-on course of study. By completing the Bachelor's degree in three years, students:

• Save one year of expenses.
• Enter the field of their choice a year early.

The Academy makes this accelerated schedule possible by creating an extended academic year, allowing students to complete three full-length semesters in each calendar year. Students may also choose to complete the program in a traditional four-year time frame.

New York Film Academy filmmaking BFA degree programs are offered at our Los Angeles and South Beach Campuses.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Program in Filmmaking employs a total immersion approach to the subject, where students develop a powerful arsenal of skills in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and producing. Students work in all formats from 16mm and HD to 35mm and RED Dragon as they write, direct, shoot, and edit their own films. A strong grounding in the liberal arts and sciences serves to inform students' work and give them a well-rounded undergraduate education.

The New York Film Academy's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking is unlike any other film school; it is an accelerated intensive degree program that can be completed in three years. One benefit of this is that students may begin internships or professional work a year earlier than they would in a standard bachelor's program, and of course save a year of tuition and expenses. It requires a rigorous schedule; students are in class or production for eleven months of the year. There are short breaks between each each of the three years, and a two week winter break during the holiday season.

A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA) is distinguished from a standard Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree by its in-depth study of and professional training in the arts. In the BFA, two thirds of the degree is devoted to study and practice in fine arts and one third to general liberal arts and sciences (that ratio would be reversed for an art major in a traditional BA program). The BFA student has opportunity for deep exploration and mastery of their art.

Our BFA in Filmmaking offers a well-rounded collegiate education in the Arts and Humanities and Social and Natural Sciences, with a comprehensive study of — and practice in — the art and craft of filmmaking. During the three years of study, each student will write, shoot, direct, and edit 12 film projects of increasing complexity. In addition, students will work in key crew positions on their classmates' films.

BFA Filmmaking graduates will complete the program with a solid academic foundation in the arts and sciences, and an in-depth understanding of film production. They will enter the field with critical thinking and research skills developed in their academic classes as well as essential knowledge from the study of literature, art history, psychology, and philosophy. This specialized degree will prepare them to pursue their own paths in film and related fields as creative professionals.