2016 Interviews- Acceptances- Rejections (1 Viewer)

[Paul J.]

@Megan So they contacted you on Valentine's? Well that is dedication for you! I still haven't heard anything myself and getting abit anxious but glad to hear they still were contacting people a couple of days back.

 

[chicago123]

Hi Guys,

I am new on this forum. I just had an interview with UCLA for the directing program. I think I did well with the interview and the pitch for the short film.
But despite my sincerity they seemed a bit sceptical about my age (I am 32 years old).

Keeping my fingers crossed. Wish you all well.

R.S.

 

[Paul J.]

@chicago123 So they what, thought you were too old? Many MFA film programs have an average age of about 30. That is ridiculous. Many stress that life experience is a plus when going for a MFA.

 

[chicago123]

@chicago123 So they what, thought you were too old? Many MFA film programs have an average age of about 30. That is ridiculous. Many stress that life experience is a plus when going for a MFA.

That is what I thought but their question was more around why i would leave a well paying job and indulge myself in film. I told them that I intended to use my GI Bill. They seemed a bit relieved after that. All in all I expected artists to be a bit more sensitive people. Not saying my feelings were hurt but it certainly seemed a bit intrusive when they asked "How will you pay your rent?"

 

[Paul J.]

Oh, ok. So maybe they just want to try and make sure you are motivated and that you won't drop out half way in due to financial issues? I would have been shocked if age would have been an issue. Especially you being only a tad over 30. After all, 30 is the new 20, right? RIGHT?!

 

[Lifeisnoholiday]

Hi Guys,

I am new on this forum. I just had an interview with UCLA for the directing program. I think I did well with the interview and the pitch for the short film.
But despite my sincerity they seemed a bit sceptical about my age (I am 32 years old).

Keeping my fingers crossed. Wish you all well.

R.S.

That's a bit ironic, I'm 22 and I'm just finishing my BA degree, and I'm a bit worried about my age, too. However, for the exact opposite reason: that they think that I'm too young and inexperienced.

 

[chicago123]

That's a bit ironic, I'm 22 and I'm just finishing my BA degree, and I'm a bit worried about my age, too. However, for the exact opposite reason: that they think that I'm too young and inexperienced.

Reminds me of that pink floyd song Time.

And then one day you find,
10 years have gone behind you..

 

[sunshine]

Got the call from AFI today about my interview for next week...!

I'm a directing applicant from LA (for those interested.

I feel like film schools often ask the dreaded "how will you pay for film school?" question in the interview....how do you guys respond? And is it frowned upon to say loans (not that I want to take out $150,000 in loans >_<)

Does anyone else dislike the question?

 

[chicago123]

I applied to a few different programs. I have so far only received an invitation for interview from UCLA. Hope that is not a bad sign
Seems like some of you have received calls from Tisch and Columbia.

Tisch - directing
UCLA - Directing
Columbia- Directing/screenwriting
AFI- Screenwriting

 

[chicago123]

Got the call from AFI today about my interview for next week...!

I'm a directing applicant from LA (for those interested.

I feel like film schools often ask the dreaded "how will you pay for film school?" question in the interview....how do you guys respond? And is it frowned upon to say loans (not that I want to take out $150,000 in loans >_<)

Does anyone else dislike the question?

I hate that question and I was asked that too...It seems like a question that should have been asked way before the interview....Oh well!!

 

[Paul J.]

Seems like some of you have received calls from Tisch and Columbia.

Have you inserted your info on our spreadsheet yet? There you can see who has been contacted by who - and start stressing with the rest of us!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...xorJiTS1z-8vE-7uUttLDdxHtE0/edit?pref=2&pli=1

I feel like film schools often ask the dreaded "how will you pay for film school?" question in the interview....how do you guys respond? And is it frowned upon to say loans (not that I want to take out $150,000 in loans >_<)

And yet that is probably the most honest answer for most of us

 

[Lifeisnoholiday]

I applied to a few different programs. I have so far only received an invitation for interview from UCLA. Hope that is not a bad sign
Seems like some of you have received calls from Tisch and Columbia.

Tisch - directing
UCLA - Directing
Columbia- Directing/screenwriting
AFI- Screenwriting

Welp, I applied to UCLA, USC and NYU and neither school has written me so far =). Although I understand that in your case reapplying the following year (let's hope neither you nor I will have to do it!) is an entirely different thing.

 

[chicago123]

Welp, I applied to UCLA, USC and NYU and neither school has written me so far =). Although I understand that in your case reapplying the following year (let's hope neither you nor I will have to do it!) is an entirely different thing.

If I don't get in this year I will not apply again. I wish you well though.

I am just gonna go Henry David Thoreau on this one

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler."

 

[Tiffany Kontoyiannis]

I don't mind at all. I applied to the MFA Film and Television Production program.

Me too! It seemed like we would be hearing back soon (like next week) when I spoke to my interviewer.... But I've heard so many different things!!!

 

[Megan]

Me too! It seemed like we would be hearing back soon (like next week) when I spoke to my interviewer.... But I've heard so many different things!!!

Congrats! My interviewer said it would be "a while before you hear anything". I wanted to ask what exactly that meant, but I didn't want to push too much so I didn't ask. Do you know anything else about how the process works? Do they do formal interviews next? Or just make decisions?

 

[Al1]

Hey was just asked by email to interview with AFI (very happy), I'm an international, and they're asking me to come in person - without any choice of dates. It seems like they would do a skype call, but they don't seem very keen. I sort of expected that, and so I don't mind, but thought I'd warn any internationals going for AFI - in case you need to save some money and make some space in the next few months.

 

[ever]

Hey was just asked by email to interview with AFI (very happy), I'm an international, and they're asking me to come in person - without any choice of dates. It seems like they would do a skype call, but they don't seem very keen. I sort of expected that, and so I don't mind, but thought I'd warn any internationals going for AFI - in case you need to save some money and make some space in the next few months.

I'm an international as well and was contacted via email. They only offered a Skype interview. Probably different programs have different policies?

 

[Al1]

I'm an international as well and was contacted via email. They only offered a Skype interview. Probably different programs have different policies?

damn! that's lucky - i would probably rather not take off to LA on such short notice - but also excited for it. I'm in the directing program, I remember there was a little warning in the materials that they really want face time with director applicants specifically

 

[victorab]

Hey was just asked by email to interview with AFI (very happy), I'm an international, and they're asking me to come in person - without any choice of dates. It seems like they would do a skype call, but they don't seem very keen. I sort of expected that, and so I don't mind, but thought I'd warn any internationals going for AFI - in case you need to save some money and make some space in the next few months.

@Al1 --- I was asked to interview in person as well for the Directing program, but as an international student I asked for a different interview date and they were kind enough to adapt their suggestions towards the dates that I offered. If you need to ask for some more time, I'm sure it won't be a problem!

 

[ever]

damn! that's lucky - i would probably rather not take off to LA on such short notice - but also excited for it. I'm in the directing program, I remember there was a little warning in the materials that they really want face time with director applicants specifically

I'm a screenwriting applicant. No wonder! Though actually in the requirements it is said that interviews would be held on campus.