Acceptances 2009

[timkido]

Applied:
USC Production- Interviewed, waitlist fall '09, spring admit '10
USC Animation - Rejected

Graduated: OSU marketing '06
GPA: 3.2
GRE: 1050 or something =( 750 on math and i ran out of time half way on the verbal...thank god i got over 1000.

Letters of Rec:
1. Copy Director on Mercedes account (USC screenwriting alum)
2. Creative Director on Tic Tac Account
3. producer on some music video that i pa-ed for

Art Project: A short romance story.
I tried to make it stand out by using 2 cameras and shooting the 6 pictures in 3D (I sent them red+Cyan glasses along with them).
I did so b/c i mentioned in my personal statement that I'm also interested in the shooting with 3D stereography tech.

Here is the 2D color version plus the story if it can help anyone... but then again i barely got in.



Will be going to USC for Spring '10 even if i get in off waitlist. I want make a little more money so I can focus 100% when i'm at USC on working on shorts and building up the reel (more time for collaboration!).

Probably fly out there end of this year to get ready and learn to drive LA style (probably have less than 40 hours of driving experience in my life).

 

[Merkin Muffley]

This is a great thread. I'm glad you are all willing to share your background information and how your application process went/is going.

Here are my stats:

AFI - Screenwriting: interview, accepted
NYU - Film: no interview, rejected
Columbia - Film: no interview, rejected
Chapman - Screenwriting: no interview, accepted
Northwestern: interview, rejected
UCLA - Screenwriting: no interview, rejected
Tisch Asia - Film: interview, rejected
Tisch Asia - Dramatic Writing: interview, accepted

GPA: 3.22 (3.6 junior/senior year) from the University of Colorado. Graduated with a BFA in Film Studies (December, 2006)

I didn't take the GRE

Recommendations: Former boss (video editing), screenwriting professor/chair of writing department, directing/writing professor

Background: I have made several short movies. One of them played at a couple of festivals and gave me a few more credits on imdb. I have held a wide variety of jobs since graduating from college (janitor, courier, stocker, freelance video editor). For about five months I didn't work and focused on writing, completing a short film/submitting it to festivals and applying to grad schools. I have written one feature (and half of another feature), many short screenplays and two TV specs over the past few years.

I am going to attend AFI.

Good luck to everyone that is going to apply in the future!

 

[JG86]

First, I am amazed by how many schools some of you managed to apply to, since I found the application process so demanding during the semester in the fall and my apps definitely suffered for it. Ok here we go:

AFI - Screenwriting: Interview, accepted
UCLA - Screenwriting: no interview, rejected
NYU Dramatic Writing: no interview, rejected

GPA: 3.8 from St. John's College - graduating in May with a Bachelor in the liberal arts.

GRE: 1460 - 780 verbal/680 math (none of the schools I applied to required the GRE but i had planned on applying to some that did)

Recommendations: Three professors.

Background: I've been making shorts for about six years some of which have played festivals and placed in some competitions. I've written one feature length script and am currently half way through another.

I am certainly going to attend AFI.

 

[matt kendzior]

Hello all,

I am a current UCLA Producers Program student. If any of you have any questions concerning the program or the admissions process (I went through this last year and the waiting period is far from enjoyable), then please feel free to post them to this thread or message me. Congratulations to all those who have interviewed and been accepted.
For those that have not yet heard a decision or didn't get that acceptance email, there is a summer institute in producing being offered. I mention this because it consists of many of the classes that I have and will take during my two years at UCLA. This is an incredible opportunity as professional internships are also part of the institute's curriculum. Take advantage of the resources and connections that UCLA has. Check out the Summer Institute for Motion Picture Producing at http://www.tft.ucla.edu/progra...institute-producing/

 

[ilikealliteration]

I applied to screenwriting programs at:
USC - accepted, no interview
UT - waitlisted
Florida State - accepted with interview
Columbia - rejected
NYU - rejected
Boston - rejected
Chapman - don't know yet
Loyola Marymount - don't know yet
AFI - rejected

Graduated from Ohio State University in '07 with an English degree.
GPA: 3.15
GRE: 550 Verbal 680 Quantitative

See! I'm hope for anyone fearing the GRE. My verbal score is pretty average. I took the GRE for USC and FSU, two schools I've been accepted at.

