AFI 2014

[filmluv]

Anyone else here applying for a Cinematography fellowship? Everyone I know getting interviews so far are Directing and Screenwriting.

I applied for Cinematography, haven't heard anything yet

 

[Marcus Patterson]

Since the deadline was Jan 31st, they may not have started yet. I don't know anyone else applying for Cinematography, so there's no way to tell for sure. Just staying hopeful!

 

[TheRealSV]

Yes!!!' I got the call!! Flying to LA in March for the interview! Director program!

 

[Marcus Patterson]

Congratulations man! Glad to hear they are still making calls for interviews haha

 

[BkBred]

My friend applied for cinematography.
He also got his call recently

 

[Arijit]

Hi, any International applicants around?

 

[Emma Weston]

Just had my call for interview for the Directing Program! I'm an international applicant from London, so my interview is unfortunately a Skype call. Does anybody know roughly how many people get interviewed for each program?

 

[Ilovefilms]

I thought this post might be helpful if you haven;t seen it yet.

http://www.filmmaker.com/node/13186

 

[NedNYC]

Hi all,
This has likely already been answered as best it can somewhere above or elsewhere on the forum, BUT: I applied to Columbia and AFI for Directing. I've got an interview scheduled for mid-March at Columbia, to which I was invited on February 16. I've heard nothing from AFI. I got my application in at the last minute for both places.

I suppose what I'm looking for at this point (February 26) is someone to either assuage my nerves (don't worry, you're low in the application pile; they sometimes take longer to invite folks for interviews; sometimes they don't interview at all but accept on other terms; etc.) or drive the hammer home (by now you should have heard something, and if you haven't it means you're likely not headed to California).

Anyone have any words of wisdom?

 

[Alfonso Jaramillo]

Cinematography here. No call yet. After multiple unanswered emails it came to light that the admissions department had not included the recommendation letters in my application. So it wasn't until last week that they had all the papers in order. They "guaranteed" that it didn't hurt my chances. Still can't help but feel like I'm screwed.

 

[NedNYC]

"Waiting is the hardest part."

I'm hesitant to email anyone to ask by when they try to have all those interview calls made, because it seems like it would put whomever answered in the awkward position of having to say, "Oh, well, if you haven't received an invitation to interview yet...you're probably done." (Obviously, it's not THAT awkward, because they're not the ones applying and putting their money and a bit of self-worth on the line by asking relative strangers to decide who fits the best in a small class, but still.) Anyway, if anyone here has gone through this before, perhaps they can make a reasonable prediction of a date by which if one hasn't heard anything, one can probably stop worrying. Hands?

 

[Helen Forsdale]

Cinematography app - no news aside from the email stating that they received my application.

I wouldn't worry just yet - if you read the forums from last year's applicants, it looks like many people didn't get asked for an interview until well past the March 15 notification. Looks fairly consistent from the past two years that cinematography calls went out in late March...

So fingers crossed.

Best of luck to everyone!

Edit: Alfonso : did you not receive the email stating that your application was complete?

Ned: while my post is aimed at cinematography folk, it looks like directing isn't consistent at all. You should ask the dude who started the thread - he's applied more than once, seems pretty knowledgeable about the application process for directors...

 

[Kevin Huang]

directing app

still waiting, nothing so far

Good luck everyone!

 

[Lucas C.]

Hey guys, I applied for Producing and got an e-mail for an interview next week ! Has anybody already had one ? I'm wondering what they're going to ask.

 

[Alfonso Jaramillo]

Edit: Alfonso : did you not receive the email stating that your application was complete?

Helen I didn't get an email confirmation. My recommenders forwarded AFIs reply to each one confirming they had received the recommendation letters. Despite multiple emails asking about the status of my application it took three weeks after the deadline before they answered and when they did, they said they were still waiting on my recommendation letters! Apparently it was all resolved on the 19th.

 

[AviQ]

Hey guys, I applied for Producing and got an e-mail for an interview next week ! Has anybody already had one ? I'm wondering what they're going to ask.

Hey there! I'm an AFI Producer alum, I can tell you that they're going to ask about your background a bit, if you don't come from Film, they may ask why do you want to pursue film as a career.
They'll also inquire if you need financial help, apply to their 1st year scholarships and so on.
Sometimes they ask about your likes as a prospect producer, like what do you expect to be doing in 5yrs or what your ultimate goal is.
Is a relaxed interview so no worries, I had mine over the phone but if you happen to go to campus or the NYC interviews, don't go overboard on the way you dress, as in be yourself, don't wear a suit or something if that's not you, they like it when you feel natural and they can get a grasp of the real person.

Hope that helps.

