AMPD Testimonials

What I enjoy most about the screenwriting program is how hands-on it is. They really give us time to start with an idea and develop it. Through my courses, I even get to go from script to screen myself. It's cool to have both the script and the film in my hands.

Daniela Corallo

Second-year Screenwriting Student

My degree in Theatre from York University taught me to think creatively and solve problems in unique ways. In theatre, no two shows are ever the same, just as every event I plan at Union Station brings new challenges and opportunities.

Alexa

Alumna (BFA '16), Theatre

The theory and fundamental skills I gained at York for creative movie-making through development and production prepared me for my career. I would suggest that students absorb the experience and learn by forcing mistakes, pushing the limits and networking. As one of my third-year professors said, ‘When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’

Bill Bannerman (BFA ’83)

Executive Producer, known for The Twilight Saga, The Predator, Masters of the Universe and more.

Being a dance student at York University has given me countless opportunities to both train, perform, and create at an advanced pre-professional level. As a second year student in the Choreography and Performance stream, I already have been able to perform in nearly 6 shows as well as create and train within my normal school hours. The teachers and fellow students in the dance program all foster individual expression as well as share the common goal of furthering ourselves as artists, no matter which area of the dance world peaks your interest, which is unlike any other program in the province. 

Hanna T

Third-year Dance Student 

Helen Lee (MFA ’24)

Director of Tenderness, premiered as part of TIFF’s Short Cuts program in 2024

There’s a really great community of PhD students here at AMPD – it’s important to have those people there to challenge you in the right kinds of ways.

Shannon Garden Smith (PhD Student, Visual Arts)

When I was looking at universities, York stood out to me because it was a more holistic program. I was interested in performance, but also in writing, creating my own work, applying theatre in educational contexts and learning about theatre from around the world. York cultivated in me a sense of curiosity about what theatre could be, beyond its traditions and conventions.

Rohan Kulkarni (BFA ’14)

Throughout my program, I found my AMPD peers to be exceptionally talented, collaborative and inspiring, and I had incredible support from the faculty, particularly my final semester adviser Carol Anna McBride, who constantly inspired us students to think we could leverage our creative skills to bring meaningful change once we stepped out into the world.

Bhabna Banerjee (BFA ‘20)

Production

I chose the York MDes program because I saw the benefits of doing a Master's degree within a larger research institution with a multitude of different resources and supports. What I really enjoy about the program is that it is largely self-directed. It is a playground where you are allowed to ruminate on your ideas, explore possibilities, and shape your academic experience based on your interests. Your instructors provide you guidance to put you on the right path but that path is largely constructed by you.

Rupsha M
MDes Candidate in the Graduate Program in Design