My letters of recommendation were all from former professors.

Since I graduated, I've mostly worked in restaurants. I quit my jobs and moved in with my parents to write a screenplay and apply to film school. I strongly recommend taking the time off if anyone can afford to do so.

 

[solojones]

Good thread. It's interesting to hear background and sort of try to get an idea of how things might have helped or hindered people.

I only applied two places because I wasn't really interested in anywhere else. Also, because I was moving to a new country every week in the fall and it was hard enough doing the USC ap then.

USC production - waitlisted '09, accepted '10
Chapman Directing emphasis - accepted

Graduated from a US News top tier liberal arts school in CA, December '08.
GPA: 3.9, summa cum laude
GRE: 1400, 6 in writing

Recommendations:
1) Hunt Lowry, producer (A Walk to Remember, Donnie Darko, Last of the Mohicans, etc)
2) an Emmy and WGA nominated television writer/producer with 45 years of experience (Streets of San Francisco, Spencer for Hire, Centennial, etc)... he's been my screenwriting prof and film mentor in college
3) director of the LA Film Studies Center, among other things
4) one of my production profs from LAFSC who knows me well

Background: Been writing all my life, known I wanted to do film writing/directing since I was 16. Got into Chapman undergrad film but decided a liberal arts education would be more helpful to my overall growth as a storyteller. Just finished school early in December with a 15-country study abroad program in Europe and the Middle East.

I have taken 3 semesters of screenwriting, some film studies classes, and did a semester-long intensive production course in LA. Made 4 short films there. That program also included two internships at Warner Bros., specifically the one for Lowry and one for Akiva Goldsman, both as a script reader. I also have some theatre background.


I am pretty sure I am going to Chapman. I love the school, it fits me, and I think it'll give me the most opportunity to actually practice directing, which is what I need most (I will continue writing as well). Going to USC in the spring if I absolutely hate Chapman for some reason is always a possibility anyway.

 

[KayS]

Dayammmmn, solojones. Amazing. How'd you get to know so many talented folks?

And all your traveling must make for fantastic stories. I'm a homebody, but that sounds like the perfect way to become a better storyteller. Even short trips I've taken around the United States have helped tremendously (with settings). You must have a catalogue of settings to work with!

 

[movied]

Originally posted by Sonia:
Thanks for starting this thread, Suzako.
Sim, I can't believe how many applications you completed!

Columbia ”” no interview, rejected (pending)
Northwestern ”” no interview, rejected (pending)
UCLA ”” no interview, rejected
USC ”” no interview, accepted

I applied for screenwriting.

Graduated: May 2008
GPA: 3.7 (3.8 major) from Macalester College (US News ranked #25 for private liberal arts colleges)
Degree: BA in English (creative writing focus), minors in media studies & psychology
Took a screenwriting & production course at Goldsmiths College in London

GRE: 1250. I don't remember my writing score. I was in the 93rd percentile for verbal and the 48th for math. Took it for USC.

Recommendations: Former creative writing professors, my boss/creative director at the web design studio where I've worked since graduation (~10 months)

Background: Almost no film experience. In college, I took a couple of film analysis classes, poetry & fiction classes, won a couple of college-wide contests, helped with the student literary magazine, and interned at a small literary journal.

I want to mention (again) that none of the writing samples I sent to USC were screenplay/stage play excerpts. Except for the two scenes they assigned, my stuff was poetry & fiction.

How competitive is usc film school

 

[xavier039]

Applied to: USC, UCLA, NYU, Columbia for Production

Accepted by: USC so far

Rejected by: UCLA, NYU NYC

GPA: 3.7 from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.

GRE: 1200s I can't remember my exact score. I got like 780 on math and so pretty bad on verbal. My writing wasn't anything special either. All in all a big waste of my time.

Recommendations: Current Employer, High School teacher who I continued to help with various tasks after school, Coach (ran in HS and College so pretty big part of life)

Background: Graduated Spring 08 and have been spending the year working for OSU Chinese Flagship Graduate language program doing website designing and video editing. I spent time during the school year taking video/art classes where I would produce/write/direct/edit my own shorts for it. It was a great starting point. I learned my video editing skills at this time. I interned for a large local production company during the summers. USC was my first choice and really my only choice. I spent the most time and effort on the application. It obviously showed. I look forward to meeting my fellow Trojan classmates and working in the industry eventually with everyone else!

