AFI 2013/2014 Applicants!

[TheRealSV]

SO the new AFI 2012/2013 application went up online this month! I am so excited to be submitting for the directors discipline!! I have already had a face to face interview with two of the admissions reps and the dean so I am hoping that will help in the overall decision process making in regards to my application.

I plan on sending 4 letters of recommendation
1 17 minute narrative film
1 reel

and the required narrative statement.

I also have one more power punch that is going to happen that could help push me across the threshold of being admitted into the program, but I can't discuss it at the moment.

So who else is submitting their application this year and who else is stoked!!!

Check out some of the discussions in AFI 2012 thread for past experiences of the submission process and what other people submitted, narrative statements, movies, etc.

 

[Robin101]

I'm also planning on applying to AFI for directing! I haven't finished my research on the school yet, I've been concentrating on my East Coast schools, but from what I remember reading in past forums, they seem to favor older students. Do you think that's true, TheRealSV? I'm just coming out of undergrad, so I'm a bit nervous about being compared to applicants with amazing, professional reels.

 

[TheRealSV]

Not sure about age but I did meet the director that won the student academy awards last year from AFI and he told me he submitted in 2009, got denied, then worked in the film industry & built up his credits then resubmitted in 2010 and got accepted. He believes the fact that he worked in the industry and got professional credits on his resume helped the second time around.

 

[Carving Light]

As so many of us are...writing away, compiling footage, and wondering if I've dove off the deep end wanting to do this...but hey...as the kids say these day...only living once and all that.

Applying to the editing discipline, still trying to decide what of my previous narrative work to submit. I've been working more in live events recently (concerts and the like as a live video director) and while that stuff is much more polished, it doesn't scream straight up narrative.

Best of luck to everyone on this adventure! Back to editing that pesky personal statement.

 

[Moira]

Hey guys,

I am also planning on applying for AFI, also Directing. TheRealSV, why are you submitting a 17-minute movie AND a reel? Are you submitting one film and then a reel of a few minutes of other movies, so as not to be longer than 40 minutes? And what is your professional experience so far?

I just finished my bachelor's degree with a film I am going to submit and worked for almost two years in the industry. Let's see if that is enough... I am currently collecting recommendations and all that and wonder how you guys plan on financing your studies?

Wish you all the best with your applications! May the best be submitted

Moira

 

[TheRealSV]

As a Director applicant your allowed to submit two visual projects. My 17m project shows my storytelling skills which is very important to show in the AFI application. The reel is only 4 minutes but I've directed over 11 shorts so I want to show that I have a lot of experience as a director. I've been in the film industry for over 7 years. But I just went back to school in 2010 to get my BA in film studies and now onto graduate school. I plan on using student loans and I saved up money over the last two years as AFI has always been my choice for grad studies so once I decided to go back to school for film, I started saving for grad school. I am also going to scour the internet hard for grants and scholarships. Best of luck to you all too! Even though AFI fell from #1, it's still #1 to me!

 

[RWF]

How many letters of rec are you guys sending in? Also how important is actual industry experience?

 

[Stormer]

Oh Thank God, I could surely use some people to suffer through this with ^_~

I'm applying to the Producing program. Haven't yet decided if I'm going to submit supplementary materials or not. Most of the work that I'm really proud of is completely unrelated, (but I might still submit some of it.)

Also, how the hell does a person capture their soul in 5 pages or less?!?!

 

[TheRealSV]

Originally posted by RWF:
How many letters of rec are you guys sending in? Also how important is actual industry experience?

I'm sending 4 letters and checkout my 2nd post above. It gives you an idea of how industry experience or lack there of could make or break an application

 

[TheRealSV]

Originally posted by Stormer:
Oh Thank God, I could surely use some people to suffer through this with ^_~

I'm applying to the Producing program. Haven't yet decided if I'm going to submit supplementary materials or not. Most of the work that I'm really proud of is completely unrelated, (but I might still submit some of it.)

Also, how the hell does a person capture their soul in 5 pages or less?!?!

I know the narrative statement is so tough! I've been through so many mind blowing events in my life that has pushed me in to visual storytelling with a passion. How do I choose one or two key points, they're all key points in who I have become as a director.

 

[RWF]

Originally posted by TheRealSV:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RWF:
How many letters of rec are you guys sending in? Also how important is actual industry experience?

