Tag Archives: open house

How to Write Compelling Characters

how to write compelling characters

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 how to develop characters for TV and film. Here are some tips on how to write compelling characters for the screen.

Archetypes


Carl Jung created Twelve Archetypes of  Humanity and analyzed how people generally behave with these twelve types. This can be a great jumping off point if you are unsure how your characters move around in the world and carry themselves based on history, culture, and assimilation to their environments. The twelve Archetypes include; The Innocent, Everyman, Hero, Outlaw, Explorer, Creator, Ruler, Magician, Lover, Caregiver, Jester, and Sage. You see many of these archetypes in movies and tv shows already. For example, the Lover can be seen in many romantic tragedies and comedies such as West Side Story and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Check out this video for more information on Archetypes.
https://youtu.be/V8WuljiJFBI

Analysis


Ask yourself questions about the character such as; What is the character’s main goal? What is their secondary goal(s)? How do they interact with the other characters? Where do they live? What do they do in their spare time? The more analysis you do and the more questions you ask yourself about the characters, the more they will come to life. 

Create a Great Introduction


Remember, you only get to introduce your character in a film or TV show for the first time, once. Make sure it is memorable and encapsulates key factors about your character that you need the audience to know and retain. If your character is a villain, is there something that could suggest that in the first encounter? If they are supposed to be hilarious, do they crack a joke right away? Think about the first moment and how the character appears to the other characters as well as the audience. 

Consider Classes 

Finally, consider furthering your education to help with writing these characters and their complex backgrounds. Having a space to explore your writing skills under the guidance of professionals is one of the best ways to learn. For example, Digital Film Academy offers screenwriting and film history classes as a part of the curriculum to better your film writing skills. 

If you are interested in learning more about Digital Film Academy join us for our next free online Open House on July 7th at 6pm EST.

This is a free virtual open house where we will be hosting a demonstration film class and going over more information about the programs we offer.

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Five Movies to Watch in May

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 we learn by observing others and their work. We can gain new perspectives and techniques by spending time enjoying a film. You never know when a film will inspire you to begin your new project. 

So, if you are looking for something to watch this month, check out these five movies to watch in May!

Everything Everywhere All At Once 

  • Out in Theatres Now. 
  • This is a must watch. It’s entertaining, funny, well executed, well played. Go. Watch. It.

Hatching

  • Out in Theatres Now. 
  • For those who enjoy films that are deep in meaning and that will definitely disturb you, “Hatching” debuted at Sundance and is a great suggestion for horror fans. Exploring themes such as social media, family, power, and mysterious finds…

Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom

  • Available on Amazon Prime.
  • An aspiring singer living with his grandmother in the capital of Bhutan dreams of getting a visa to move to Australia. This film was filmed on location in the world’s most remote school and it was nominated for an Oscar. 

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 

  • Out in Theatres Now. 
  • This new Marvel flic is a great option if you are looking to learn more about visual effects. This film continues to explore the depths of the multiverse. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and a new ally battle a new common enemy. 

The Worst Person in The World

  • Out in Theaters Now. 
  • Described as one of the best Romantic Films out there now, “The Worst Person in The World” chronicles four years in the life of Julie (Reinsve), a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is.


After you enjoyed some popcorn and got inspired with any of the movies indicated above, check out the film and media training that Digital Film Academy has to offer including Directing, Cinematography, Screenwriting, Editing, Sound Recording, Producing and VFX. 

We teach you how to work in every area of the film/television industry, while allowing you to specialize in your preferred path. Join our last Open House of the season on May 12th at 1pm EST. 

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Five Tips for Crowdfunding your Film

In today’s world, independent filmmakers often look towards fundraising to produce their films. With these five tips for crowdfunding your film you will have a better shot at getting your project out there.

What exactly is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is essentially fundraising for your project. There are many ways to do this but nowadays almost all crowdfunding happens online.

Something to take into account is that the payments made from patrons crowdfunding are usually small but many. So think a grassroots campaign to get an indie film produced. 

Here are five tips to crowdfunding your independent film successfully.

