MFA Producing

Overview of our MFA in Producing

The Academy makes the accelerated two-year schedule possible by creating an extended academic year allowing students to complete three full-length semesters in each calendar year.

What makes our Producing Program unique?

The New York Film Academy's Film and Television Producing Program is housed within our film school and is designed to illuminate one of the most important, yet misunderstood, jobs in film and television.

Students eager to control their own destiny in the business world of film and television flourish in this intensive hands-on program.

It is geared to students with little or no experience in producing, but who recognize that an intensive and demanding program, much like the job of producing itself, will provide them with the knowledge they seek.

Students are treated as Producers throughout the duration of the course, and are challenged at each step of the way. Students are encouraged, but not required, to bring a piece of intellectual property - a book, screenplay, show concept or treatment-at the beginning of the course that will be used throughout the year as the foundation of their final project. Students take this project through the various stages of development: pitch, treatment, script, talent search, budget, schedule, and plans for marketing and distribution. Students learn the real-word strategies for successful producing and are encouraged to develop a professional network.

Students must be prepared for full-days of intensive work throughout the entire program. They must be committed to a fast-paced, intensive learning and production schedule, and willing to work collaboratively with our filmmaking, screenwriting, and acting students.

SEMESTER ONE OVERVIEW

Producers are confronted with a number of visual, dramatic, financial, legal, logistical, managerial, and technical challenges in the process of filmmaking. From the first day of class, students are immersed in a hands-on education on how to work through these challenges. Through an intensive sequence of classes and workshops, and with professional insights and encouragement from their instructors, students rapidly learn the fundamental creative and technical skills to produce for film and television.

LEARNING GOALS

• Introduction to the roles, tasks and obstacles faced by film and television producers including development of script, casting and talent negotiations, budgeting, scheduling, locations, hiring of crew, payroll, contracts and deal memos, equipment rentals, applicable Union regulations and contracts, and post-production requirements.
• Master storytelling concepts of elements, conventions, structure and style.
• Understand basic principles of entertainment law.
• Introduction to filmmaking from the perspective of the screenwriter, director, cinematographer and editor.
• Hands-on study in camera, lighting, sound and editing.

PRODUCTION GOALS

• While learning directing techniques and filmmaking concepts, students will shoot individual and collaborative film projects on the Universal backlot.
• In collaborative groups, students produce, develop, prep, shoot and edit a documentary on location.

SEMESTER TWO OVERVIEW

The second semester further challenges students to develop their production abilities both artistically and technically and exposes students to emerging media and technology. MFA Producing students are instructed in the craft of writing and championing dramatic treatments for a feature film and/or television pilots; in pitching story ideas to a variety of audiences; and presenting industry-standard written proposals in support of the feasibility of their projects.

This semester culminates in each student pitching and presenting a film or television project at the Producers Pitch Fest.

LEARNING GOALS

• Continue to learn, analyze and master key creative elements of the producer’s craft.
• Develop and write original film and/or television pilot treatments.
• Introduction and practice of fundamentals of deal-making.
• Introduction and practice of effective pitching skills.
• Learn critical elements of effective feature film business plans and television show bibles.
Students have an elective choice to either further their understanding of the actor's craft in Acting for Producers, or the option to develop an understanding of Production Design.

PRODUCTION GOALS

• Students will produce a NYFA filmmaking student’s short narrative film.
• Develop, write, and produce a collaborative Alternative Media project or series.

SEMESTER THREE OVERVIEW

Semester Three focuses on perfecting the craft and exploring the complexity of producing. MFA students will be engaged to pre-produce a studio film with a hypothetical intended budget of $100 million. Students will also be exposed to the practical and procedural marketing and distribution of the film, television, and other media value chain. Emphasizing professionalism, the third semester is designed to broaden the MFA students’ competence and help them to acquire business skills and practices to succeed.

LEARNING GOALS

• Explore story and storytelling through an in-depth study of the elements, conventions, structure, style, and traditional forms of screenplay writing.
• Understand the role of the producer and all production crafts in the pre-production process of a feature film, and while in pre-production, learn the concepts and techniques of marketing the film.
• Students have an elective choice to either further their understanding of the director's craft in Advanced Directing for Producers, or the option to develop an understanding of the visual effects industry and Visual Effects producing.

PRODUCTION GOALS

• Students produce a NYFA filmmaking student's short narrative film.
• Students produce a Rip-O-Matic as part of a marketing campaign.

