AFI App for Fall 2009

[SimAlex]

My name is Ezgi, and I'm from Turkey/Istanbul. I have applied for directing and got my call on march 3, my interview is going to be on the phone and it's on march 16. I wish everyone good luck.. it's obvious that we are all excited and nervous.

istanbul is one of my top 5 favorite cities. i love it love it love it.

 

[SimAlex]

just wondering ... has anyone heard anything?

 

[Starbuck7]

Not yet. I believe we get a call on Sunday. Although I wonder if we only get contacted via phone if we are accepted...

 

[Justin18]

Dang, SimAlex, I just came on here to ask the same question.

I thought they might start calling people today. But it's looking more and more like Sunday.

I've been looking at my cheap cell phone all day thinking 'C'mon, ring you stupid thing, ring.'

May the AFI Screenwriting committee look favorably upon all of us studentfilms.com applicants...

 

[Federico Cesca]

Hi Ezgi,
Congrats for the interview!
I agree with you: AFI is my first and only choice. I hope we both make it. Regarding the interview my best advice is: don't sweat it, don't over think it. Be honest and you'll be fine. They'll ask you about your motivations, your inspirations, your goals. For some of the questions you'll have a precise answer. For others you wont, but that's normal I guess. If we knew everything we would not even go to film school...Best of luck for you!

And for everyone expecting a call this 15th, goooood luck!

 

[tabbycat]

guess I was wrong betting on the calls going out during the week looks like they're going to make those three disciplines wait til the last possible day..

 

[Federico Cesca]

Hang in there Tabby...the waiting is killing us all.
I got the interview last thursday and this has been by far the longest week of my life. And for us directors the wait will last another month...boy oh boy.

 

[tabbycat]

I applied for editing, so I probably got another month of waiting with you directors

...




p.s. my interview was last thursday too!

 

[Filipe]

I'm also looking at my phone thinking "C'mon, RING!"

Do you guys think they'll actually make calls on Sunday?

I'd love if they did. Most of my hope lie on AFI.

Federico and Ezgi, why is it your first choice? Just curious.

 

[tabbycat]

still got a couple more hours til 5 on the west coast.. they could still call.. though that's a lot of calls to make in 2 hours. but you never know, maybe they'll start.

 

[SimAlex]

I've been looking at my cheap cell phone all day thinking 'C'mon, ring you stupid thing, ring.'

May the AFI Screenwriting committee look favorably upon all of us studentfilms.com applicants...

my thoughts exactly.

 

[Federico Cesca]

Filipe,
I am going to quote Werner Herzog to explain why the AFI.
"Many great filmmakers have been astonishingly physical,
athletic people. A much higher percentage than writers or musicians.
Actually, for some time now I have given some thought to
opening a film school. But if I did start one up you would only be
allowed to fill out an application form after you had travelled
alone on foot, let's say from Madrid to Kiev, a distance of about
5,000 kilometres. While walking, write. Write about your experiences
and give me your notebooks. I would be able to tell who
had really walked the distance and who had not. While you are
walking you would learn much more about filmmaking than if
you were in a classroom. During your voyage you will learn more
about what your future holds than in five years at film school.
Your experiences would be the very opposite of academic knowledge,
for academia is the death of cinema. It is the very opposite
of passion".

This is from the book Herzog on Herzog. I have to agree with the man. At least for me filmmaking is more a passionate process than rational. Life experiences are important of course. Film theory is completelly irrelevant (this is just my opinion though) to be a good filmmaker. Either you have the sensibility or you don't. You can't teach or learn that. For me the purpose of going to film school is to film and film some more. Also to meet the right people and film some more. I like AFI's conservatory format. I like the program being two years versus 3 or four. For some people it may be important to have some theory courses. I think you can learn all the theory you need just by watching all the films you can (better if they are "good" films...) and reading and travelling. Living. I come from the field of architecture, so for me is really important the networking and the connections I hope I'll get from AFI. I don't really know, my heart just tells me this is the one for me. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[Filipe]

Thanks a lot for posting that, Federico.

I have to say I completely agree with you in that you have to LIVE in order to make a movie. I actually wrote that in my statement "I want to know the world in order to have something to write".

Funny you used a example from Herzog. When I took an online course at UCLA Extension, I posted a question "Why are films important?" and the professor answered with a quote from Herzog. This man knows stuff!

I asked your view (and other's) on AFI because many people seemed to not have applied there without apparent reason.

Although I would enjoy studying in a University for the whole experience of it, I have the sense that AFI might have the stronger program.

Now you made me even more excited about AFI.

BTW, if you showed that passion in your materials/interview, I have no doubt: you're in!

 

[Filipe]

Hey Ezgi,

I'm applying for screenwriting. I did my interview on Monday, so I'm one of the souls waiting for the Sunday call.

I find it great that AFI doesn't require a Bachelor degree so people with life experience (as I'm sure is your case) can study to excel in the art-slash-business of filmamaking regardless their academic background.

Since I'm in Brazil, I also did my interview over the phone. I couldn't hear them as well as would've liked, but they were all very nice and the conversation was very relaxed. They asked about what I knew of the program, what kind of movies I liked, if I had worked on callaborative process before, if I wanted to explore fields other than screenwriting and how I was planing my finances for the program.
They were really warming towards my responses, so I guess you shouldn't worry. My advice would be - as I'm sure you've heard a million times in this forum - just be yourself.

So good luck to you and hope by next year you're directing my scripts. =)

BTW, every single person I know that have been to Turkey has absolutely loved it. It's definitely one of the places in the world I most want to visit.

 

[Filipe]

Yeah, let's change the name to UFI - Universal Film Insitute.

By the way, they also mentioned about Brazil in my interview, so it's likely that they mention something about Turkey as well... Or not. =)

 

[SimAlex]

good news anyone?

 

[Starbuck7]

No call yet...anyone else?

 

[ProfUnrath]

Hey guys; I visited this forum often in the application process, but didn't have time to revisit it until lately.

I interviewed with AFI on 3/2 (screenwriting), but still no call today, either.

Since they chose April 15th for notifying directing applicants, I'm starting to wonder if they didn't choose March 15th without realizing that it was a Sunday... Yet another day of anxiety and anticipation.

 

[SimAlex]

Since they chose April 15th for notifying directing applicants, I'm starting to wonder if they didn't choose March 15th without realizing that it was a Sunday... Yet another day of anxiety and anticipation.

well, i definitely HOPE that's the case, as opposed to not getting a phone call b/c i'm not getting in.

 

[Justin18]

I haven't heard from them today, either.

Looks like Monday may be the day.