Research Platforms 

There are multiple different platforms to choose from to fund your film. A few of the best include: seed&spark, kickstarter, indiegogo, and patreon.

However, each of these platforms offer different benefits but ultimately serve the same purpose. Extra tip: take a look at the fees and caveats of each platform and determine for yourself which would be the best fit for your project.

Set Realistic Goals 

What do you hope to achieve with this platform? What is a realistic monetary goal? These are questions that you need to ask yourself going forward. It can be a slow process so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results right away. 

Share your Progress 

As you make developments on the film (casting, shooting, etc.) make sure to share them with your donors! People like to see what they’ve donated to and it may even influence them to send in a second donation. 

Avoid Over-contacting your Donors

No one likes being pestered for money. Try to limit your email blasts and contacts to only important updates on your film or other relevant information. Showing progress is more exciting than begging. 

Promotion

You want to confirm that your campaigns are reaching the right people. Utilize all of your connections and send information out to anyone and everyone who might be interested. Social media is a great way to promote your film and crowdfunding efforts. 

We know crowdfunding for a film isn’t easy, but it helps to have professionals in your corner. That’s where Digital Film Academy comes in! We offer lifetime access to our equipment, facilities, and an exclusive Jobs Board where you can network and get paid work.

If you are interested in learning more about Digital Film Academy, join our next Open House

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One Month Later: The Oscars

It has been a month since the 94th Academy Awards aired on live television.

Reflecting back a month after the Oscars, what have we learned? What was the impact?

In case you missed it, Acting awards included; Troy Kotsur in Coda, Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Ariana Debose in West Side Story. Best directing went to The Power of the Dog by Jane Campion and Best Picture went to Coda.

Montage. In order: Behind the scenes of Dune, Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Spiderman: No Way Home, Will Smith, Behind the Scenes of West Side Story, The Power of The Dog and Coda.



Ideally, you watched the Oscars and came away with a new film or two on your watch list.
If not, add Dune, Coda and Spiderman: No Way Home to your list.
Undoubtedly, the Oscars also have an impact on society. We can take the Will Smith controversy as a prime example of this.

There is also a positive impact of modeling patience, forgiveness, and understanding at the Oscars. For example, many winners use their speeches as an opportunity to speak on social issues that are important to them.

But the real impact of the Oscars is seen after the fact.

For example, the results of the Oscars often help to shape the future of what the film industry looks like in the following years. The winners set the tone for what is successful in the eyes of the Academy and (some) viewers.
Unsurprisingly, we have seen an increase in viewership in the Oscar nominated films since the ceremony.

Here at Digital Film Academy, we know how important it is to stay updated on new trends. We offer the newest and most innovative equipment in order for you to produce work that aligns with the industry. 
With our equipment kit, included if you join our Associate of Science Degree in Digital Media, you will have everything you need to experiment with new trends.

Come check out our Open House to see what we have to offer and get started on your film training today.

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Goal Setting

As we transition into the New Year, many of you may still feel stuck in old habits, and goal setting can be an easy tool to help us overcome obstacles. We still have many of the same challenges that we faced the year prior. The pandemic is still a threat to public health and safety and we are all adjusting the best we can.

goal setting. white wall with professional lighting equipment.

For many of us, our dreams and goals were pushed to the side due to challenges resulting from the pandemic, both financial and health-wise. 

So, how do we get back on track? Let’s talk about goal setting. 

The first step in setting a goal is to think about what we want to accomplish. We can write this down with as much detail as possible. Do you want to become a successful filmmaker? Why? Do you want to focus on directing, cinematography, or sound design? Think about what it is you truly want to accomplish and write it down on paper or electronically. 

Once you have a goal in mind, we need to set a timeline to accomplish that goal. Realistically, how long will it take to accomplish? Are we ready to take action now? Where do we go from here? At this point, we need to consider what actionable steps we are going to take to make our dreams a reality. 

This is where Digital Film Academy comes in.

Studying with Digital Film Academy could be the first actionable step to fulfilling your filmmaking goals. 

Digital Film Academy offers two programs: A year-long Certificate program and a sixteen month Associate’s Degree program. In both programs, you receive free lifetime access to our equipment.

