AFI 2019 Screenwriting

[kreativesoul]

Had my interview. Was very casual and conversational as most people said. They were running really behind so I ended up chatting with admissions for like an hour but everyone was super nice and laughs all around. Kevin Kennedy was awesome. Anna was great too but Kevin is really into TV which is what I want to do and Anna is into Features. They were extremely pleasant, asked about my statement and samples, and then the typical questions everyone else was asked. All in all I’m not really sure where I stand because experiences seem to be similar. Lol

 

[kreativesoul]

Also I asked them a ton of questions at the end when they asked if I had anything and that took up another thirty minutes chatting about diversity, times up and me too.

 

[hunteros]

Had my interview. Was very casual and conversational as most people said. They were running really behind so I ended up chatting with admissions for like an hour but everyone was super nice and laughs all around. Kevin Kennedy was awesome. Anna was great too but Kevin is really into TV which is what I want to do and Anna is into Features. They were extremely pleasant, asked about my statement and samples, and then the typical questions everyone else was asked. All in all I’m not really sure where I stand because experiences seem to be similar. Lol

it honestly sounds like your interview went great.

 

[kreativesoul]

I hope so! It’s my first choice. I knew they were tired though. I was the last one of the day and even though I was scheduled for 4:20, after talking with Jill and everyone in admissions I didn’t go back until about 5:15. They looked exhausted lol.

 

[Dean]

I had my interview on Tuesday with Anna Thomas and Michael Urban. Like your guys said, it was just like a chat. Asked me about the place I grew up, and who movies I like. But because everyone was so relaxed and letting the conversation flow, we started to talk about the the interviewer’s views on things and their experience etc. It was still like 30-40 mins and they did bring up my application material and asked what type of stuff I write, what genre. And that’s basically it, LOL. No story pitch, no why I want to write those type of tough questions.
Like Kreaticesoul’s experience, my interview was a little late too, like 10 mins. But I guess mine was early afternoon and since hers was even later, things just got push back more and more.
But it takes them as least 40 mins to interview one person. And they really do read notes made on your application before they interview you. So I don’t think they can interview more than 5-6 people per day.
I really don’t know where we stand since most people seem to have had a great experience with them.

 

[Apeach]

I had my interview on Tuesday with Anna Thomas and Michael Urban. Like your guys said, it was just like a chat. Asked me about the place I grew up, and who movies I like. But because everyone was so relaxed and letting the conversation flow, we started to talk about the the interviewer’s views on things and their experience etc. It was still like 30-40 mins and they did bring up my application material and asked what type of stuff I write, what genre. And that’s basically it, LOL. No story pitch, no why I want to write those type of tough questions.
Like Kreaticesoul’s experience, my interview was a little late too, like 10 mins. But I guess mine was early afternoon and since hers was even later, things just got push back more and more.
But it takes them as least 40 mins to interview one person. And they really do read notes made on your application before they interview you. So I don’t think they can interview more than 5-6 people per day.
I really don’t know where we stand since most people seem to have had a great experience with them.

I had my interview with Sarah Swingley and Michael Urban. I was nervous AF but they were super nice and cool like everyone else mentioned. I was expecting a lot of questions like some of the other posts but my experience was more like Dean's. I really wanted to ask them more about their experience, especially Michael because he's been around for longer, but I felt like it wasn't necessarily relevant to the interview so I felt shy asking.

The only thing I have to add is during the first interview with the admin staff (who was also super nice!) I asked how many people applied and she said about 600 in total, and the biggest split was between cinematography, directing, and screenwriting. It also sounds like there are a lot of female screenwriter Fellows, at least half, which is nice.

 

[d890]

I had my interview the other day. Have no idea how it went, to be honest. I don't know how long it lasted, either. It was mainly Anne speaking/ asking the questions. She seemed very interested in the fact that I've worked with a pretty reowned screenwriter, and asked me to walk her through my entire life and show how I got to that point. She stressed how AFI Screenwriters have the most work to do than any other discipline, and that one ought to be ready for that. She also asked me if there are any stories I am dying to tell, and to pitch her a feature I'd love to write. She also mentioned this screenwriting competition I had won. We also laughed quite a bit, and time seemed to run out because she asked me if I had any questions. As I was exiting her office, she said it was super nice to meet me and that they would be in touch "very very soon". To be honest, I really have no idea if I did well or not. I didn't get asked which my fave films or writers are, or anything very specific to my life/ background in other regards... Oh, well! Who knows!

 

[kreativesoul]

I’m sure you’ll get in! I hope we all do. It’s honestly kind of nerve wrecking not knowing where we stand.

 

[d890]

I’m sure you’ll get in! I hope we all do. It’s honestly kind of nerve wrecking not knowing where we stand.

You're too kind, thank you for saying that. I am sure YOU will get in Sounds like you did better than I did, established rapport, etc.

 

[kreativesoul]

I wish. Anna although she was laughing with me and talking, is very hard to read. At least she said you’d hear from her soon. I know a fellow who’s there currently who got a call from her 5 days later telling him not to go to usc because he had gotten in. ???

 

[d890]

I wish. Anna although she was laughing with me and talking, is very hard to read. At least she said you’d hear from her soon. I know a fellow who’s there currently who got a call from her 5 days later telling him not to go to usc because he had gotten in. ???

