AFI Screenwriting Fall 2021

[runningupthathill]

I just wanted to say... For anyone who has interviewed and was nervous before the interview and *continued to be nervous during the interview and way after the interview* I see you, I am one of you, you are not alone! (plz tell me I am not alone! xD )

I saw a lot of posts about people feeling like their stress melted away once the interviewers got on because they are so relaxed -- and it is true that the interviewers are kind and relaxed and really lovely. I had Ed Decter and Marquita Robinson, who were just SO nice, SO wonderful. But my anxiety deeeefinitely did not melt away and in fact is still going strong 20 hours later!

So any other interview stressballs out there, I feel you. May all of our brains be able to stop obsessing over everything we said and didn't say, and me we all get some much deserved sleep!

This is such a relief to hear and gives me peace of mind. Thanks for sharing! This is such a nice supportive community

 

[Krmg]

Hi All, I wanted to pass on what I was asked by Anna Thomas and Derek Olson. Like others have said, it was a very chill conversation that we had to cut short because we went slightly over the 30 mins time. It def took a second for my anxiety to calm down before I sank into the conversation and relaxed. It was actually quite fun (I don't have a ton of people to talk about movies/tv with) and they seemed really excited to meet me!

I would highly suggest having three or four questions ready to pose to your interviewers so that the interview space runs for the full time. They asked me questions for the first 15-20 mins, and I asked them questions for the last 10 mins or so.

Anyways, here are the questions they asked me:
-Where are you? What's it like there?
-Do you like teaching (my job)? What do I like about working with students?
-When did you get interested in screenwriting?
-Have I always been a film lover?
-Do I have an idea of how i see myself in the industry, film or tv?
-What do I write about?
-Share a pilot idea/ and a film I want to write while at AFI?
-Movies I could watch again and again?
-any other pitches? (a had a few prepared to share)
-Questions for us?

I hope this helps y'all!! And I hope that I get to work with you all soon at AFI Conservatory!!!! Best of luck to those who haven't interviewed yet!

OOOH YEAH! Anna said that they are admitting 28 students to the screenwriting department this year and they are debating increasing the number by a few more people...so maybe they still will send out a few more emails for interview requests?!

 

[annebaxterofficial]

I interviewed with Anna Thomas and Jennifer Glickman this morning. They were warm and welcoming, and appeared to genuinely care about my motivation in choosing to pursue a career in screenwriting. Like many others posting on the board, I can't help but feel a sense of post interview anxiety and self doubt. I'm trying to remind myself it's only in my head but, for obvious reasons, is only exacerbated by the waiting game. March feels like a lifetime away.

There weren't many curveball questions - if any at all - but just make sure you have a few different projects to talk about, especially ones you might want to work on while in school. I believe someone else mentioned it, but you're able to guide the invisible hand of the conversation with your responses, so my advice is to talk about the things you feel comfortable talking about.

Good luck, fellow applicants.

 

[llueve]

I interviewed with Anna Thomas and Jennifer Glickman this morning. They were warm and welcoming, and appeared to genuinely care about my motivation in choosing to pursue a career in screenwriting. Like many others posting on the board, I can't help but feel a sense of post interview anxiety and self doubt. I'm trying to remind myself it's only in my head but, for obvious reasons, is only exacerbated by the waiting game. March feels like a lifetime away.

There weren't many curveball questions - if any at all - but just make sure you have a few different projects to talk about, especially ones you might want to work on while in school. I believe someone else mentioned it, but you're able to guide the invisible hand of the conversation with your responses, so my advice is to talk about the things you feel comfortable talking about.

Good luck, fellow applicants.

Sending virtual support on the post-interview anxiety front! For whatever that is worth.

What's interesting to me is it sounds like your interview's focus was so different from mine! My interviewers didn't ask about projects that I have in store for the program (though I did prepare for that question) and instead asked mostly about things in my Narrative Statement and Resume -- like my background in post production and my college theater experience. Then we talked a little bit about films I wish I had made, and then they turned to hear if I had any questions.

