2015 Interviews - Acceptances - Rejections (2 Viewers)

[Chester]

Do you know if screenwriting comes later?

Luis,

Unfortunately I do not. I am not terribly familiar with the process or how it has worked in years past. Maybe someone else on the thread might be able to help answer that.

 

[Luis Cuevas]

Luis,

Unfortunately I do not. I am not terribly familiar with the process or how it has worked in years past. Maybe someone else on the thread might be able to help answer that.

No problem. I am just getting incredibly anxious. Out of nowhere I forgot about it and like two days ago I just started fussing about it.

 

[PrincessJellyshoes]

Do you know if screenwriting comes later?

I'm pretty sure there are no interviews for USC's screenwriting applicants, but I'm not positive.

 

[Luis Cuevas]

I'm pretty sure there are no interviews for USC's screenwriting applicants, but I'm not positive.

Looking back through the years I don't think there has been interviews for screenwriting applicants.

 

[Patrick Clement]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-QPRZ-gc15WuHBmlxorJiTS1z-8vE-7uUttLDdxHtE0/edit#gid=0

 

[Alexmarquez]

Congratulations to everybody who's getting an interview. For those of you who were just interviewed by USC, how was the interview? What where you guys asked? Again, congrats!

 

[Chester]

Congratulations to everybody who's getting an interview. For those of you who were just interviewed by USC, how was the interview? What where you guys asked? Again, congrats!

I apologize beforehand - this post will take up a lot of space.

USC TV/Film Production
Domestic Applicant
Last name starts with H

I had my interview with USC (MFA TV/Film Production) yesterday. I was notified earlier in the day by email. The interview with USC is really straightforward - at least from my experience. It definitely isn't something to stress out about. My interviewer was extremely nice and easy to talk with.

From what I understand, the interviewer is a middleman between you and the admissions committee. The interviewer either recommends you or they do not but they ultimately have no say in the final decision about your application. I was interviewed by a current professor.

Additionally, from reading past threads, apparently some Professors (or other interviewers) do not like to/feel the need to interview applicants so it is possible that your application is assigned to a person that will not conduct an interview. Basically, you could still get accepted/waitlisted without an interview. This definitely seems plausible however it might be better if someone else who knows more about USC's interview process addressed this - But I have no idea if this is true, this has not been my experience, but I did read it on threads from past years so I though I'd share.

Before I had my interview I went through past threads and found questions that other applicants experienced in their interviews so I had some idea of what to expect. I compiled those questions below after the questions I actually received. Overall, I found past interview experiences talked about on this site to be very similar to mine and as you'll see the questions seem pretty uniform across the board.

I hope this helps.

Questions I was asked in my interview:
- Why USC, Why film school?
- Name a movie that has had an impact on your life and why?
- Any Questions for me?
- If you had the resources to work on one project now what would it be and why?
- Are you aware how much it costs? Will you be able to pay for it?
- Did you apply to other school?

Questions I put together from past years:
1) are you aware of the cost of attending USC?
2) why are in interested in USC? (Personal reasons?)
3) why do you want to pursue this field?
4) identifying filmmakers who influence you or whose work you enjoy
5) in the practical situation not everyone will be directing or producing when they get out of film school, what other roles in filmmaking do you feel your skills speak to?
6) any questions for us?
- if you could only make one film right now and had the resources for it, what theme would it have?
- to tell him about something weird that happened to me
- a filmmaker i look up to/would love to be in their head
- where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- cost of USC how I'm planning to pay for it
- do you know how USC cost and how would you pay it
- what kind of movies inspire me to make films
- why I want to go to USC
- and if I applied to any other universities.
- What do I want to get out of film school that I can't get outside on my own
- Which movies that influenced me to make films
- if I had questions for him about the program
- if I was aware of the costs of attending the program and how I was planning to pay for it
-What do I see myself doing in 5-10 years? (producing, directing, entrepreneur....)
-am I prepared for a 3 year program, or is that too long?
-how I was planning to pay for the program due to the high costs
-if I had any questions for him

 

[EOH]

Hey guys, I figured I should stop lurking and say hey. I just had my interview for USC (MFA Directing). The interviewer was incredibly nice, so don't be too nervous! It was more of a conversation to understand who I am as a prospective student, so I don't think it's helpful to tell you exactly which questions were asked (he asked personal questions and questions about the material I submitted with my application). I over-prepared and it just made me way more anxious than necessary. The one thing I will say is to have lots of relevant questions for your interviewer! Good luck, friends!