This means long after you graduate, you will have access to the equipment you need to fulfill your goals. Our Associate’s program also includes a personal equipment kit including a Blackmagic 6K camera, Canon M50 camera, Sound Recording Equipment, Lighting Kit, etc. 

Attending Digital Film Academy can serve as an actionable step towards achieving the goals you make for yourself. DFA makes it easy for you to set timelines with future intakes in May and September, allowing you to plan what works best for you. 

Digital Film Academy offers a variety of professional media training including Cinematography, Sound Recording, Directing, Video Editing, and Screenwriting. These classes allow for exploration of your true passions while developing skills in every facet of digital media.

Contact our admissions department for more information about our programs and how to align it with your goals: [email protected]

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Every Ending is a New Beginning

“Every story has an end. But in life, every ending is just a new beginning.”
Dakota Fanning as Ray From the movie: Uptown Girls

As we begin a new year, we reflect on the past. This past year was challenging and full of ups and downs. For some, the end of 2021 may have felt like a huge relief. For others, this ending may have felt bittersweet. 

What goals did we have for ourselves that we didn’t quite meet? Is there something missing in our personal or professional lives that we want to incorporate into this new year? 

As we reflect on our goals for 2022, the question of training and honing in on our talents might arise. 

Digital Film Academy is here to help you meet your professional filmmaking goals and fine-tune your talents to become a better filmmaker. 

For instance, if you are interested in pre-production, we offer lifetime access to our equipment, saving you time and money when producing your own projects. 

We also have an equipment kit included in our Associates Degree program featuring a Blackmagic 6k Camera, Tungsten and LED Lights, and more, yours to keep. 

For post-production, we have cutting edge technology available to you such as Davinci Resolve, Avid, Pro-Tools, After Effects, and many other softwares. 

DFA’s training is geared towards giving you all of the tools and resources you need to succeed in the film and media industry. 

While new beginnings aren’t always easy, taking this step for your career could be very rewarding. Many students have taken this leap with our programs to become a more well-rounded film professional.

You can take a look at what some of our students and alumni have said about our school here: DFA Students and Alumni.

If you are ready for a new beginning, consider attending our Open House on Thursday January 6th at 1pm EST. You can add your name to the guest list here: https://www.digitalfilmacademy.edu/open-house/

We look forward to starting this new year with you. 

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Do It Yourself

Woman sitting in front of a computer screen while wearing headphones, learning online.

Nowadays, we have a wealth of information at our fingertips. Websites like YouTube provide resources on topics we never thought possible! You may find yourself asking, why do I need a film school when everything I need to learn is online? Doing it yourself can be helpful in many ways, but you’ll need a little more to be a successful professional in the film industry. We give you (at least) three reasons:

Connections 

Attending Digital Film Academy will expose you to professionals in the industry. Our instructors are working film professionals with firsthand experience in the field. There are people to support you before, during and after completing the program. 

Hands On Experience 

YouTube is great for visual learning but sometimes you need hands-on experience. At Digital Film Academy, we put equipment in your hands and teach you how to use it correctly. Our online classes are engaging and interactive, no more boring zoom classes… 

Equipment 

Digital Film Academy offers FREE lifetime access to our production equipment and facilities including our RED Cinema cameras. This means no more paying for rental equipment, ever. In the classroom, Digital Film Academy uses state-of-the-art industry equipment to make sure you receive the best training possible, including DSLR’s, RED Cinema cameras, Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere and Protools just to name a few.

Doing your own research and learning online can be fun and valuable but it cannot replace a quality education from Digital Film Academy. Our goal is to give you all the tools and resources you need to succeed in this industry. If you are ready to take the next step, join us at our Open House on Tuesday December 21st at 6pm EST.

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We’re changing, are you?

Students working as a film crew, directing, operating the camera and recording sound at Central Park in New York.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”

– Rita Mae Brown (not Einstein, I checked)


Everything around us is constantly changing, and that’s never been more true. I’ll throw another quote at you:

“For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled”

– Bob Dylan


The best way to succeed is to be on the forefront of change. And that’s what we’re doing. Digital Film Academy is always on the lookout for how we can change to better serve our students. We’ve pivoted to a hybrid learning environment that allows our busy students to do most of their classes remotely. We bring our seasoned professors to you, wherever you are. 

