[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: One of the classes that you’re teaching here at NYFA [New York Film Academy] is Story Generation. Are there proven strategies that help writers come up with ideas?
Eric Conner, New York Film Academy Instructor/Podcaster/Writer/Filmmaker: One thing I encourage that we were just talking a moment ago about you breaking down other stories, you watch a film, figure out how they put it together. Story generation I think so much of this is I will try to ask a lot of questions that aren’t necessarily about film or TV.
-What music do you like?
-What books have you read?
We even do in that class something that’s really quite fun. We do a field trip to one of the museums, either LACMA [Los Angeles County Museum of Art] or Broad, The Getty and this idea of allowing yourself to be open to inspiration. During the first class I even have this list I found somewhere online of movies that you can imagine were made out of different material…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
About:
Eric Conner has taught hundreds of aspiring storytellers at the New York Film Academy (LA), the Writer’s Store, the Animation Guild and Starcoach – China. At NYFA, he’s interviewed dozens of entertainment professionals including Django Unchained producer Reginald Hudlin and John Wick director Chad Stahelski and wrote/hosted the podcast The Backlot.
He recently produced the feature length documentary Other Voices (Aswat Acherim), available on Amazon. His work has also been featured on the Howard Stern Show, On Demand Cable, Entertainment Tonight and Ranker.com. Eric has been a Burbank Cultural Arts Commissioner since being appointed by the City Council in 2019 and recently joined the board of the Burbank International Film Festival.
As a writer he’s adapted projects based on Knott’s Scary Farm and the NY Times bestseller Vampire Kisses. You may have seen Eric appear regularly on the Geekscape podcast, perform as plant victim Mr. Mushnik in Conundrum’s Little Shop of Horrors or share his true tale of being a woefully underprepared Santa Claus at JAM Creative’s Jingle Tales. He’s also worked with HollyShorts for several years as a film judge and moderated multiple panels / Q&As at their annual festival.
A rare native Delawarean, Eric lives in Burbank with his wife Lauren, sons Alex & Judah and their chaotic canines Fezzik and Iggy Pup.
CONNECT WITH ERIC CONNER
About New York Film Academy:
Founded in 1992 by Jerry Sherlock, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) provides an accessible, hands-on education in filmmaking, media, and the performing arts. With a mission to make the film industry more accessible to all, NYFA empowers students from diverse backgrounds to tell powerful stories through a project-based, immersive curriculum. Students work closely with industry professionals, gaining invaluable mentorship and real-world experience while building creative, technical, and collaborative skills. NYFA’s global community includes students from over 160 countries, fostering a network of passionate storytellers. From day one, students dive into creating projects that refine their craft and prepare them for successful careers. With a focus on practical experience and individualized support, NYFA equips students with the tools and confidence to excel in the competitive world of filmmaking and the arts.
CONNECT WITH NYFA
Nyfa.edu/location/nyfa-los-angeles
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