AFI 2019 Screenwriting

[d890]

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.

Oy, what are you going on about?! I mean, "I think, you're going to be great for us" isn't enough evidence to know they want you!? I bet my hat you're in! Congrats are in order

 

[kreativesoul]

Yea definitely sounds like you’re in

 

[Lifeisnoholiday]

@kreativesoul @d890

Thanks, I hope so! I'm sure, you both did great, too. Regarding my interview, I meant that maybe that's something like a polite thing?

On the "Why AFI" subject, I also have high expectations for their emphasis on hands-on experience writing shorts and collaboration. I would also add that they seem to have this unique legendary level of networking together with USC. As you might know, AFI screenwriters have a huge pitchfest at the end of their program, where they each do like 5 pitches in one day, in front of Hollywood people.

On the side note wouldn't it be fun if we all got accepted, after sharing our hopes and fears here? =)

 

[kreativesoul]

That would seriously be amazing. I’m one edge honestly.

 

[Lifeisnoholiday]

That would seriously be amazing. I’m one edge honestly.

Yeah, we got like four weeks before March 15th, and those first few days of waiting are among the hardest

 

[kreativesoul]

Where is everyone in here from? What age? What degree did you get? And your industry aspiration when you're done with the program? I'l start.

I'm from Alabama but I'm an army brat. Came to school at Howard in DC. I'm getting a degree in digital media (film concentration) and my ultimate goal is to be a showrunner.

 

[Septopus7]

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.

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!

Just chiming in on this subject:

One of my samples was mentioned during the AFI interview, albeit in a brief and rather throwaway manner. I was making some comment about the nature of combining comedy with drama (I think because we were talking about Vice, a film I thought was actually pretty bad, but she rather liked, so I played up my affection for it more than I normally would.) I talked about how that was something I wanted to do in the scripts I wrote, and Anna Thomas responded with "Oh, like in the script you submitted, the one about the boys finding the gun.") I responded in the affirmative, said some other platitudes I can't recall right now, and the conversation moved forward without anymore mention of my material on their end. Still though, at least it showed they had it!

 

[d890]

Yeah, we got like four weeks before March 15th, and those first few days of waiting are among the hardest

Do they always reply March 15th? Never before?

 

[Lifeisnoholiday]

Do they always reply March 15th? Never before?

Yeah, the girl from the school office said March 15th was THE DAY. I asked if it was "by 15th" or something like that, and she replied they sent all the letters precisely on that day.

Just chiming in on this subject:

One of my samples was mentioned during the AFI interview, albeit in a brief and rather throwaway manner. I was making some comment about the nature of combining comedy with drama (I think because we were talking about Vice, a film I thought was actually pretty bad, but she rather liked, so I played up my affection for it more than I normally would.) I talked about how that was something I wanted to do in the scripts I wrote, and Anna Thomas responded with "Oh, like in the script you submitted, the one about the boys finding the gun.") I responded in the affirmative, said some other platitudes I can't recall right now, and the conversation moved forward without anymore mention of my material on their end. Still though, at least it showed they had it!

Lol, I praised how Green Book demonstrated the absurdity of racism and Anna responded with an observation on how this movie seems to work so well for European audiences, but in the US they feel it's too safe and predictable. Ouch, I thought

 

[Chris W]

March 15th was THE DAY.

The Ides of March!!!!!

Ides of March - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Septopus7]

Lol, I praised how Green Book demonstrated the absurdity of racism and Anna responded with an observation on how this movie seems to work so well for European audiences, but in the US they feel it's too safe and predictable. Ouch, I thought

Part of me wondered in the moment if it would have been better if I pushed back and had issued my complaints against Vice -- if it would have shown my fighting spirits or some such. But I figured the potential argument that could inflame probably isn't best for a first time interview segment, so I just talked about things I liked about it, while pivoting the subject to an Adam McKay movie I did like a lot (The Big Short.)

 

[Lifeisnoholiday]

Part of me wondered in the moment if it would have been better if I pushed back and had issued my complaints against Vice -- if it would have shown my fighting spirits or some such. But I figured the potential argument that could inflame probably isn't best for a first time interview segment, so I just talked about things I liked about it, while pivoting the subject to an Adam McKay movie I did like a lot (The Big Short.)

I believe you did the right thing. Even though those interviews are laid back, both Anna and Jennifer seemed a bit serious to me, so maybe showing your fighting spirits could turn out too risky.

 

[kreativesoul]

@Lifeisnoholiday yea I agreed with her sentiment when she asked if I had seen it. I mainly played up on the fact that I am from the deep south and in a lot of ways it did feel safe.

 

[BuddernScotch]

@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.

If I interviewed you I would be like: yes get this girl in here. What an insightful answer!

 

[Dean]

I believe you did the right thing. Even though those interviews are laid back, both Anna and Jennifer seemed a bit serious to me, so maybe showing your fighting spirits could turn out too risky.

I agree with your judgement. I think a part of the interview is also to see if you are not too crazy about your own personal opinions and can work collaboratively. Besides, i think it’s always better to bring up movies that you liked and can learn from than to bring up movies that you disliked. We are all in the stage where we better appreciate than criticize.

 

[Lifeisnoholiday]

@Lifeisnoholiday yea I agreed with her sentiment when she asked if I had seen it. I mainly played up on the fact that I am from the deep south and in a lot of ways it did feel safe.

