PRESENTATIONS and Q&A PANELS
Established BC alumni share their skills, insights, and experiences with students and new grads through online presentations and Q&A panel discussions.
Daniel Scarpati, Class of '16
Daniel Scarpati is an award-winning filmmaker and the owner-operator of Passing Planes Productions LLC in Queens, NY. After graduating from CUNY Macaulay Honors College at Brooklyn College with a B.A. in Film Production & TV/Radio, Daniel worked as a PA on dozens of primetime TV shows, feature films, documentaries and commercials.
He shares many of his most memorable experiences from years on set and other life lessons in his nonfiction book, “Gofers: On the Front Lines of Film and Television.“ Daniel now works as a freelance videographer, camera operator and A/V technician while also developing his first feature film.
Keep up-to-date with him online at www.passingplanes.com!IMDb
Michael C. Martin, Class of '08
Michael C. Martin has more than 15 years experience in the film/TV industry as a writer/producer/director. In 2008 he was recognized by Variety magazine as one of the ten screenwriter’s to watch. Offering a rare blend of genre work that spans; Westerns, Horror, Cop, and Music, Michael has a flare for penning grounded characters of endless backgrounds.
Michael visited an advanced screenwriting class and shared his experience with students who are preparing to enter the industry as working screenwriters. IMDb
Daniel Lugo, Class of '01
Lugo graduated Brooklyn College in 2001 and works as a DGA 1st Assistant Director. His 1st AD credits include: A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, Netflix’s Bonding and the upcoming TV show Harlem for Amazon. IMDb
BC Virtual Q&A with Alumni Panel (2024)
On June 23, 2024, the BCFAA hosted a virtual panel discussion with the following BC Alumni: Ben Ng, Jason Friedman-Mendez, Aeris Nguyen, Philip Saparov, David Cavallo, Michael J. Ruiz-Unger, Barbara Weber, Savva Svet, Brian Ackley, and Dafna Alma-Fraser.
Introductions
What did you do right after film school?
How did you finance your thesis film?
What should a writer/director do after college?
How do you get started as a freelance screenwriter?
What steps should I take as a screenwriting major before graduating?
What types of jobs are in your field?
Should filmmakers complete their degree before looking for work?
What are three key qualities an individual entering the film industry should have?
Closing
BC Virtual Q&A with Alumni Panel (2025)
On June 29, 2025, the BCFAA hosted a virtual panel discussion with the following BC Alumni: David Cavallo, Michael J. Ruiz-Unger, Barbara Weber, Tony Leonardo, and Brian Ackley.