 

[Kalie14]

Congrats to everyone for all their acceptances! Everywhere seems to have had record numbers of applicants this year so I think we should all be very proud!

I applied to the following programs for Producing:
NYU - rejected
UCLA - interviewed, wait listed
Columbia - interviewed, accepted
Boston U - wait listed
Loyola Marymount - no interview, accepted
Chapman - brief phone interview, pending

I will graduate in May '09 from the University of Georgia with a Telecommunications Arts major (the name doesn't really fit the degree - it's basically video production), Film Studies minor, and a New Media certificate.

GPA: 3.48
GRE: I think it was a 1160, but I don't really remember.

Recommendations: New Media professor, Telecommunication Arts professor (who graduated from Columbia), and my boss from my summer internship with Paramount Vantage.

Background: I have very little professional experience since I'm still pursuing my undergraduate degree in a small college town where film jobs are extremely sparse, but I have been studying film and media since high school. I have a number of short student films, some of which are documentaries, and some of which have gone to festivals. I also interned at an advertising agency in Atlanta that did grass roots marketing for Paramount Vantage. I worked specifically on the documentary "American Teen."

I'm not really sure where I'm going to go, I was expecting to maybe get one acceptance, so it blows my mind that I actually have to make a choice. One thing is for sure though, I'm so excited for next year!

 

[NyNy]

Hi guys. I just stumbled across this site last night - what a fantastic resource! Wish I'd known about it sooner. Anyhow, just wanted to weigh in with my info. Hopefully see some of you at USC this weekend!

Applied:

NYU, Dramatic Writing - no interview, rejected

The New School, Dramatic Writing - interview, waitlisted

USC, Screenwriting - no interview, accepted

GPA: 3.5 from a top CA school.

GRE: 1350 (600 math, 750 verbal)

Recs: 3 college professors (all English lit)

Background: Graduated in 2006, travelled for a year, then moved to NY, where I've been living and working for the past 2 years. Some odd jobs and a year as an editor at a web startup. I have more journalism and theatre experience (I submitted a couple short plays to USC) than I do film experience, but I'm eager to jump into screenwriting. I'll probably go to USC. The real question is, how the hell do we pay for it?!

 

[pseudobook]

I am okay with life regardless of this hit list. But I wonder if it's a new record?

I applied to 9 (!) PhD programs in Cinema Studies (the name changes between programs) - haven't seen any PhD threads here. Then I applied to Columbia's MFA program kind of as a wild card b/c I would love to end up in NY, and always wanted the "film school" experience - truly creative artists working together, telling stories, helping each other become better storytellers.

Background: my film experience has been mostly one-man show, ala Robert Rodriguez (not in genre, but in the write/shoot/direct/edit/music it all yourself approach). Growing up in farm town Ohio can do that to you. I'm largely self taught in everything. My undergrad program had a handful of production courses that I took, but I certainly learned more from books and practicing on my own and making my friends and family help me.

So I want to make movies and I want to help others make movies. Last summer I thought a PhD was my next step in life after starting a non profit org that develops film curriculum for 3rd world countries with developing film industries. I have a Masters in Education for the curriculum building side of things, and my BA in film/theater production ties the movies into it. Lastly, I'd spent a couple years in East Africa in my life and had some connections to give things a try - Kenya's film industry is just coming into its own and I wanted to offer workshops and training opportunities.

GRE: 520 verbal, 720 math, 4.5 writing

GPA: 3.7 undergrad, 3.8 masters

References: prof from my masters program, a board member from my non profit org, and boss from my multimedia producing job in Los Angeles.

And here's how I fared:

Iowa (PhD) - rejected
Northwestern (PhD) - rejected
UW-Madison (PhD) - rejected
UC-Santa Barbara (PhD) - rejected
UC-Berkeley (PhD) - rejected
NYU Tisch (PhD) - rejected
USC (PhD) - rejected
UCLA (PhD) - rejected
UT-Austin (PhD) - rejected
Columbia NY (MFA) - interviewed, pending (probably reject)

Apparently I aimed wrong in life with the PhD idea. 9 out of 9.

