Waitlist Support Group 2021 (2 Viewers)

[Chris W]

I'm waitlisted at AFI (directing program).

We're interviewing AFI later today. Last chance to post questions your want to ask them.

 

[collinviator]

Waitlisted at LMU - TV and Film Production and at Chapman - Film and Television Producing.

 

[its_me_mari]

Got waitlisted at Chapman!

 

[0rang3.chan]

There is a lot of us that are waitlisted for both Chapman and LMU... I wonder how many people they're going to let off the waitlist and how long that waitlist is Could it be a coincidence that a majority of us are on here, or is the waitlist just THAT long?

 

[yd_new]

I got waitlisted for LMU, FSU and SUNY Stony Brook.

I emailed LMU graduate admission and called them because I was curious when will they start accepting the waitlist. This school is literally my first choice because I wanted to move to LA so bad! If I do get accepted to FSU or Stony Brook in Manhattan I guess I’ll go because I really want to build more of my video production skills.

 

[autumn]

i really really want to get in because i am graduating college this year and i have absolutely no film experience so i don't even know how to get a job in the industry if i don't get in. i have a job this summer until august, so i have time to wait to find out, but i might be asking y'all for tips this summer if any of y'all work in the industry already in la or ny...

 

[Batsy]

There is a lot of us that are waitlisted for both Chapman and LMU... I wonder how many people they're going to let off the waitlist and how long that waitlist is Could it be a coincidence that a majority of us are on here, or is the waitlist just THAT long?

If you look at some of the acceptance rates on here, you'll see they're pretty high. AFI for some disciplines has over a 50% acceptance rate when it's obviously a lot lower than that overall. I think part of it is that only a certain amount of people are on this website, and those who are here are probably more apt to be accepted. And then, some people aren't here at all, and others read but don't post. So the data is probably positively skewed because not everyone is posting all of their applications. I don't think they waitlisted everyone; I just think that we have a lot of talented people here on this forum

I might email Chapman to see if they accepted continued letters of interest, and if I do, I'll try and find a casual way to see how long the list is lol.

 

[Batsy]

i really really want to get in because i am graduating college this year and i have absolutely no film experience so i don't even know how to get a job in the industry if i don't get in. i have a job this summer until august, so i have time to wait to find out, but i might be asking y'all for tips this summer if any of y'all work in the industry already in la or ny...

There's a lot of fellowships opening up in the coming months or already open. I'm not sure about the others, but most screenwriting ones only require specs or pilots. I think those are usually a good way to get some experience and new connections. I've also seen a lot of people networking on Twitter lately! I just graduated this December, so, unfortunately, I'm not of much help with any further info, haha. Hopefully, someone with a little more experience will chime in with some ideas.

 

[Chris W]

If you look at some of the acceptance rates on here, you'll see they're pretty high. AFI for some disciplines has over a 50% acceptance rate when it's obviously a lot lower than that overall.

Yes there's definitely some survivorship bias going on and not everyone is on the site. But they should be!

 

[MilesofTrials]

i really really want to get in because i am graduating college this year and i have absolutely no film experience so i don't even know how to get a job in the industry if i don't get in. i have a job this summer until august, so i have time to wait to find out, but i might be asking y'all for tips this summer if any of y'all work in the industry already in la or ny...

There are number of ways to "break into the industry" as a writer:

1. Agencies and management companies. Always hiring assistants. A lot of TV writers assistants start out this way. It's a hard few years.
2. PA. It's a gig to gig lifestyle but can open up doors, especially if you find ways to network and move to showrunner's PA and then to writers assistant/showrunner's assistant.
3. Write, target reputable competitions and development labs, and query managers. This is the screenwriting lottery and you have to be clear-eyed about your chances.
4. Have rich and well-connected parents. Wish I was kidding.
5. Joining writers groups, and generally being in LA will help. Network like crazy while you hold down your day job. NY has a MUCH smaller writing community and is geared more towards late night writers and playwrights trying to break into Hollywood (just look at the WGA East membership).

Most "careers" in writing take 5-10 years to take off. Doesn't matter if you're 21, 31, or 61. It's the people you meet years ago that may think of you if they're trying to fill a room or solicit submissions for an OWA or rewrite. It can be hard to contextualize this, but its the nature of the business.

Feel free to DM if you want more information on any of these options.

 

[Chris W]

There are number of ways to "break into the industry" as a writer:

1. Agencies and management companies. Always hiring assistants. A lot of TV writers assistants start out this way. It's a hard few years.
2. PA. It's a gig to gig lifestyle but can open up doors, especially if you find ways to network and move to showrunner's PA and then to writers assistant/showrunner's assistant.
3. Write, target reputable competitions and development labs, and query managers. This is the screenwriting lottery and you have to be clear-eyed about your chances.
4. Have rich and well-connected parents. Wish I was kidding.
5. Joining writers groups, and generally being in LA will help. Network like crazy while you hold down your day job. NY has a MUCH smaller writing community and is geared more towards late night writers and playwrights trying to break into Hollywood (just look at the WGA East membership).

Most "careers" in writing take 5-10 years to take off. Doesn't matter if you're 21, 31, or 61. It's the people you meet years ago that may think of you if they're trying to fill a room or solicit submissions for an OWA or rewrite. It can be hard to contextualize this, but its the nature of the business.

Feel free to DM if you want more information on any of these options.

This is great. This should be it's own thread! Can you post it as a "ways to break into the industry as a writer" thread here:

Screenwriting DIscussions

For all aspiring screenwriters to discuss what they're working on, ask for writing advice, share information, or just have a friendly conversation with fellow writers!

www.filmschool.org

 

[thespian]

Chapman is more than welcome to come crawling back with an acceptance letter as long as it comes with a full ride~ JK. (Sort of.)

 

[MilesofTrials]

This is great. This should be it's own thread! Can you post it as a "ways to break into the industry as a writer" thread here:

Screenwriting DIscussions

For all aspiring screenwriters to discuss what they're working on, ask for writing advice, share information, or just have a friendly conversation with fellow writers!

www.filmschool.org

Once the dust settles on this application cycle I will create a thread!

 

[yd_new]

Does anyone know the meaning of being waitlisted for LMU or FSU? Seems like for USC waitlist means guarantee admission for Spring 2022. I‘m tired of being in the unknown, thinking might as well just considered them rejected.

 

[Chris W]

Does anyone know the meaning of being waitlisted for LMU or FSU? Seems like for USC waitlist means guarantee admission for Spring 2022. I‘m tired of being in the unknown, thinking might as well just considered them rejected.

I don't know if it means gaurenteed admission for spring... I think that's just a USC thing but I could be wrong.

But... People do get Admitted off wait-list.

 

[yd_new]

I don't know if it means gaurenteed admission for spring... I think that's just a USC thing but I could be wrong.

But... People do get Admitted off wait-list.

I didn’t know there‘s that filter in the application tracker. In any way, i can only hope for the best

 

[Chris W]

I didn’t know there‘s that filter in the application tracker. In any way, i can only hope for the best

Are you on mobile? There's an icon of a filter in top right. I should probably add text that says filter.

On desktop it's on the left side of the page.

 

[Chris W]

FYI I added a new "Admitted Off Waitlist Date" date field on the applications.

 

[Chris W]

But... People do get Admitted off wait-list.

Fixed link.

 

[yd_new]

Fixed link.

Great, yea I wasn’t seeing it on my mobile and I had to scroll through a lot of application status and couldn’t find any. Thank you Chris!