More Stories
FilmAcademy360 Produces an Inspiring Event
FilmAcademy hosted a very special event in early April, inviting the public to be part of a video production directed by its students. Those taking part in the hands-on, interactive experience worked side-by-side with young adults on the spectrum and learned about their remarkable abilities.
David Diianni Honored as GSFF’s Educator of the Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Livingston, NJ – Spectrum360 proudly announces that David Diianni, Program Director at FilmAcademy360 and Teacher at Academy360, has been named Educator of the Year by the Garden...
Coming up: FilmAcademy360 Film Festival 2023
This September, the FilmAcademy360 Film Festival again celebrates the creation of original films and videos by FA360 students filmmakers with autism and those with related challenges. Now in its 9th...
Mandy.com is an industry-standard for freelance gigs in the New York and national TV and film production business. Producers use Mandy.com to staff their productions and Mandy.com has become the recognized leader in helping develop and search talent for the media world.
As FilmAcademy360’s Director, I saw an opportunity for our film students who are on the autism spectrum to gain entry into the media business through the world of freelance, remote work. The opportunity to partner with Mandy.com has opened the door to multiple producers in New York city for both freelance employment and internship programs.
The partnership with FilmAcademy360 will focus on areas including job development for FA360 students with large media organizations including Discovery Channel and Warner.
The program will also promote our students to NYC producers through a Linkedin Group, social media marketing, and direct awareness campaigns targeting potential job growth areas.
On Friday, July 26, 2019, Steve Lack, the Mandy Business Development Manager for the United States, came to the FilmAcademy360 TV studio for a professional development session with students, staff, and parents. Steve showed the students how to create a profile on Mandy.com to seek work. He offered a free upgraded membership for three months to each FA360 student. Steve also talked about the importance of having a showreel of completed work for potential clients to view. He also spent time discussing how to begin networking with others in the business to generate leads for future employment opportunities and went through specific examples of how to submit for an assignment by using actual job postings from the website.
I believe that our students have the potential to be productively engaged in the high-value career of digital media production with the support of FA360, Mandy.com, and our business partners including Pfizer and Bayer, as well as other small businesses and producers.
Thanks to Steve Lack of Mandy.com for coming out to teach our students about the world of freelance work in digital media and for his help in creating real-world opportunities for our students.
David Di Ianni has been the Director of FilmAcademy360 since 2008. He graduated with his Masters of Science in Education in 2016. As the Director of FilmAcademy360, he creates partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and others to create high-value work opportunities for Spectrum360 students. He also oversees the production of original content to help create awareness and acceptance of autism in the general community. David worked in broadcasting television internationally for many years before transitioning to education. When not at work, David enjoys time with his two children, including them in his favorite hobbies; hiking, painting, and guitar.