Category Archives: student focus

How to Write Compelling Characters

July 7, 2022

So, you have an idea for a screenplay with a great plot, now what? Don’t forget the importance of writing well-rounded characters. Audiences need characters to hate, love, cherish, and tell the story fully. Without fully thought out characters, a movie or TV show can seem dull. Luckily, there are many tips and tricks on […]

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AI Love You: Former DFA Student, Stephan Zlotescu

February 24, 2022

Former Digital Film Academy student, Stephan Zlotescu, releases AI Love You on Netflix. Congratulations to former DFA student, Stephan Zlotescu, writer and creator of the new Netflix film AI Love You. The movie is directed by Thai-French actor and filmmaker David Asavanond (Tom Yum Goong) in his directorial debut. The cast includes Pimchanok Leuwisetpaiboon and […]

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3 Ways to be Professional

November 22, 2021

Let’s talk about professionalism. We often hear that we need to “be professional” on set but what does that really mean? We’ve broken it down into 3 ways to be professional: be kind, listen, and focus.   Be Kind. For the first example, we have Martin Scorsese whose birthday was earlier last week and his […]

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Overcoming Limitations

February 17, 2021

I’m a firm believer that everyone is capable of making really great media. So where does all the bad media come from? Limitations. People are limited by budgets, availability, time, weather, and global pandemics. The thing stopping us from making great media isn’t a lack of ability. It’s the outside pressures pulling at our attention, […]

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DFA Film Student Spotlight: Ayanda Chisholm

July 22, 2016

Student Spotlight What’s the biggest way in which the Digital Film Academy has affected student Ayanda Chisholm’s life? “Definitely the WebTV class,” she says. “I had never considered doing a web series before. Now I’ve completed two episodes and plan to finish an entire first season.” The web series, titled The Young, Black, and Gifted, […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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Student Work: 'Assigned Sex' by Shaun Dawson

September 11, 2014

Obsessed with the art of storytelling since she learned how to walk and talk, Shaun Dawson followed a very unique path before she landed in the world of filmmaking. She was a surgical technologist for 7 years in the US military, when her dream of becoming a storyteller became more concrete. The experience of providing aid […]

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Student Focus July 2014: Danesha Holmes

July 18, 2014

Before coming to the Digital Film Academy, Danesha Holmes tried many different career paths. She always knew she wanted to work in entertainment, but didn’t know in what capacity. As a result, in addition to trying acting and stand-up comedy, Holmes spent time in retail, in customer service, as a personal trainer, and even as […]

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