The New York Jets and the New York Film Academy announced today the launch of the Sports Media Academy, which will offer two 16-week hands-on immersion workshops in sports photography and sports broadcasting for sports fans and aspiring media professionals in a real-world sports environment.
As part of the program, students will create a media portfolio while covering the Jets at select events during the 2012 football season and throughout the calendar year. Jets fans will also have the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes for the chance to be a photography student for the day in the Sports Media Academy.
"A partnership like this is very unique," says Marc Riccio, Jets senior vice president of corporate sales, marketing, and stadium development. "We are looking forward to working with the New York Film Academy to develop this unprecedented relationship between professional sports and the arts. Some memorable moments should be captured with our professionals teaching these talented students."
"We are very excited to partner with the New York Jets to offer students the opportunity to learn sports photography and broadcasting," says Jeremy Snepar, EVP at the New York Film Academy. "The high-stakes, high-pressure, adrenaline-driven world of sports provides unique opportunities to create unforgettable images and stories of human achievement on a grand scale. Methods for being at the right place at the right time, for anticipating what's about to happen, and for being technically prepared to get an iconic shot under wildly unpredictable conditions will be taught and practiced in depth."
Beginning Sept. 5, the Sports Media Academy will offer students the opportunity to refine their craft and cover the Jets at home games, practices, media events, organized team activities, training camp, draft events and other team activities.
Jets employees and industry veterans Al Pereira, the team's official photographer for over 15 years, and Rich Gentile, senior director of broadcast and multimedia production, entering his fifth season with the Jets and 16th in the NFL will team up with New York Film Academy's award-winning faculty. They will provide expert instruction in every aspect of the field, teaching specialized techniques and giving insights that can only be learned from decades of professional experience.
The photography course will be offered this fall and the broadcasting class will be offered in spring 2013. For more information on the courses and to enroll, visit the New York Film Academy's Website.
About the New York Film Academy
Founded in 1992, the New York Film Academy has grown to become one of the largest independent arts academies offering hands-on degree (BFA, MFA) and certificate programs in locations around the world including New York City; Universal Studios, California; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Harvard University; Disney Studios in Orlando Fla.; Florence, Italy; Paris, France; Shanghai, China; New Delhi, India, and Brisbane, Australia.
The New York Film Academy offers instruction in filmmaking, acting, broadcasting, producing, screenwriting, computer animation, and game design and is proud to have educated the sons and daughters of Hollywood luminaries Steven Spielberg, Al Pacino, Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, Jodie Foster, Kevin Kline, Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon and others.