You're right that she's super hard to read
Did you get asked/ tell them if you're also considering other schools? It didn't come up for me...

 

[kreativesoul]

Not so much what schools as much as if there were others in general. It seems like she liked you. She focused HEAVILY on my traveling. All the countries and how I ended up in the most random places.

 

[kreativesoul]

I don’t know. It’s hard to read. We talked about the kinds of stories I wanted to tell in which I talked a lot about being an underrepresented voice in film as a black woman. She seemed to like that. But there are other black women who applied I assume so ??‍

 

[d890]

I don’t know. It’s hard to read. We talked about the kinds of stories I wanted to tell in which I talked a lot about being an underrepresented voice in film as a black woman. She seemed to like that. But there are other black women who applied I assume so ??‍

I seeeeee. Anyway, who can tell anyways! Good luck to us all!

 

[Dean]

Days going by too slowly. I check the past application status and I think the chance of getting after being invited for interview is around 50%?

 

[BuddernScotch]

I hope so! It’s my first choice. I knew they were tired though. I was the last one of the day and even though I was scheduled for 4:20, after talking with Jill and everyone in admissions I didn’t go back until about 5:15. They looked exhausted lol.

Your interview really sounded amazing! Do you mind me asking why AFI is your first choice for screenwriting?

 

[Lifeisnoholiday]

Hey everyone, congrats on your interviews, seems like they went good!

I also had mine (with Anna Thomas and Jennifer Glickman), which was not so different. However, I'm worried about a few things.

Firstly, I got asked very little questions, and none of them were good for selling myself or presenting myself as a professional or showing I had future as a screenwriter. They seemed to focus on the fact that I'm coming from abroad.

So, they were done with their questions pretty quick, and wanted to know if I had any. Thankfully, I was prepared, and I feel like my questions were ok, too. I asked about things like collaboration between students, internships and so on.

Another thing is that I feel like I failed to establish contact with them. Maybe it was the connection, maybe my Russian accent, but the whole thing felt a bit off.

At some point they warned me we were running out of time and if I had any more questions. I answered "I do, but I'm worried that I'm going to spend all that time asking questions, while I could use it to tell sometihng about myself". They asked me what was it they abolutely had to know about me, and I told them how I expected them to ask me about my writing sample (it's about a boy with autism), and that would be my cue to tell them how I volunteered in a center for children like that. (I felt like it was a gamble on my part, but seemed like it paid off, we were laughing about my plan, etc.). They said they liked my sample.

By the end, Anna said "I think, you're going to be great for us. You know how to work hard, and that's the foundation for everything else". Sounds promising, but also similar to some of your interviews, so idk.

 

[BuddernScotch]

Hey everyone, congrats on your interviews, seems like they went good!

I also had mine (with Anna Thomas and Jennifer Glickman), which was not so different. However, I'm worried about a few things.

Firstly, I got asked very little questions, and none of them were good for selling myself or presenting myself as a professional or showing I had future as a screenwriter. They seemed to focus on the fact that I'm coming from abroad.

So, they were done with their questions pretty quick, and wanted to know if I had any. Thankfully, I was prepared, and I feel like my questions were ok, too. I asked about things like collaboration between students, internships and so on.

Another thing is that I feel like I failed to establish contact with them. Maybe it was the connection, maybe my Russian accent, but the whole thing felt a bit off.

At some point they warned me we were running out of time and if I had any more questions. I answered "I do, but I'm worried that I'm going to spend all that time asking questions, while I could use it to tell sometihng about myself". They asked me what was it they abolutely had to know about me, and I told them how I expected them to ask me about my writing sample (it's about a boy with autism), and that would be my cue to tell them how I volunteered in a center for children like that. (I felt like it was a gamble on my part, but seemed like it paid off, we were laughing about my plan, etc.). They said they liked my sample.

By the end, Anna said "I think, you're going to be great for us. You know how to work hard, and that's the foundation for everything else". Sounds promising, but also similar to some of your interviews, so idk.

That sounds amazing!

Out of my 3 interviews, no one asked me specific questions about me or my portfolio... just things like "is film important to you". Ahggk!

 

[Lifeisnoholiday]

That sounds amazing!

Out of my 3 interviews, no one asked me specific questions about me or my portfolio... just things like "is film important to you". Ahggk!

Thank you! Well, I'm comparing to my LMU Writing for the Screen interview, which was 3 times shorter and heavily focused on screenwriting.

 

[kreativesoul]

@BuddernScotch honestly not saying I wouldn’t be prepared if I ended up at UCLA, Chapman, or Loyola, but as far as the rigor of a “full time” program is concerned it’s the one I feel I would need to dedicate all my time to. When I applied I thought even though some places weren’t conservatory style that full time and the discouragement to work meant I wouldn’t have the time to. I want to immerse myself in this experience. It also is pretty fricken awesome that Chinonye Chukwu who just did amazing at Sundance for Clemency teaches there. I love how heavy and prestigious they’re board of directors and trustees are because that has a lot of influence on what the school chooses to do in shaping the next generation of film makers. I felt most comfortable on that campus. Everything about it from faculty to collaboration to the different programs the school offers outside of just coursework such as the writers room is just awesome.