MFA Acting

Overview of our MFA in Acting for Film

The Academy makes the MFA Acting program's accelerated 20-month schedule possible by creating an extended academic year, allowing students to complete all five semesters of the program in under two years.






This MFA Acting program consists of five semesters, each semester running for 15 weeks. Each of the semesters requires complete commitment on the part of the student. A standard week of study involves additional time in the evenings and on weekends for classes, rehearsals, and shoots.

WHAT MAKES OUR ACTING MFA PROGRAM UNIQUE?

PRACTICAL HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
The New York Film Academy's Master of Fine Arts in Acting program is based on a simple philosophy: the best way to learn how to act in films is to actually act in films. Acting school students begin acting in front of the camera from the first week of the program. Every week, students apply the techniques and skills gained in class to on camera exercises that are shot and reviewed.

PROFESSIONAL FACULTY
The New York Film Academy's Acting MFA instructors are working veterans of Hollywood, independent film, Broadway, and Off-Broadway.

FILM PRODUCTIONS
Many of our programs require the production of short films or scenes that will star our Acting students. These are shot and edited together and may be used for students' own reels.

FILMMAKING RESOURCES
The Acting for Film MFA program works hand-in-hand with the filmmaking program. This provides all of our students with such resources as film equipment and live film shoots, as well as helping them develop a network of filmmakers, screenwriters, producers, and editors before entering the professional world.

REEL MATERIALS
All of our Acting MFA students will graduate with shot and edited materials that are suitable to put on an actor's reel.

MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN ACTING: SEMESTER 1 OVERVIEW

The first semester of NYFA's MFA Acting program concentrates on building a foundation in the craft of acting, using training techniques rooted in the theater but applicable to the screen. Students participate in an intensive array of core classes that guide them to find the actor within, simultaneously training their instrument to do the kind of technical, emotional, and physical work necessary for film acting. Acting for Film students will shoot a short film project on location with a professional staff.

ACTING MFA LEARNING GOALS

• Explore and learn the principles of acting technique.
• Learn the vocabulary of filmmaking for actors.
• Become familiarized with the logistics of filming and working on a film set.
• Understand how to break down a scene and analyze a character.
• Recognize the differences between film acting and stage performance.
• Learn to break down, analyze, and rehearse stage scenes

ACTING MFA PERFORMANCE GOALS

• Rehearse and tape film scenes to be analyzed and critiqued in class.
• Break down, analyze, and rehearse selected scenes for in-class filmed performances.
• Perform in a semester–end, filmed scene presentation for an invited audience.
• Develop, rehearse, and perform in a fully-realized film scene shot in the studio or on location. This project will be presented to an invited audience.

MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN ACTING: SEMESTER 2 OVERVIEW

In the second semester, the acting school's core classes continue as students focus on applying the techniques they have learned to more elaborate scene work, on camera exercises, and film shoots — all designed to develop and hone screen-acting ability. All students perform in on-camera shoots. In addition, a variety of classes are given in order to broaden students' knowledge of acting techniques, the film business, acting for television, and many different film crafts.

The second semester culminates in a public presentations of student work.There will be a live showcase performance of scenes for an invited audience of friends and family.

ACTING MFA LEARNING GOALS

• Learn to work for directors on live film sets.
• Gain knowledge of the differences between demands upon the actor on film and television productions.
• Develop a deeper comprehension of acting skills though scene work and instruction in a variety of techniques including Meisner, Method, and Stanislavski.
• Continue training in advance vocal and movement work, including motion capture performance.

ACTING MFA PERFORMANCE GOALS

• Perform scenes in a semester-end, filmed scene presentation for a live audience.
• Perform in both multi-camera and single camera in-class television shoots.
• Perform in a motion-capture project.

MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN ACTING: SEMESTER 3 OVERVIEW

The third semester of the Year One enables students to continue developing as actors by challenging their range, and moving beyond their “comfort zone.” The third semester allows the student to become even more specific with acting technique. Our Writing for Actors course prepares students to develop their own content, and the students will create, film, and perform an original webisode pilot.

ACTING MFA LEARNING GOALS
Throughout their time pursuing an acting a Master of Fine Arts degree students will:

• Continue to practice in front of camera, behind camera, and to work in post-production.
• Pitch, write, produce, film an original webisode pilot.
• Continue to develop a deeper comprehension of stage vs. film performance.
• Learn sound writing principles.
• Analyze and understand the work of Shakespeare.

ACTING MFA PERFORMANCE GOALS

• Perform in an in-class, filmed Shakespeare presentation.
• Create, film, and perform in an original webisode pilot.
• Perform in an in-class presentation of scenes, based on different eras of acting styles throughout history.

MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN ACTING: SEMESTER 4 OVERVIEW

Through exposure to the many facets of the professional world of film acting, the second year prepares students for their thesis projects. All Year Two MFA students must complete a series of highly-specialized courses, participate in multiple film productions, and ultimately deliver a thesis project of their own creation.

At the beginning of semester four, students receive MFA thesis project options to choose and prep for intensive fifth semester thesis work. Students will meet with Academic Advisors and mentors periodically throughout the second year. The focus of the fourth semester is on refining performance skills. Semester four classes are infused with an emphasis on perfecting their craft. This is intended to prepare MFA students for their thesis projects as well as for a life in the industry after graduation.

ACTING MFA LEARNING GOALS

• Continue to practice in front of camera, behind camera, in a recording studio, and in post-production.
• Continue work and deeper comprehension of stage vs. film performance.
• Become familiarized with voice-over techniques.
• Learn how to prepare and present yourself for auditions.
• Learn skills for improvisation work.
• Develop more advanced skills in film acting techniques in a fully-produced, original short film.

ACTING MFA PERFORMANCE GOALS

• Perform in an in-class, filmed improvisation presentation.
• Prepare and record original voice-over material in a recording studio.
• Perform in a filmed play presentation.

MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN ACTING: SEMESTER 5 OVERVIEW

At this point, master's students devote the majority of their time to their Thesis Project. Acting faculty will coach and assist students individually in an extensive series of advisements to ensure the successful completion of thesis requirements. The goal of this last semester for Master students is to develop their own vision and voice as a creative artist.

ACTING MFA LEARNING GOALS
In their fifth semester pursuing an acting Master of Fine Arts degree students will:

• Further develop advanced scene study techniques.
• Continue work and deeper comprehension of stage vs. film performance.
• Develop skills necessary for auditioning and the realities of the acting industry.
• Understand marketing tools used by film actors.
• Create a thesis project.

ACTING MFA PERFORMANCE GOALS

• Perform final showcase performance in front of a live audience.
• Perform in a thesis film project for final screening.

ACTING MFA THESIS
Each MFA degree candidate will complete a thesis in their final semester that includes both a significant creative project and substantial supporting written documentation. It is their opportunity to create and construct work that is important to their identity as an artist, and the choices they intend to make in their career. It is the synthesis of what they have learned in relationship to the broader field of acting.

THESIS PROJECT

This project will consist of both a performance on film and a written thesis paper (20-page minimum excluding final script). Each student must present his or her own thesis project.

Thesis projects are to be undertaken under the guidance of a thesis advisor. The student will meet with the thesis advisor throughout various stages of the project, including submission of the proposal, pre-production, rehearsals, and documentation.