Then Columbia? The last place I expected to hear from. I had a wonderful interview with them and felt very good about things. But calls and letters have already been mailed out for acceptances and waitlisters the past week, so I'm not very optimistic.

I'm pretty sure I'm not up for trying for the PhD again next year. Something's off there. The MFA I might try again, and for more than just Columbia next time. In the meantime, I can't wait for summer, when I get back to the USA and can get back to making movies!

 

[96Mph]

I almost want to get accepted just so I can slap my 2.6 GPA into this post loaded with high-3's I like being different.

 

[Jayimess]

Originally posted by 96Mph:
I almost want to get accepted just so I can slap my 2.6 GPA into this post loaded with high-3's I like being different.

if this were facebook I'd click the thumbs up.

Grades, schmades, there are plenty on here who don't break a 3.0...I personally flunked out of school at one point.

 

[notroberttowne]

I withdrew failing because of a hammer attack once...

come to think of it, if I don't get in it'll probably be because I failed to tell that story at the interview.

 

[96Mph]

What? Hammer attack?

Please explain...sounds like a good story...

 

[hat trick]

Congrats to everyone accepted and good luck to those waitlisted!

I applied for directing at Columbia, NYU, and UCLA and have been accepted to all three.

Graduated magna cum laude from UCLA with a BA in Communications and a minor in Music History.

I received recommendations from a film distributor, screenwriter/producer, and a festival programmer.

Anyone else racking their brain over which school to choose? I've been going down the pros and cons of each and would like to make a decision quickly so that those on the waitlists can can be notified. Any thoughts on your process would be greatly appreciated!

 

[solojones]

Originally posted by KayS:
Dayammmmn, solojones. Amazing. How'd you get to know so many talented folks?

And all your traveling must make for fantastic stories. I'm a homebody, but that sounds like the perfect way to become a better storyteller. Even short trips I've taken around the United States have helped tremendously (with settings). You must have a catalogue of settings to work with!

It was just good fortune, I can't really take much credit for any of it. My school happened to have this really awesome screenwriting prof with tons of experience who nevertheless wanted to teach a small class once a week (he's still selling all sorts of scripts so he's busy). He has been really great to both myself and my older brother in terms of teaching us a lot about the trade.

The internships were just part of the LA Film Studies Center semester program that I did. It's cool because all this place does is semester-long programs, but they still have lots of good contacts. I did gun high in trying to push for interviews with Lowry and Goldsman's companies, but it worked out. Both were really active so I got to see a lot of behind the scenes producing stuff. And working at Warner Bros. was just cool

The travelling thing is also a blessing I can't take credit for. My school has a 30 year tradition of a Europe semester each fall where profs from our school go with students and teach on-site (our classes were World War II, Technology in European Society, and Narrative in the Arts of Europe). I was fortunate to get in and have that amazing opportunity to go all over the place and study in a hands-on way. We also were extra-lucky because we did an intensive 3 week archaeology/geography/history course in Israel and Palestine. And being in Jerusalem for 3 weeks, you definitely make some local connections and get to hear a lot of good stories.

I've also been to 40 states and Puerto Rico, so I know what you mean about the diverse settings to be had within the US. All in all, I consider myself really blessed to have had these experiences. They're exactly why I felt like I was supposed to go to undergrad before I dove into film. I feel I have much more to draw on as a storyteller.

I'm sure most of us will have opportunities for internsips while we're in grad school Make the most of them. They can be really fantastic.

 

[Coop]

Hello Everybody - I decided I'd stop lurking and post my situation.

PRODUCING MFA
AFI - accepted
Chapman - accepted
UCLA - rejected

*note- I don't think my ucla app was as good as my other two - it was my first and I didn't put as much time into it

USC (That's South Carolina baby!)
GPA - 3.5
Recommendations - TV Producer, Senior Thesis Director (professor), and Student Media Director (My boss)

Oh and I've been doing low budget commercials and web design since I graduated

 

[cabezon]

Hey Coop, nice to see another Chapman producing prospect on here. When did you interview? Good luck!