Posted by Mark Crowell on April 15, 2021 in Alumni Blog
SVA Alumnus Will Henry (2014) writes about producing his new documentary film, The High Frontier: The Untold Story of Gerard K. O’Neill. The film tells the untold story of Dr. Gerard K. O’Neill who in 1977 wrote the book, The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space, which sparked a grassroots movement to build Earth-like habitats in space in...
Posted by Mark Crowell on April 10, 2021 in Student Blog
Student Jack Murtha writes about coming to SVA and immediately jumping into making films – working on over 40 films in his first year at SVA. You can watch two of his films on his YouTube page here, and here! I came to SVA in the fall of 2018 and came here as a film major. I commute from Westchester New York, which is about an 45 min long...
Posted by Mark Crowell on April 10, 2021 in Student Blog
Homesick in NYC, Yoko Chen decides to create a traditional Hotpot feast for her SVA friends in her short film which you can watch here. Filmmaking is one of my biggest passions – even though I sometimes get incredibly anxious, the satisfaction and fulfillment of rendering out the final cut always excites me and motivates me to continue moving...
Posted by Mark Crowell on March 3, 2021 in Alumni Blog
SVA alumnus Sean Dermond (BFA Film, 2008) shares his experience working as a costume designer on the low budget horror film Scare Me. Sean is also featured throughout the new podcast series, MAKE COOL SH!T. MAKE COOL SH!T is a comedy docu-series which follows College Humor icon Josh Ruben, Emmy Winner Chris Redd (SNL), Critics Choice Winner Aya...
Posted by Mark Crowell on March 2, 2021 in Student Blog
Student Ahmari Ly-Johnson writes about his short animated film, The Robot Who Loved Art, and finding inspiration by listening to classical music. You can watch the film on Ahmari’s YouTube page by clicking here. I love animation. Animation has been a huge staple in my life as a filmmaker ever since I saw Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride at age...
Posted by Mark Crowell on February 15, 2021 in Student Blog
Student Rianne Pyle writes about filming her thesis film, Freedom Day, a social documentary following the organizers of the grassroots Freedom Day Foundation, and the challenge of directing virtually. Freedom Day follows the story of three passionate activists who take their battle for racial equality to the streets by orchestrating the first...
Posted by Mark Crowell on January 7, 2021 in Screenings
Since the invention of the moving image, women have created films and videos that have changed how people see and experience the world. Throughout 2021, the Smithsonian will celebrate the breadth of women-made films and videos through a monthly program series called “Viewfinder: Women’s Film and Video from the Smithsonian.” On the first Thursday...
Posted by Mark Crowell on October 19, 2020 in Student Blog
Student Amit Lerner’s short documentary Pam is playing at Doc NYC (you can buy tix here). Below, she writes about making a documentary about a 73-year-old retired New York City school teacher who defies stereotypes of growing older, and the process of submitting to festivals in the time of Covid. Ever since my high school film teacher...
Posted by Mark Crowell on October 9, 2020 in Student Blog
Thesis student Gonnie Zur shares her short film which she made during the pandemic. Now she’s competing for the grand prize at the HaBayitah International Shorts Contest in Israel. Watch and like her short film here! Maren in the Afternoon is a not-so-cursory reflection on how one might act in their own home when observed, and what viewing...
Posted by Mark Crowell on September 7, 2020 in Faculty Blog
UPDATE: Thursday, 9/17 at 5pm PT The Academy will be hosting a watch party for Real Women Have Curves on HBO Max. You can stream it and tweet along using #WatchWithTheAcademy. Last week, Entertainment Weekly published an interview with SVA faculty member George LaVoo on the 15 year anniversary of his film Real Women Have Curves. Here, George...
Posted by Mark Crowell on September 4, 2020 in Alumni Blog
2016 Alumnus Joe Ralko tells us why it’s important to take jobs outside your comfort zone and how a job as a clerk in the finance office for the CBS show Blue Bloods led to his short film being purchased by DIRECTV. Life after SVA has certainly been a whirlwind – life in film has may twists and turns, you need be ready to roll with...
Posted by Mark Crowell on July 3, 2020 in Alumni Blog
Sage Love (2019) writes about losing his grandfather – who gave him the inspiration to become an activist filmmaker – and finding the “proper” way to grieve as a Black man in America. When life calms you down, you have to shut up and listen. Before I explain what I mean, I want everyone reading this to understand where...
Posted by Mark Crowell on May 11, 2020 in Alumni Blog
2019 Alumnus Bouquet Napussorn writes about making her thesis film, submitting to festivals, having festival screenings canceled, and staying optimistic through it all. Watch the trailer for her film here! Prior to Covid-19 taking over the world, I believed I had the beginning of my career figured out. I was planning to attend multiple...
Posted by Mark Crowell on May 2, 2020 in Student Blog
Sharon (Luna) Genshaft is using the time during quarantine to find new ways of staying productive as an artist. New York City can be crazy at times. There is so much noise around that it’s rarely possible to just be still. In the bigger picture, it is not a waste of time to slow yourself down, and is actually healthy for your...
Posted by Mark Crowell on April 6, 2020 in Student Blog
Thesis student Flip Sarta writes about adjusting to a new normal and looks ahead to life after graduation. March has been a difficult month for all of us. Our lives have been warped and many plans for the future drastically changed. Special events such as graduation, birthdays and holidays put on pause or canceled all together. In times when...