Yeah, on the other hand, I just watched Blackkklansman yesterday (which they praised), and in many ways it felt safe to me, too. First off, the supremacists are depicted as clueless to the point where they don't feel dangerous (up until the last 3 minutes of the movie). I also felt like everything went too good and there weren't enough stakes and complications. I know it's a comedy, but still.

I agree with your judgement. I think a part of the interview is also to see if you are not too crazy about your own personal opinions and can work collaboratively. Besides, i think it’s always better to bring up movies that you liked and can learn from than to bring up movies that you disliked. We are all in the stage where we better appreciate than criticize.

Great point! When answering my questions on collaboration, they stressed how important it was for them that students learn how to communicate, resolve conflicts, etc.

 

[BuddernScotch]

Yeah, on the other hand, I just watched Blackkklansman yesterday (which they praised), and in many ways it felt safe to me, too. First off, the supremacists are depicted as clueless to the point where they don't feel dangerous (up until the last 3 minutes of the movie). I also felt like everything went too good and there weren't enough stakes and complications. I know it's a comedy, but still.

Blackkklansman had so many things going for it but at the same time I could feel some holding back. Like you said, things went too smoothly. It felt edited to become a dream scenario where "good" always triumphs over "evil", when in reality it takes so much more proactivity for that to ever happen.

I know of other movies where things were definitely changed in terms of plot/tone to make it more digestible for the general public - Get Out's triumphant, deus ex ending for example. Original ending might have really been too painfully visceral though so perhaps it was a good call...

On that note, the line between socio-politcal subject matter that's "safe" versus too "new" (filmgoers and critics all SEEM to want new ideas and voices) was difficult to gauge in my submissions, and is still one of my main worries.

I tried to find a balance between my views on the topics I'm interested in (which is almost always touchy subjects of race, gender, economic class, social alienation etc.) and what I think would be acceptable material. But it's so hard to know where I should have given myself more freedom and where I should have pulled back. Which is exactly why I need film school. And I hope the app reviewers somehow know that.

 

[d890]

I believe you did the right thing. Even though those interviews are laid back, both Anna and Jennifer seemed a bit serious to me, so maybe showing your fighting spirits could turn out too risky.

Was Jennifer very talkative in your interview? She wasn't really in mine

 

[Lifeisnoholiday]

Blackkklansman had so many things going for it but at the same time I could feel some holding back. Like you said, things went too smoothly. It felt edited to become a dream scenario where "good" always triumphs over "evil", when in reality it takes so much more proactivity for that to ever happen.

I know of other movies where things were definitely changed in terms of plot/tone to make it more digestible for the general public - Get Out's triumphant, deus ex ending for example. Original ending might have really been too painfully visceral though so perhaps it was a good call...

On that note, the line between socio-politcal subject matter that's "safe" versus too "new" (filmgoers and critics all SEEM to want new ideas and voices) was difficult to gauge in my submissions, and is still one of my main worries.

I tried to find a balance between my views on the topics I'm interested in (which is almost always touchy subjects of race, gender, economic class, social alienation etc.) and what I think would be acceptable material. But it's so hard to know where I should have given myself more freedom and where I should have pulled back. Which is exactly why I need film school. And I hope the app reviewers somehow know that.

Yeah, it seems a big issue nowadays, where there's all those unexplored subjects like race and equality, yet you have to tread really, really carefully.

Was Jennifer very talkative in your interview? She wasn't really in mine

Not at all, no. But hey, in my LMU interview they also had this "active cop, quiet cop" thing. With Jennifer, though, sometimes it seemed like she had a difficult time making out what I was saying? That had me worried if my accent was too heavy or if I made sense in general. Did you have that? Like she was squinting when listening to you?

 

[Septopus7]

Just wanted to chime in on the BlacKKKlansman discussion to say I disagree with y'all, which I can do because I'm not trying to impress any of you, so HA!

I think the film very deliberately sets up the Klansman as idiots because A) they largely are, even in real life, which if anything makes them even scarier and B) it was trying to play upon audience expectations on how these "feel good racism" movies (NOT NAMING ANY FELLOW OSCAR NOMINEE NAMES, BUT YOU KNOW THE ONE) sets up the idea of racism as something that can be conquered, and stopped. And if the film ended with that notion, I would agree with you all. But the actual ending (which rather spectacularly took my breath away) is very much arguing that these Hollywood endings are bullshit, and this issues can't just go away because of one successful police crackdown. It was a bold, chilling way to end the film, and I appreciate the hell out of the movie for it. One of my Top 10 films of last year, personally.

That being said, there were better films on racism and corrupt institutions relessed last year. The Hate U Give, Blindspotting (which is so damn good) and ESPECIALLY If Beale Street Could Talk were all quite fantastic takes on the subject. And, hey, bringing it back to AFI for a second: I actually brought up Beale Street during my interview (they asked me about the last Oscar movie I saw, so I got ranting), and I mentioned how it was my second favorite film of the year, and lauded Barry Jenkins as one of our most brilliant filmmakers. Neither Thomas nor Kennedy had seen the film, and expressed little interest in it from what I could tell. Which bummed me out, while also somewhat explaining how the Oscar's could have so blindly snubbed it this year