New York Film Academy (Los Angeles)
New York Film Academy Los Angeles is a for-profit film and acting school located in Burbank, California. Opened in 2000, the school was founded by Jerry Sherlock who previously worked as a producer in television, film, and theatre. The New York Film Academy Los Angeles is an extension of the New York Film Academy, which was originally founded in 1992 by Sherlock in New York City.
The Academy in Los Angeles provides students access to the Universal Students backlot, allowing students to film and perform projects on professional film sets. The school currently has four buildings located in Burbank, CA, which is considered the media capital of the world. Based on the philosophy of learning by doing, students receive hands-on education in their field, combining in-class instruction with supervised workshops and independent productions. The school in Los Angeles offers MFA, MA, BFA, BA, and AFA degree programs, one- and two-year conservatory programs, and short-term workshops in filmmaking, acting for film, 3D animation, producing, photography, game design, digital filmmaking, documentary filmmaking, cinematography, digital editing, and music video production.
History
Founded in 2000 by Jerry Sherlock, New York Film Academy Los Angeles began by offering four- and eight-week workshops in filmmaking and acting for film on the Universal Studios lot. NYFA remains a private family business, primarily owned by Jerry Sherlock's son Jean.
In 2001, Sherlock’s son Jean became CEO of New York Film Academy Los Angeles. In 2003, New York Film Academy Los Angeles started offering one- and two-year intensive conservatory programs. In 2006 the National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredited the New York Film Academy and the LA campus began offering MFA degree programs and expanded to offering BFA degrees in 2010.
Campus
As the size of the student body has grown, the New York Film Academy Los Angeles grew out of its 1,500 sq. ft. office located on the lot of Universal Studios. Its primary administration building is currently located in the old Warner Brothers Music building and contains the filmmaking, producing, screenwriting, game design, and animation departments. The acting department is located in a five-story building across the street from the Universal Studios backlot.
New York Film Academy Los Angeles has additional buildings, one which houses the editing department and animation facilities and another that contains New York Film Academy Los Angeles’ equipment room and library, which contains hundreds of feature film scripts, a collection of DVD’s, plays, books on the industry, and math and science books for the Liberal Arts and Science classes that are offered as part of the BFA programs.
Academics
Alongside its NASAD accreditation, the New York Film Academy Los Angeles is licensed by the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). In addition to its filmmaking and acting for film programs and workshops, the school offers additional film programs focusing on particular disciplines that include screenwriting, producing, documentary filmmaking, digital editing, and cinematography.
Over the past decade, New York Film Academy Los Angeles has expanded its course offerings to include additional degree programs in the visual arts including photography, 3D animation, and game design. The school employs working professionals who remain active in their careers in the entertainment industry while also providing hands-on instruction to students. Noteworthy faculty members include director Adam Nimoy, director Gilbert Shilton, screenwriter Jim Jennewein, actress Lynda Goodfriend, and game designer Chris Swain, along with actors such as Louis Gossett, Jr. and Bill Duke who have taught classes at the Academy in Los Angeles.
Admission
NYFA practices open admissions.