I'm sending 4 letters and checkout my 2nd post above. It gives you an idea of how industry experience or lack there of could make or break an application </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for the reply/info. I'm sending 2 very strong ones from well regarded art professionals whom I've worked with and who know me and my work well. They promised extensive and glowing LORs. Hopefully AFI doesn't discount the fact that it's just 2. I really don't have a lot of industry work. I'm fairly young and I'm more involved in the art world. I've screened at some mid-tier film festivals and I recently completed a short film that I've worked on for more than a year that I'm prepping for festivals right now that I can use as my visual example. I think the majority of you guys are still way more qualified to get into this school. Some of you have letters from big celebrities and have worked for years in the film industry. I really don't expect to get in but I'm going to try my best. I'd be happy just to get an interview, at least I'll know that I'm on the right track to apply next year. Not to sound defeatist but this school seems like it's almost impossible to get into especially for someone in my situation.

 

[TheRealSV]

Yeah it's tough for everyone regardless of how many years of experience because it was considered the # 1 film school in the world, now it's #2. So you have people from all over the world putting in applications and as they only accept 28 people per discipline, they really seek qualified individuals with industry experience. This was told to me from the Dean of the school. So go out and get involved in projects,look at craigslist and find gigs to work on to build up your resume. Intern at local film production companies. Don't give up. Just keep building those credits and if you don't get in this year than next year you'll be more prepared and if you do get in you'll still be more prepared for the work load ahead.

 

[TheRealSV]

So I asked a previous AFI graduate what he wrote about in his narrative statement and he basically said three words to me, Story and more story. Write about Story, your love for story, the influential story tellers in your life, etc. So maybe that will help some of you slamming your heads against the wall mumbling to yourself, "what am I going to write about." Talk about Story.

 

[Moira]

Thank you for sharing your insight TheRealSV! I am also working on it, tough one

 

[TheRealSV]

Ok so just talked to the admissions lady that I met with in June and she said DO NOT submit a Reel even if it is the 2nd video. Submit two narrative projects. Hope that helps some folks. Certainly helped me because I was going to submit a reel.

 

[Moira]

Hey Guys,

still working on the Narrative Statement, but I think I'm getting close to perfection now! I want to put another question into the round here: what kind of working experience do you guys have as future directors? Have you all been floor runners & assistant directors (i.e. working really close to directors) or have you just explored every kind of job on a film production?

As for me, I did a lot of voluntary runner work and art department, until I got closer to the directing department as directing trainee a few times and then got promoted assistant director for a documentary format. I also worked as a production assistant and in the editing departmet (assistant) and once as PA at a huge international production, where I got to be close to professional actors and stuff (it was badly paid but the best of experience I can bring forth). I wonder about the perfect "working experience" other than making your own short films as a director/writer/producer. What have you guys done already? What do you think inspired you the most for directing?

 

[TheRealSV]

Hey all, I submitted the application! I am very excited at the possibility! @Moira, I've been directing films since 2004. I work as a film & Narrative director as well as Line Producer / UMP / Locations Manager / Producer / Script Supervisor / AD / PA / Screenwriter / Editor and even have credits as Set Dresser. Most of my credits are Director / Editor / Screenwriter and Producer. I work for a great production company as a narrative director and create short film content as well as book trailers, commercials, etc. I think everyone has different reasons for being inspired to direct, mine has many facets that stem back to my childhood. But I wasn't so much inspired to direct but to tell stories. Good luck and get that application in! I'll post updates as to what happens with my application process! I hope you all will too! Thinking positively, upon being accepted, I will post my narrative statement.

 

[Moira]

Hey folks,
what kind of movies do you submit for AFI? I will send my thesis film and also a second one, only I can't decide which one. I made a short film that won some awards in 2007, but it is not displaying the visual talent I have now after studying photography. There is another short film that I made last year, real fiction composed with 2D animations, but I think it is not as strong as the old one regarding the narration. What do you guys think?

 

[RWF]

Like Moira I'm also kind of wondering what to send in. For the first choice I'm sending in a narrative I just finished which is my most ambitious project and is pretty unique and strong I think. For the second choice I have a short film that won an award at a film festival but it's an experimental film. Everything I've read or heard about AFI indicates that they want strong narratives. Which I still find unusual because their greatest alumnus is David Lynch go figure. I don't know if I should send in the experimental film or another film I have which tells a story very effectively using still photographs in 25 seconds. The still photograph film is not really visually interesting but it tells a story very well in a succinct way. At this point I'm leaning towards just taking a chance and sending in the experimental film just because it's going to screen at numerous festivals in the next few months whereas the 25 second narrative is not and will not screen anywhere other than online probably.

 

[TheRealSV]

I'm surprised no other applicants for AFI 2013 year has chimed in! I guess you just have to go with your gut. They do want narrative projects that tell a story but experimental film can have a story. Look at the Tree of Life. It was experimental but it still had a storyline. I particular didn't care for it. DP's loved it of course and so did Cannes and other festivals. If you look at the AFI 2012 post some people have posted movies they submitted, some were accepted and some were not. Use that as a way to help you decide.