ABFF MASTERCLASS: Making Choices as a Director With Miguel Parga

MAKING CHOICES AS A DIRECTOR

An exploration of script analysis and its translation into camera language and actor direction. From extracting the controlling ideas, to helping the actors discover the truth of the scene, to deciding where the camera goes..

About the Instructor:

Miguel Parga

Miguel is a renowned filmmaker, author, Emmy, Peabody, and DuPont award recipient. In his earlier career at ABC News, he contributed to the news productions of The Impeachment of President Clinton, The Millennium, Lady Diana, JFK Jr, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, The 2000 Election, the fall of the Soviet Union, and 9/11. After migrating to Los Angeles, he produced commercials for NBC and Telemundo including Pepsi, Canon, Fisher Price, Bud Lite, Verizon, and The People Choice Awards. Miguel returned to NYC and started teaching at the New York Film Academy. As an instructor for nearly two decades, he also served as the academic director for the Harvard University and Mumbai programs. He has directed over 20 short films at festivals worldwide and is also a member of the Director’s Guild of America. Miguel’s literature career encompasses his debut novel Blood Laws (2015 Anaphora Literary Press), filmmaking book What They Didn’t Teach You In Film School (2019 Octopus), and recently Make Your Own Movies (2024 Hoaki).

About the American Black Film Festival

Now celebrating its 29th year, the American Black Film Festival remains the preeminent event of its kind, empowering Black artists and spotlighting a diverse array of entertainment content created by and for individuals of African descent. An event like no other, the festival brings together enthusiasts of Black culture alongside industry executives and content creators from across the globe for five days filled with screenings, engaging talk events, exclusive parties, and invaluable networking opportunities.