So maybe my takeaway is... everyone's interview is different and most people feel kinda nervous before and after it!

But all the interview questions already collected on this site are a help for anyone looking to prep.

 

[annebaxterofficial]

Sending virtual support on the post-interview anxiety front! For whatever that is worth.

What's interesting to me is it sounds like your interview's focus was so different from mine! My interviewers didn't ask about projects that I have in store for the program (though I did prepare for that question) and instead asked mostly about things in my Narrative Statement and Resume -- like my background in post production and my college theater experience. Then we talked a little bit about films I wish I had made, and then they turned to hear if I had any questions.

So maybe my takeaway is... everyone's interview is different and most people feel kinda nervous before and after it!

But all the interview questions already collected on this site are a help for anyone looking to prep.

Super interesting. We spent a chunk of time talking about my production experience but it certainly wasn't the backbone of the half hour. We didn't touch my narrative statement or larger writing sample. I brought up the subject of the risk exercise to talk further about a project I'm currently working on - and I guess that's how we segued into a conversation about projects I'd like to work on while at AFI.

Thanks for the reply. It's helpful to know every interview is different.

 

[its_me_mari]

Hey guys! Thank you for sharing your interview experiences!
It's been great to hear about it! I'm sure you did well!

Can't wait for mine!

 

[MilesofTrials]

Rolling into mine tomorrow - very nervous.

Thank you all who have shared your interview questions and good luck to everyone!

 

[katiebonnie]

Thank you so, so much to everyone sharing their interview experiences! Honestly already so nervous for mine and it's not until the 19th

 

[MilesofTrials]

For those curious/prepping for their own, the interview questions were similar to those articulated in other posts. Extremely personable interviewers, and am just grateful to have met such wonderful people.

I would say the vast majority of the time focused on what stories I enjoy and what stories I wanted to tell. There was some recognition that my screenwriting sample submission needed work (It was the first screenplay had ever written - self taught through reading scripts). I have meaningful professional writing experience, just not screenwriting.

I think, despite my confidence in the interview, my screenwriting sample submission (and its relative weakness) will ultimately be a deciding factor on my candidacy. Just can't shake the feeling on that.

 

[Abbey Normal]

For those curious/prepping for their own, the interview questions were similar to those articulated in other posts. Extremely personable interviewers, and am just grateful to have met such wonderful people.

I would say the vast majority of the time focused on what stories I enjoy and what stories I wanted to tell. There was some recognition that my screenwriting sample submission needed work (It was the first screenplay had ever written - self taught through reading scripts). I have meaningful professional writing experience, just not screenwriting.

I think, despite my confidence in the interview, my screenwriting sample submission (and its relative weakness) will ultimately be a deciding factor on my candidacy. Just can't shake the feeling on that.

Don't be too hard on yourself : ) You made it to the interview round so clearly AFI saw something in you. FWIW, I know someone who got into the program with almost zero screenwriting experience. Their submission was a rough sample. So there's hope!!!

 

[anniehope]

Hey guys!

New here, had my interview with Anna Thomas and Matty Rich this morning. Thanks to all who shared their interview questions beforehand. Like many others have said before, they're so personal and the conversation flows so naturally. You also 100% can dictate where the conversation goes based on things you answer previously. My questions were as follows:

1) Where I currently was located/ usually based when not away
2) What made me decide to go to the college that I did and how I became a film major.
3) Asked about being a general motion pictures major and how I chose to pursue screenwriting.
4) Brought up an action film I wrote for my thesis and they asked which film inspired it and how the idea grew
5) My thoughts on collaborating with other students while I was in undergrad film program. How the screenwriting classes were run, etc.
6) What I did after college and how I found myself living in LA/ what I do now
7) One idea/ pitch I would like to write at AFI
8) Questions for them

At the end of the day, I'm sure we all experience that pre-interview anxiety and nerves but they just want to know about your passions and why you love what you do. Easier said than done but no need to be nervous!! Good luck to everyone!

