Program Overview

Introduction to Online Filmmaking Classes for Teens

The New York Film Academy (NYFA) offers online filmmaking classes designed for teens aged 14-17. These classes provide a comprehensive overview of the filmmaking process, covering essential techniques required to create memorable short films.

Program Details

The online filmmaking classes are hands-on, filmmaker experiences that allow teens to explore storytelling through the art of film. The classes are available as Saturday sessions, running for four consecutive Saturdays. Students may enroll in all three classes or select and complete individual classes. Students are not required to complete one class to attend the next.

Module #1: The Subtext Film Class

In this immersive online class, students learn to focus on the background and supporting visuals of the "mise-en-scene" or "telling the story." Students choose a few emotions or an idea or a concept and are challenged to visualize the idea without using human beings in the frame. This enables the new film director to explore the myriad ways one can manifest subtext in the story being told without words, and an important and fundamental aspect of visual literacy for film.

Module #2: The POV (Point of View) Film Class

In this hands-on, virtual class, students create a subjective film that demonstrates to us, the audience, how they are feeling and/or what they are thinking. Students can choose a specific character and situation, and then visualize that character's point of view using a point of view shot. The story must be shot in a way that allows the audience to understand who the character is, how the character is feeling and what the character is doing all the points of view shot.

Module #3: The Writing Challenge Class

Every aspiring filmmaker has a selection of their favorite films and characters. In this live class, students put their inspiration to use, taking their favorite character from a movie and continuing that character's story what happens next (the sequel) OR what happened before we met the character. Alternatively, students may create their own character, develop the character's traits, what the character likes, how the character behaves, etc., and develop a basic outline of the character's story.

Tuition and Fees

• The estimated total tuition for all programs is available on the NYFA website.
• An explanation of NYFA institutional fees is also available.
• All tuition costs and fees are listed in USD and are subject to change.
• Tuition prices and fees are only guaranteed one semester at a time and are subject to increase or decrease.
• An annual increase is expected for all tuition and fees.
• Costs listed do not include housing, food, transportation, books, additional necessary supplies, activities fee, or health insurance.

Additional Expenses

• Students will also incur additional expenses on their own productions, which vary depending on how much film they shoot and the scale of the projects.

Accreditation and Approval

• The New York Film Academy is approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).
• "Approval" or "approval to operate" means that the institution is compliant with the minimum standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Education.

School Performance Fact Sheet

• The New York Film Academy's 2024 School Performance Fact Sheet for the Los Angeles Campus is available.
• The New York Film Academy BPPE 2024 Annual Report is also available.