We’ve designed an entirely new Associates Program that gives you equipment to own (yours forever, no joke), included in the tuition. That means that as you’re building your portfolio, working on school projects, or working with clients, you’ve got everything you need. You become your own production company. When you’re learning the equipment you have it there, in your hands. We did this because it’s the best way for you to learn and that’s our top priority. 

We’ve adapted our hands-on classes so that we can still deliver the essentials, while keeping our students safe. We just finished our intensive 3 week summer classes that had students performing in real life scenarios. From shooting walk-and-talks in Central Park to dramatic dollys in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen. 

Our mission is and always has been to prepare you to make money and we’re always looking for new ways to do that better. 

Maybe it’s time you think about making a change? 

Come to one of our Open Houses and see if we can’t help you take a step in a new direction.

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Don’t Trade Your Future for those Film Schools

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article titled “Financially Hobbled for Life” in which they talk about film school graduates who leave their programs $100K – $300k in debt. Now these were master’s degrees, but this problem impacts graduates at all levels. 

It’s. Not. Worth. It.

No one in the film and media industry cares about a fancy degree. They want people who know how to function on set. You can get that experience without going into massive debt. So don’t trade your future for those Film Schools.

DFA programs are designed to give you exactly what you need to be able to make money. We teach you the essential skills, we give you lifetime access to our equipment and facilities, and we do this for a fraction of the cost of other schools. 

Film and Media affordable programs

We succeed when you succeed. It’s been our driving force for the 20 years we’ve been educating students.

Whether you’re interested in Directing, Cinematography, Screenwriting, Editing, Sound Recording, Producing or VFX. We teach you how to work in every area of the film/television industry, while allowing you to specialize in your preferred path.

If you would like to know more about our school and programs, come check us out in one of our Open Houses

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Why the DFA Open House is a Must-See!

You know the regular school open house drill: sit in a chair with some strangers, hear a few words from a professor about what you would do in his class, maybe hear some success stories about former students…

But the Digital Film Academy Open House is no regular open house.

The DFA is all about getting students working in film – and their open house on Saturday, March 8th from 3-5pm in NYC is no different.

At this totally free event, attendees won’t just get to see the facilities and network with current/former students and professors. They’ll also take part in three hands-on demonstrations:

Directing

Directing Demo: Ever dreamed of commanding your own set as a director? Taught by Patrick DiRenna, the President of the DFA, this directing crash course gives attendees the “magic formula to create the perfect shot.” Guests will learn how to set up two different, dramatic SteadyCam shots and will also be taught the primary functions of a director.

ADR

ADR (Additional Dialog Recording) Demo: Imagine this: you’ve yelled “Cut!,” you’re bursting with excitement over what you filmed, and you get into editing – only to discover that the sound is a garbled mess. Something went wrong – so now, is your project dead?

Absolutely not, because you can replace that original dialog – if you know what you’re doing! Guy Mor, the DFA Director of Operations and an audio wizard, will show you how to both replace bad audio and record audio for animation… the best part? Attendees can take part in a fun exercise, re-recording audio for famous movie lines such as “Hasta la vista, baby” – and enjoy the results.

Media composer

Avid Media Composer Demo: Two things are hot right now in the world of film: Avid Media Composer, the most widely-used non-linear editing program for professional film, and the Red camera. (In fact, most DFA grads report being able to easily find work after graduation thanks to their continued free access to the expensive Red camera through the DFA membership program.) In this demo, DFA Equipment/Facilities manager Corey Christian works with both, showing how to load footage from the Red camera into Avid Media Composer and use the software to create a perfect final image.

If you’ve ever considered a career in film, what are you waiting for? Come to the DFA Open House to make connections, learn tricks of the trade, and see if you’re ready to take the next step to “monetize your media!”

RSVP today at DFA Open House.

By Digital Film Academy Blog Manager Sara McDermott Jain

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