 

[Abbey Normal]

I know a few folks are interviewing soon so I just want to send out positive vibes. YOU GOT THIS : )

And for those who've already interviewed, did any of you watch the films or TV shows of the faculty members that interviwed you? I'm interviewing with Ed Decter and I've seen a few of his early works (There's Something About Mary and Boy Meets World), but I have yet to watch his most recent work. Would love to hear you thoughts. Thanks!!!

 

[katiebonnie]

I know a few folks are interviewing soon so I just want to send out positive vibes. YOU GOT THIS : )

And for those who've already interviewed, did any of you watch the films or TV shows of the faculty members that interviwed you? I'm interviewing with Ed Decter and I've seen a few of his early works (There's Something About Mary and Boy Meets World), but I have yet to watch his most recent work. Would love to hear you thoughts. Thanks!!!

I'm gonna struggle really hard to not immediately start singing Hey Now from the Lizzie Mcguire movie. Iconic.

 

[Abbey Normal]

I'm gonna struggle really hard to not immediately start singing Hey Now from the Lizzie Mcguire movie. Iconic.

So you're saying I should watch Lizzie McGuire haha? Might get some brownie points in the interview! You know what I think I'll watch the pilot to Shadowhunters since it's the show he created just in case he brings it up.

 

[katiebonnie]

So you're saying I should watch Lizzie McGuire haha? Might get some brownie points in the interview! You know what I think I'll watch the pilot to Shadowhunters since it's the show he created just in case he brings it up.

You've never seen it!! Oh my godddd, I'd say it defined my childhood but my dad didn't pay for tv so I definitely watched it for the first time when I was about 20 it's a classic.

I think I tried Shadowhunters and wasn't a fan but might give it another go. I'm going to try and make my way through the recent thesis films and stuff because I think that will tell me more about AFI if that makes sense? I literally know nothing about it as I couldn't find an information session for the course and then when I checked again it said it had already happened

 

[Abbey Normal]

You've never seen it!! Oh my godddd, I'd say it defined my childhood but my dad didn't pay for tv so I definitely watched it for the first time when I was about 20 it's a classic.

I think I tried Shadowhunters and wasn't a fan but might give it another go. I'm going to try and make my way through the recent thesis films and stuff because I think that will tell me more about AFI if that makes sense? I literally know nothing about it as I couldn't find an information session for the course and then when I checked again it said it had already happened

Yeah, I missed the AFI Screenwriting infosession. But I did attend the last general infosession and it was pretty helpful.

Well, here's my weekend plan (in order of importance):
- Watch Lizzie McGuire
- Watch Shadowhunters
- Stress eat

 

[katiebonnie]

Yeah, I missed the AFI Screenwriting infosession. But I did attend the last general infosession and it was pretty helpful.

Well, here's my weekend plan (in order of importance):
- Watch Lizzie McGuire
- Watch Shadowhunters
- Stress eat

Well stress eating is at the top of my list, I started doing it 2013 and haven't looked back

Hm, maybe I should drop them an email and ask if they recorded the session?

 

[MilesofTrials]

I know a few folks are interviewing soon so I just want to send out positive vibes. YOU GOT THIS : )

And for those who've already interviewed, did any of you watch the films or TV shows of the faculty members that interviwed you? I'm interviewing with Ed Decter and I've seen a few of his early works (There's Something About Mary and Boy Meets World), but I have yet to watch his most recent work. Would love to hear you thoughts. Thanks!!!

I did, if nothing else but to get a sense of what types stories the interviewers were interested in telling.

 

[kcgam]

Hi everyone! Just catching up on threads being new to the site. Thanks to Abby Normal for the link here.

Sending out good luck charms your way!!! If you have an interview coming up or for those that have interviewed already...my fingers are crossed for you.

Also, I noticed a few mentioned an AFI Screenwriting info session. Was it helpful? Anything of interest you'd be able to share?

Many thanks!!

 

[Abbey Normal]

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

For the folks that had their interview yesterday - how was it? I hope you crushed it