 

[AviQ]

I thought this post might be helpful if you haven;t seen it yet.

http://www.filmmaker.com/node/13186

That review is SUPER OLD - The program has changed heaps since then. Yes, people get discontinued for 2nd year, but the 80% does continue. You have to be really bad at your commitment and talent for them not to continue a fellow, and most of the time people are given enough notice to know they have to step it up.
Also equipment has been revamped in the last few years, new or remodeled theaters, more cameras, etc.

 

[TheRealSV]

Cinematography app - no news aside from the email stating that they received my application.

I wouldn't worry just yet - if you read the forums from last year's applicants, it looks like many people didn't get asked for an interview until well past the March 15 notification. Looks fairly consistent from the past two years that cinematography calls went out in late March...

So fingers crossed.

Best of luck to everyone!

Edit: Alfonso : did you not receive the email stating that your application was complete?

Ned: while my post is aimed at cinematography folk, it looks like directing isn't consistent at all. You should ask the dude who started the thread - he's applied more than once, seems pretty knowledgeable about the application process for directors...

Hahaha! Yep I am somewhat knowledgeable about it but I'm not a dude. Yes I applied for the first time to AFI and grad school in general last year. I only applied to AFI, but being waistlisted, I decided to apply to two school this year just in case, AFI and Columbia U.

Anyway, last year I went through interview process and was waitlisted for the director program. I started the thread last year...folks should check it out, it has tons of info from many candidates from last year in terms of interview questions, when folks got called, etc.. http://www.studentfilms.com/threads/afi-2013-2014-applicants.10819/

I was told specifically from an admissions rep that they do take in consideration the waitlist status for the following years application so if you were waitlisted last year and reapplying this year, they do take that into consideration (Columbia U does not)..chances are you will get a call. I was seriously stressed too because I got called 2/1 and had my interview 2/7 last year (I submitted my app by October 2012)...this year I got called on Wed of last week so 2/19 (I submitted my app 15 minutes to midnight of 11/31/2013). So trust me I get the stress if you haven't been called by this time last year and still haven't heard anything but last year many people got called past March 15th including a young lady from Europe and she was accepted by the deadline of April 1st (Which is when we directors find out our fate). If you get an email from AFI on April 1st/2nd it usually means two things, you have been accepted or waitlisted. If you do not receive an email by those two dates, it usually means you were rejected and you will get an official letter in the mail telling you this. Here are the dates for knowing our fate:

Directing April 1, 2014​

Cinematography March 14, 2014​

Screenwriting March 14, 2014​

​

Rolling admissions notifications will be approximately three months after receipt of application or by July 1, 2014.​

​

Editing​

Producing​

Production Design​

​

I believe because Cinematography application receipt was extended until end of January, they will probably still be calling for interviews up until March 14th and probably advise folks after that date because of the extension so I wouldn't stress Cinematographers...but you can always call admissions and ask..they are nice folks.
Anyway, hope that helps some folks..and definitely check out last years forum at the link above...we had tons of scared applicants asking questions and sharing..not so much this year.

 

[RedLeader]

Hi everyone,

I have a few questions I was hoping some fellow applicants or alumni may have answers to...

I haven't had much luck in finding out what day to day life is like for AFI students. Do Directing fellows need to be in class daily? Is it possible to maintain a job while attending?

Is anyone applying currently working professionally as a director? As in, that's your only job and you're making a living doing it either in a commercial or corporate capacity? Does anyone know of someone who attended with that background?

Thanks!

 

[TheRealSV]

Hi everyone,

I have a few questions I was hoping some fellow applicants or alumni may have answers to...

I haven't had much luck in finding out what day to day life is like for AFI students. Do Directing fellows need to be in class daily? Is it possible to maintain a job while attending?

Is anyone applying currently working professionally as a director? As in, that's your only job and you're making a living doing it either in a commercial or corporate capacity? Does anyone know of someone who attended with that background?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I have a few questions I was hoping some fellow applicants or alumni may have answers to...

I haven't had much luck in finding out what day to day life is like for AFI students. Do Directing fellows need to be in class daily? Is it possible to maintain a job while attending?

Is anyone applying currently working professionally as a director? As in, that's your only job and you're making a living doing it either in a commercial or corporate capacity? Does anyone know of someone who attended with that background?

Thanks!

Hey RedLeader, I can't answer on what the class schedule is but I mentioned in my interview last year that I wanted to make films on the side and the two interviewers told me I wouldn't have time to make additional films beside the 3 that are required. They stated that I would also be working on other students films so pretty much your schedule is full whether your actually in class or not. Your collaborating on the pre-pro & pro of other students film while also developing your own. They did also state it is very difficult to have a job while in the program, like nearly impossible. I do work in the film industry currently as a director, UMP/Line Producer and script supervisor.