THESIS OPTION C

Students who choose to complete Thesis Option C will branch off into a different curriculum beginning in semester four and will complete an additional paid semester six. Thesis Option C students will take classes in conjunction with MFA Filmmaking students doing their Thesis Option B. Each candidate will produce a feature-length film and will navigate each phase—development, prep, shoot and post production—of their selected project.

SEMESTER FOUR OVERVIEW (THESIS OPTIONS A & B)

Emphasizing professionalism, the fourth semester is designed to prep MFA students for their thesis projects. Throughout this semester, students meet individually with their Thesis Advisor and the Faculty Chair of the Producing Department to discuss the progress of their thesis projects. In addition, each student will meet with the Thesis Committee, chaired by the Producing Department Faculty Chair, to articulate their thesis choice and corresponding project summaries.

LEARNING GOALS

• Analyze strategies of successful finance and distribution campaigns.
• Deliver an in-depth study of budgeting and entertainment accounting best practices.
• Develop a deeper comprehension of Reality TV culminating in the development of a reality television concept program.

PRODUCTION GOALS

• Decide, develop and plan the MFA Thesis Project.
• Develop, write, and produce a short pilot for a reality television program.

SEMESTER FOUR OVERVIEW (THESIS OPTION C)

Thesis Option C students will learn and practice advanced cinematography techniques and production design. They will develop advanced producing skills as well as complete a second draft of their feature screenplays. They will learn and implement relevant marketing and distribution models for first-time feature filmmakers. They will be introduced to financial reporting methodologies and standard practices.

LEARNING GOALS

• Learn and master advanced cinematography techniques.
• Learn and troubleshoot art direction and production design concepts.
• Study and adapt effective development and pre-production practices.
• Demonstrate an ability to write a comprehensive second draft of their feature film screenplays and skill in adhering to deadlines.
• Adapt relevant marketing and distribution strategies to their feature film projects.

PRODUCTION GOALS

• Put into practice advanced cinematography design.
• Put into practice production design concepts.
• Continue pre-production of the feature film.

SEMESTER FIVE OVERVIEW (THESIS OPTIONS A & B)

Students will finalize their MFA Thesis Projects and thesis requirements. Throughout this semester, the Thesis Committee, chaired by the Producing Department Faculty Chair, meets with students and advises them to successfully finalize their MFA Thesis Projects as well as explore the complexities and challenges of life in the industry after graduation.

LEARNING GOALS

• Deliver the final business plan and/or TV-Bible.
• Further develop creative pitching techniques.
• Explore the role of the producer in collaborative development of scripts with the screenwriter.
• This semester culminates in each eligible student pitching and presenting a film or TV project at the Advanced
• Producers Pitch Fest to industry professionals.

PRODUCTION GOALS

• Successfully develop and present the MFA Thesis Project, and, if Thesis Option A is chosen; write, produce, shoot and edit the Thesis.

SEMESTER FIVE OVERVIEW (THESIS OPTION C)

Thesis Option C students will construct and workshop scenes from their upcoming feature film shoots. They will complete pre-production of their feature films, including organizing department management and spending systems. Based on successfully completing pre-production and delivering all required green light documents to the thesis committee and head of the Option C track, students will begin and complete principal photography in either Semester Five or Semester Six. Students must pass a final evaluation by the thesis committee and head of the Option C track, ensuring that all academic requirements are met.

LEARNING GOALS

• Construct and articulate the director’s vision for a chosen scene.
• Demonstrate an ability to execute all necessary paperwork to begin principal photography.
• Demonstrate an ability to maintain creative vision throughout the production of the feature film thesis project.
• Demonstrate effective collaboration and leadership skills throughout principal photography (in semester five or semester six).

PRODUCTION GOALS

• Finalize pre-production of the feature film.
• Begin and complete principal photography of the feature film.

SEMESTER SIX OVERVIEW (THESIS OPTION C)

Students complete principal photography in semester six or seven and begin and complete the post-production phase of their projects in semester seven. Picture, sound, visual effects and music editorial will be undertaken and completed under supervision of the thesis committee. They learn and compile the necessary feature film deliverables required by distributors.

LEARNING GOALS

• Demonstrate an ability to maintain creative vision throughout the production of the feature film thesis project.
• Demonstrate effective collaboration and leadership skills throughout principal photography (semester six or semester seven).
• Demonstrate an ability to execute post-production of the feature film.

PRODUCTION GOALS

• Complete principal photography of the feature film.
• Begin and complete post-production of the feature film.
• Compile a complete inventory of film deliverables.

Until COVID restrictions on the Universal Studios backlot subside, not all cohorts or students will be able to attend production workshops on the backlot. The backlot is generally not used for production workshops for screenwriting, animation and game design departments.