Category Archives: Films

Five Movies to Watch in May

May 12, 2022

I learned cinema in the cinema watching films, so you always have a curiosity. I say, ‘Well, what if I make a film in this genre? What if I make this film like this?’ – Wong Kar-wai As a filmmaker, it’s important to stay up to date on new films hitting the movie screens because […]

Read More

Questlove’s Black Woodstock is his Directorial Debut

December 2, 2019

Questlove’s Black Woodstock is his Directorial Debut Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s first try at directing a feature film is a documentary titled Black Woodstock. The movie highlights the Harlem Cultural Festival, an outdoor music festival held the same summer as Woodstock in Harlem’s Mount Morris Park. Although there were over 300,000 people in attendance, the event […]

Read More

DFA Student Spotlight: Jose Martinez

July 1, 2016

  Years ago, Jose Martinez took an intensive, one-month filmmaking course. He gained filmmaking experience, but quickly realized that in order to keep the ball rolling on his career, he needed to connect with like-minded people with whom he could collaborate on future film projects. When he found the Digital Film Academy, he knew it […]

Read More

DFA Student Spotlight: Jimmy Zdolshek

June 24, 2016

When he was only in high school, Jimmy Zdolshek’s video production teacher encouraged him to participate in “SkillsUSA,” an organization that sponsors a competition to promote career and technical development. When the short Zdolshek completed within 6 hours as part of the contest went on to win 1st place, Zdolshek says it was one of the best […]

Read More

5 Keys to a High Concept in Film

June 16, 2016

If you work in film, you’ve most likely heard the phrase “high concept.” This is Hollywood’s ultimate buzz phrase, the Holy Grail for producers. It’s so important, 99% of producers will make a deal with a writer who has a genuine high concept, even if their writing is terrible. Why? Because it’s easy to sell […]

Read More

Alumni Spotlight: Joe Rodman

June 13, 2016

When Joe Rodman first entered the Digital Film Academy, he planned to become a director. It was only through the hands-on experience he got filmmaking that he realized his true calling was editing. “I fell in love with editing. You get to really see the story take shape in the editing room,” he says. It’s […]

Read More

The 52nd New York Film Festival

September 23, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen, are you ready? In exactly 3 days, the city of New York is going to be taken over by film, and we couldn’t be more excited. The 52nd New York Film Festival kicks off on September 26th and it will bring the power of cinema to the city that never sleeps all the […]

Read More

Women Cinematographers: A Look Behind Her Lens

September 18, 2014

When we look at the names of cinematographers working on commercial films, we will find it a difficult task to spot a woman credited as one. Women make up barely 2% of cinematographers in the industry. There haven’t been any female cinematographers who were nominated for an Academy Award. That’s not cool. In fact, the […]

Read More

The Director Auteur

September 15, 2014

The entertainment industry has tons of creative energy flowing through it. The public may hear stories of how most people who get involved in it desire to work in an area they are not hired for (e.g. the actor who wishes to be a director, the gaffer who would like to be a cinematographer, the […]

Read More

® GI Bill® Is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill