AFI Fellows 2009

[Filipe]

Welcome, Max!

 

[JG86]

Filipe, I'm fairly sure that we get summers off (though I am sure most of us will continue to be quite involved on projects) except for the summer immediately following our graduation during which the screenwriters are given advice on how to pitch and then AFI arranges some event where we pitch our stuff to industry types, but I may be wrong. I do hope we have summers off though, because I would like to earn some money in the next couple years!

 

[Filipe]

Hope you're right, Jake. I'll try to find out where I came across that (hopefully mistaken) information.

But do classes really start in mid-August?

 

[Hernan]

Hey everybody, my name is Hernan, i'm from mexico, I applied for the directing program, I had my interview last friday, and I thought it went well, but i havent had a call back yet, should I be worried? anyone else going for the directing program?

 

[mkench]

Hey Hernan,

I don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure director are amongst the last to hear anything. The website says April 15th, so you should know somewhere around then.

 

[ProfUnrath]

Originally posted by Filipe:
does anyone know when classes start? I read somewhere that classes last year started on August 18th, but aren't classes supposed to start in September?

I just got my acceptance letter in the mail. It looks like registration for Fall semester is August 20th.

 

[Filipe]

By "registration", it means we have to be there by that date, right?

Pardon my ignorance on the matter!

 

[ezgi]

Hi Hernan,

My name is Ezgi from Turkey,Istanbul..I have also applied for the directing program. had my interview on monday..my interview was not well I guess..but you shouldnt be worried that you havent had the call yet because I remember peter mandel said stg at my interview that they will let the directing applicants to know the final results in a month, I mean we probably have to wait till 15th of april and plus there is also a waiting list thing, if they take any applicants to the waiting list the torture will be a little bit longer like the first days of may I guess.

btw, congratulations and best of luck to you
also congratulations to all of 2009 AFI fellows!!

 

[Hernan]

thanks ezgi, good luck to you too, I guess the next couple of week will be torture for us then LOL. Best of luck to everybody! hang in there.

 

[ProfUnrath]

Originally posted by Filipe:
By "registration", it means we have to be there by that date, right?

Pardon my ignorance on the matter!

The way I recall it is that "registration" is essentially the first day you must be on campus. I don't know the details off the top of my head, but I believe we start "boot camp" very shortly thereafter.

 

[eliya]

Hey AVI
Sorry for the confusion. won't do it again

and also in responce to EZGI:
" I mean we probably have to wait till 15th of april and plus there is also a waiting list thing, if they take any applicants to the waiting list the torture will be a little bit longer like the first days of may I guess."

I got out out of waiting list on mid June last year... when it was already too late for any scholarships and had to decline my seat... and therefore there must be someone who got the notification even later

So any of you who get into the waiting-list should continue work on funds even if the waiting is long
They are not saving your spot to next year and you have to do the all process from the begining - like I did [they only reduces some of the documents you need to submit when you apply] now waiting for their final decision for directing... again

 

[Ryan Serey]

Hi I my name is Ryan and I've been waitlisted for screenwriting. I am also waiting for USC's response, but AFI is my #1 pick. Ellya, I appreciate your post, it is encouraging. I hope you get in after what you had to go through last year.

I wanted to introduce myself to everyone, after lurking here a while. Congrats to all those fellows already in and to those in a similar position as mine, keep the faith.

 

[Filipe]

Hey eliya and Ryan, good luck to you both!

Ryan, why are you chosing AFI over USC? Just curious, since I'm also waiting to hear from USC.

 

[eliya]

Hi there
Do any of you know of funds still available?
will do every thing to make it happening this time

 

[Ryan Serey]

Filipe, perhaps I'm going in "half cocked", but aside from just the whole concept of AFI as an institution, it just seems like the right fit for me. The conservatory approach and the intimate setting are appealing, as is the whole idea of assembling a crew and going through "boot camp" together. However, I must confess, though I had a film teacher here in North Carolina who was a MFA Directing from USC, I don't have much more experience/knowledge.

Honestly, I'll be grateful and excited to get into either one, but the feeling I got at the AFI campus was very cool. It seemed like a old and somewhat dank building, but with so much character and with so many great writers and filmmakers having passed through those halls.

 

[Filipe]

Thanks for your input, Ryan.

I'm thrilled with AFI, from everything I've read and from other people's opinions.

As I'm still waiting on USC, I was just trying to antecipate a choice I might have to make. Adn since I'll probably won't be able to visit the schools before deciding, all opinions are very helpful.

Good luck to you!

 

[Ryan Serey]

Honestly Filipe, both schools are probably the #1 and #2 film schools in the world (depending on who you ask), so either way you are bound to be exposed the elements conducive to your success. In the madness of this application process, I forget to be grateful that I am worrying about which "best of the best" film schools I'll get in. I know my passion often gets the better of me, but these choices and realities we are faced with are other people's wildest dreams.

 

[Filipe]

You're totally right, Ryan. I'm sure any of the schools (USC, UCLA, AFI, NYU...) are all amazing and I will learn an awful lot in any of them. If I ever come to the point of having to choose, there's no way I can't go wrong with them.
That said, it's always hard to make a choice!

 

[Kretze]

Hi everybody!
My name is Pau and I am from Barcelona. I just have been accepted as a AFI Screenwriting Fellow. I am very excited but I have to find funding, but I just called the AFI Financial Aid and they told me to wait until I recieve the official acceptance letter to follow their instructions.
I have seen the steps that American citizens have to follow to get scolarships and funds, but I don't know the real possibilities that I have as an international student.

Does anybody know something more than what they say in their website?

Thank you very much! It is so nice to meet you guys!

 

[MovieLover]

Hello guys! I'm Dani from Madrid and I've just been accepted to the Producing program.

Pau, congratulations on being accepted and it's nice to "meet" another Spanish person! When are you planning to move to LA? Do you already have plans for housing? I'm also curious about fuding for us international students. I'll try and find out anything and let you know.

Anyway, I'll stay in touch trough this forum.

Looking forward to meeting you guys!