AFI 2019 Screenwriting

[Dean]

Hi! I meant to write this before, so thanks for checking in
AFI Fest was great. The films I saw were very good, well crafted and well executed and all of the films are now up online
so check them out. A lot of them are very dark, as tends to be the case with student films, I liked Haunt a lot, which was humorous. You definitely can see how good the producers get at securing resources and how much the fellows can accomplish.
I got the chance to speak to Giovanni and another Screenwriting alum briefly and both were positive. Giovanni more-so, but he works there so that’s also not surprising. I asked about the screenwriter showcase and they both said they got opportunities to submit to people after the showcase- also that you better be damn ready with your piece when you put it in the showcase as people have missed out on rep/opportunities by putting in pitches they weren’t immediately ready to send out scripts for.

All in all glad I went.

When are you visiting the campus?

Damn I missed you at the AFI fest. I forgot to check in on this forum to see who were going. I met Anna Thomas and Michael Urban, the duo who interviewed me and said hi. I did not watch Haunt but I think Tree #3 was hands down one of the best. It's not the most creative story but definitely the most polished with the classic story structure. A lot of student films now are wading in the experimental mire. Just not my taste personally.
But anyways, I'd be thrilled to meet you in person, probably soon

 

[StarChild]

Damn I missed you at the AFI fest. I forgot to check in on this forum to see who were going. I met Anna Thomas and Michael Urban, the duo who interviewed me and said hi. I did not watch Haunt but I think Tree #3 was hands down one of the best. It's not the most creative story but definitely the most polished with the classic story structure. A lot of student films now are wading in the experimental mire. Just not my taste personally.
But anyways, I'd be thrilled to meet you in person, probably soon

I heard Tree #3 was good - only AFTER I'd missed the last screening of it. Damn! It would have been great to meet you. I ended up meeting up with a producing candidate (fingers crossed he gets in). It was great. I'd love to meet up sometime soon. Let's do that!!!

I also interviewed with Michael and Anna - they were great. I saw them there too but they were wrapped up in conversation - I now wonder if it might have been with you! - and I didn't want to interrupt.

 

[StarChild]

Every time I turn away from this forum for a while I miss some intriguing conversations. First of all, regarding to what d890 has said about screenwriter being isolated from the rest of the tracks. I can understand how some non-writer AFI alumni might feel that way because all writers graduate on time (May of the their class year) while all the other tracks have to finish their thesis film before being allowed to graduate. These thesis projects tend to drag on for as long as half a year, and most writers by then would have already started on their career outside of school. And since the thesis project is the most difficult project any non-writer AFI fellow would undertake for their entire stay at AFI, (and probably the most bonding experience?) they tend to think their peer writers as a group who have left the party early. This is the only reason I can think of for the comments about AFI writing being less involved in productions. That said, I think AFI writers CAN participate in any project if they are invited, and there is the screenwriter cycle each year in which the directors fellows are requires to use writers' script. But again, just like in the real industry, no one can guarantee that your script will be used. I do believe that, AFI being just a tiny camp, the directors will have a hard time avoiding writers who are trying to sell their scripts. However, is up to the writers to interest/lure/chase/kidnap the directors.
P.S. I do have to mention that a lot of directors in AFI ARE aspiring auteurs, the ones who want to write their own stories. So we do have to do a lot to win them over.

I have to quickly chime in, writers don't graduate before their peers - not really. The fellows involved in thesis films will continue them often for up to half a year after, and screenwriters might be involved in thesis films if their scripts are chosen (and they chose to submit scripts), but - aside from that, screenwriters (all fellows) walk in May, but then over the summer the screenwriters do a form of business prep. They work on rewrites on one or more of their scripts and work on loglines and pitching to prep for pitchfest. Pitch fest is then held end of august (I think). There you pitch to "industry people" and then the pitchfest book is given to those people and then sent out. Anna mentioned that it's more like Sept 1 screenwriters graduate even though they walk in May.

 

[StarChild]

Hey guys! Some of us in LA are trying to do an LA gathering- not ‘school’ specific just film school peeps.

Come!

https://www.filmschool.org/threads/welcome-los-angeles-peeps.26159/post-169254

We’ll do another one at end of summer when everyone is around for school too.

 

[y0shek]

I've also chosen Columbia over AFI. Those were my two choices.

AFI head of Directing told me in the interview that he went to Columbia and considers it and AFI to be the two best schools in the country (he also taught at USC for 8 years). His Columbia background is probably one of the reasons he has started letting the Directors write their own scripts at AFI, and there are now quite a few Writer/Directors there - he told me as much in the interview.

I talked to 7 working directors & mentors in the Industry (mostly at Pixar and Disney, where I know people) and 5/7 suggested that I should go to Columbia, but that may have been something that only applies to me.

I've always dreamed about going to AFI since I was about 15, but now that I got in, and I compared it practically to Columbia after months of deliberations, talking to students, etc. I think I made the right choice for myself by choosing Columbia. I liked the attitude and mentality better. AFI seems a bit more intense, and I'm already in a pressure cooker building AI stuff in tech.

They were my top two choices and you should be proud no matter where you go. Congrats d890 and see you there

 

[kreativesoul]

So this happened today as I prepare for LMU orientation.

 

[kreativesoul]

They also offered me a scholarship

 

[Chris W]

They also offered me a scholarship

Same conundrum as @Septopus7 .

 

[StarChild]

They also offered me a scholarship

Congratulations!!! How much a good scholarship goes a long way? What’s your deal with LMU? I think you’ll do great at either school!

 

[kreativesoul]

I mean while I’m grateful for the scholarship it puts a very small dent in overall price. In the end AFI was my dream school. So I’m going. I’m very excited but also nervous.

 

[Chris W]

Did you hopefully find a place already that isn't too far from AFI?

 

[kreativesoul]

I already moved to LA Tuesday based on going to LMU. So I’ll be commuting from South LA

 

[alanray]

I already moved to LA Tuesday based on going to LMU. So I’ll be commuting from South LA

Not the worst commute in the world, but the traffic's still gonna suck ? but it'll be worth it

 

[Chris W]

I already moved to LA Tuesday based on going to LMU. So I’ll be commuting from South LA

Ok that's not bad. Equidistant to LMU or AFI.

 

[Chris W]

Not the worst commute in the world, but the traffic's still gonna suck ? but it'll be worth it

That's true anywhere unless you live in save neighborhood as the school. And even then....

 

[kreativesoul]

Not the worst commute in the world, but the traffic's still gonna suck ? but it'll be worth it

It’s like 10.6 miles away. I drove it yesterday just to see in traffic and it took 30 minutes as opposed to the 20 minutes to LMU. I think I’ll be alright.

 

[Chris W]

It’s like 10.6 miles away. I drove it yesterday just to see in traffic and it took 30 minutes as opposed to the 20 minutes to LMU. I think I’ll be alright.

That's not bad at all.

 

[alanray]

It’s like 10.6 miles away. I drove it yesterday just to see in traffic and it took 30 minutes as opposed to the 20 minutes to LMU. I think I’ll be alright.

That's awesome

 

[StarChild]

@kreativesoul thats not a bad drive at all! And bummer it’s not more but hurrah!!! That it’s a scholarship! Congrats on your dream school!

 

[StarChild]

Hey all! We’re doing another meetup on 8/24! I hope to see some of you there!

FILMSCHOOL.ORG MEETUP 8/24

Hey guys, I figured we would do another meet up with hopefully more people down in LA now for school! I was hoping for a location more central to SoCal as a whole this time, so I'm setting it in Downey. Sorry if it's random, I've never even been there myself. Just seems like a good central...

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