 

[Travis Leake]

Looking back through the years I don't think there has been interviews for screenwriting applicants.

there are no interviews for usc writing applications

 

[Alexmarquez]

Hey EOH! You must have been interviewed just right before me! I just finished with my Skype interview for USC (so if all goes well, we'll be classmates soon!). As you say, it is more of a conversation than an interview, so anybody being interviewed, don't be too nervous. I also got interviews for AFI and NYU in a couple of weeks, but those will be in NY instead of through Skype. I'm an international student, last name starts with "M" if that helps anybody. Good luck to you all!

 

[psheets]

Skype interview with USC went rather well today. Anyone know when they notify? Still holding out for UCLA. All quiet with Chapman and AFI.

The professor that interviewed me wasn't a fan of Chapman and praised AFI.

We talked about Dune, Plato's Allegory of The Cave, Gattica, Watership Down and human rights.

 

[JuneBug6]

Long time lurker here finally posting. I applied to screenwriting/dramatic writing programs at USC, UCLA, NYU and Chapman. I have an interview scheduled for UCLA, but haven't heard anything from anywhere else. Oh! and my last name starts with an S.

 

[Sush]

Nothing from NYU even today. Directing/Film Production applicant, waiting to hear from them! Anyone got interview calls today? NYU or otherwise? This wait is driving me nuts!!

 

[chinatown86]

Long time lurker here finally posting. I applied to screenwriting/dramatic writing programs at USC, UCLA, NYU and Chapman. I have an interview scheduled for UCLA, but haven't heard anything from anywhere else. Oh! and my last name starts with an S.

Hey, all. Screenwriting applicant for UCLA and long time lurker. JuneBug6, congratulations on your interview with UCLA. May I ask if it is a Skype interview or in person? And if in person, New York or Los Angeles? I received the initial email inviting me for a personal interview, but no further information. The silence is killing me!

 

[JuneBug6]

Hey, all. Screenwriting applicant for UCLA and long time lurker. JuneBug6, congratulations on your interview with UCLA. May I ask if it is a Skype interview or in person? And if in person, New York or Los Angeles? I received the initial email inviting me for a personal interview, but no further information. The silence is killing me!

@chinatown86 thanks! I scheduled my interview in person in New York. They were pretty quick with responding to me once I confirmed my interview.

 

[chinatown86]

@chinatown86 thanks! I scheduled my interview in person in New York. They were pretty quick with responding to me once I confirmed my interview.

Good luck!

Anybody else receive an interview request from ucla screenwriting that has not been followed up with more specific information?

 

[Point Break]

Nothing from NYU even today. Directing/Film Production applicant, waiting to hear from them! Anyone got interview calls today? NYU or otherwise? This wait is driving me nuts!!

I'm in the same boat waiting on NYU. I don't think anyone received an interview invite on Friday the 13th and I don't suspect any will go out today either because of the holiday. I'm realllly hoping we'll hear something tmrw tho!

 

[KMF]

Chester thanks so much for compiling a list of questions. I was contemplating doing the same but you beat me to it.

I will be interviewing with NYU and Columbia. USC called me out of the blue on 2/9. I wish they hadn't surprised me like that since I was unprepared and in the middle of something. Hopefully I didn't come off as a total numbskull. I'm still waiting to hear word from UCLA and LMU. And was accepted to CalArts.

BTW, I'm an international directing applicant.

 

[Jeff]

Congratulate KMF.
I am also an international directing applicant and just received interview notification from Calarts.
However, Jesse Damazo have not replied me yet.
Did you schedule a skype interview? How was it going?
Did the admission committee tell you if you are admitted or not in the interview?

Chester thanks so much for compiling a list of questions. I was contemplating doing the same but you beat me to it.

I will be interviewing with NYU and Columbia. USC called me out of the blue on 2/9. I wish they hadn't surprised me like that since I was unprepared and in the middle of something. Hopefully I didn't come off as a total numbskull. I'm still waiting to hear word from UCLA and LMU. And was accepted to CalArts.

BTW, I'm an international directing applicant.

 

[KMF]

Congratulate KMF.
I am also an international directing applicant and just received interview notification from Calarts.
However, Jesse Damazo have not replied me yet.
Did you schedule a skype interview? How was it going?
Did the admission committee tell you if you are admitted or not in the interview?

Thanks. I just got an acceptance email. No interview.