AFI 2012

[Cher]

Originally posted by TDub:
Hello all,

I applied with a concentration in producing. I got a phone call yesterday late afternoon PST. This is my second year applying and will be my second interview with AFI. Just FYI.

Hi TDub, good luck to you. I applied producing this year, and scheduled an interview. Would you mind to share some of your interview experience with AFI, and what kind of questions you were asked last year? I appreciate your replies.

 

[Filmikey@aol.com]

Hey Cher, where is your interview going to take place?

 

[ignatiusreilly]

Hey, I'm in for a different discipline but I was asked why AFI, what films I want to make and why. They are not trying to trip you up but want to see that you're clear in regard to your goals and how AFI fits into them. Hope it helps!

 

[CJA]

Hi everyone

First of all, congrats to those attending AFI this fall! I am a producing program applicant who applied for the May 1st extended deadline. I just wanted to ask those producer applicants who got accepted (doudou8310, cher) whether they had sent in a portfolio. It was not required in the application, so I am curious. Also, to those who got an interview, acceptance or any sort of response, what was the timeline between the application completion and the response from AFI? I got an email acknowledgement that my application was complete and received on May 3rd and it is May 18th. Should I just look forward to next year?

Any help would be great!

Cheers
CJA

 

[doudou8310]

Hi CJA,

I actually never was accepted in the program, only wait-listed.
After 2 months - however - I let AFI know that I no longer wished to remain on the wait-list.
That should have freed a spot

I honestly do not remember if I sent in any portfolio: I rushed against time to mail a bunch of applications on December 1st (and barely made it)... I however guess that I possibly included a copy of a short movie I had made for Grad School apps (I applied to many programs .
In any case, that shouldn't change anything.

I had an interview in mid-March and found out that I had been wait-listed in mid-April or so...
5 & a half months went by between the time I submitted my application & the time I found out what their decision was.

Know though that I had been told that - since I was on the wait-list - I could have expected finding out I had made it into the program as late as early August.

I don't know if that has anything to do with your situation but they seem to take decisions about who they let in or not until way into the summer so don't give up!

Best of luck to you & to all the AFI applicants!

 

[Cher]

Originally posted by Filmikey@aol.com:
Hey Cher, where is your interview going to take place?

I had an sky interview on May 16th.

 

[Cher]

Does anyone know how long AFI would usually notice applicants about their applications? I had an interview two weeks ago, and still wait for an answer. I become very frustrated.

 

[Cher]

Originally posted by CJA:
Hi everyone

First of all, congrats to those attending AFI this fall! I am a producing program applicant who applied for the May 1st extended deadline. I just wanted to ask those producer applicants who got accepted (doudou8310, cher) whether they had sent in a portfolio. It was not required in the application, so I am curious. Also, to those who got an interview, acceptance or any sort of response, what was the timeline between the application completion and the response from AFI? I got an email acknowledgement that my application was complete and received on May 3rd and it is May 18th. Should I just look forward to next year?

Any help would be great!

Cheers
CJA

Hi Cheers,
I am still waiting for AFI's final decision. I am a business graduate, with strong arts backgroud. I just sent in what I had in hands(dance pictures and vidoe).

 

[Cher]

Originally posted by CJA:
Hi everyone

First of all, congrats to those attending AFI this fall! I am a producing program applicant who applied for the May 1st extended deadline. I just wanted to ask those producer applicants who got accepted (doudou8310, cher) whether they had sent in a portfolio. It was not required in the application, so I am curious. Also, to those who got an interview, acceptance or any sort of response, what was the timeline between the application completion and the response from AFI? I got an email acknowledgement that my application was complete and received on May 3rd and it is May 18th. Should I just look forward to next year?

Any help would be great!

Cheers
CJA

Hi Cheers,
You should be patient. They are still interviewing students. Decisions are not made yet.

 

[Filmikey@aol.com]

Hey Cher, I got my interview last week too. The people from the interview told me they would give me a call within a week or two. I'm unsure if that will occur or not, but I hope I get any response within two weeks, because it's the worse feeling ever not knowing if you'll be accepted or not!

 

[L@la]

I just wanted to say good luck to everyone who applied and still waiting.
AFI is a great place, where you'll learn as much from the other fellows as from the faculty.

Cheers from a soon to be AFI grad.

 

[CJA]

So I got an interview this tuesday. I decided to fly out to L.A. Anyone have any tips for the producer interview? What kind of questions did they ask? Excited, nervous, and scared all at once.

Thanks for all your feedback!

 

[Brice88]

I haven't been on here in a while but just wanted to congratulate everyone who was accepted. And to those on the wait list, don't give up because there will be spots opening up all the way until registration (and if we have a repeat of last year then even after that).

If anybody has questions about the program, feel free to PM me since I don't check this site too often. Otherwise, enjoy your summer and I hope to see many of you on campus in the fall!

 

[Michael Langer]

Hey everybody,

I've not posted before. I was accepted to the producing program at AFI this year. Let me know if anybody has any questions or if there is anything I can do to help out.

Good luck to everybody!

 

[TDub]

@Cher Sorry for the delayed response... It's been a while since I have checked in on this site! I hope your interview went well.

I was on the waitlist up until this past Friday. I received a phone call from admissions offering a spot for this Fall with a concentration in Producing (after a second interview via Skype on Thursday). I will be accepting the spot.

For those interested - this was my second year applying. Good luck to those still waiting and feel free to ask any questions. Glad to help any way that I can.

 

[DeathDealer]

TDub, how was your application?

What aspect (resume, experience, grades, portfolio) do you feel earned you a spot?

 

[MichaelDorsey]

Hi All,

A friend of mine applied to the AFI Cinematography Program after they recently extended their deadline to June 8. He had his interview a short while ago and they told him they'd make selections soon.

I was just wondering if anyone out there has heard anything on the Cinematography side of things?

thanks!

 

[TDub]

Originally posted by DeathDealer:
TDub, how was your application?

What aspect (resume, experience, grades, portfolio) do you feel earned you a spot?

Well, this was my second year applying. Honestly, it's really hard to tell one way or another what attracted my application to admissions.

I applied (both years) to multiple grad schools and have had little traction with any program except for Columbia in NY and AFI. I interviewed at both but ultimately was just accepted at AFI.

I sent very similar applications to all my schools. I think Columbia and AFI required more creative materials than any other program for Producing. So to answer your questions - I think it might have been my written creative materials sent in. Also, I polished my resume and personal statement significantly from last year. I had several people take a look.

Funny story - I had a supervisor where I worked months ago take a look at my statement and creative written works before I submitted them. She was pretty candid with her opinion of them. She didn't think they were strong enough or interesting enough. Although I respected her opinion, I was hearing differing opinions from all over. I decided to go with my gut and take a chance with them. Point being - the best thing to do with application materials (in my opinion) is to have many people take a look at it and retrieve a consensus. Then sit back with the results and don't be afraid to stick to your instincts. Sometimes it pays off, and others it doesn't.

Hope this helps or answered your question. If you would like specifics please don't hesitate to PM me.

 

[RWF]

Can somebody post a film that got them into AFI? What kinds of films are they looking for? Something with a strong narrative? Can it be a mood piece that's more visually oriented. A combination of both? Can it be experimental without a narrative?

Would a Stan Brakhage film cut it for AFI?

 

[TheRealSV]

@RWF, they look for strong narrative films. AFI really focuses on the story so a short film that you directed, produced, edited, etc with a strong well executed story is what you should submit.