Any Screenwriters Applying to Northwestern?

[FarhanAli]

If so, I'd be happy to answer any questions.

 

[Justin18]

Farhan,

For Northwestern's application, they require a one-page statement about a project you'd like to pursue while in the Writing for Screen and Stage program.

I want to write about a screenplay I've been working on. I'm about 1/2 done with it, and would write about how NW's program could help in terms of feedback adn critiques.

Would you recommend writing about a work-in-progress for this assignement, or would it be better to write about a new project that I'd like to tackle in NW's program?

 

[Filipe]

Hey Justin,
I'm also aplying for NW and I wrote about a work in progress. I guess the important thing is your potential rather than if you're actually going to pursue it during the course or not.
Cheers!

 

[Justin18]

Hey Filipe,

Yeah, that's good advice. I mailed my materials on Saturday, and went with the new project just because I had used my work-in-progress for the writing sample, and alluded to it in my resume and statement of purpose. So I didn't want to come off like I only had one idea. Right now, I'm more committed to my work-in-progress. But you're right, things like potential, creativity, and the ability to articulate your ideas in an interesting manner are more important than the amount of time that you actually want to contribute to a specific project.

Best wishes. Maybe I'll see you in Evanston next fall.

 

[Filipe]

Great! Where eles are you applying to?

 

[Andriy Pryymachenko]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is "Northwestern"?

 

[Filipe]

Northwestern University, in Evaston, IL.

 

[Justin18]

AFI/USC/UCLA/Columbia U./Columbia C./ Florida St./Boston U./Loyola Marymount...but one 'yes' is all you need, right?

Northwestern is appealing b/c of the tiny size of its graduate screenwriting program. I went to a small lib. arts college, and thoroughly enjoyed having small classes of like-minded, creative people. I'm itching to get back into that sort of creative community again. I've taught all the English as a Second Language classes that I care to teach in a lifetime.

And you, Filipe?

 

[Filipe]

USC/NYU/Columbia/AFI/Northwestern, initially in that order of preference. However, as you said, one yes is enough to make me happy. =)

Although small classes sound appealing to me, since I'm from aborad I think I'd like to have the more contact with people from the business as I can. That's why LA sounds interesting as well.

Cheers!

 

[Filipe]

By the way, do you know if they have interviews?

 

[Justin18]

Based on what I've read in other threads, Northwestern does have interviews, but you're able to do them via video conferencing.

 

[Jayimess]

Originally posted by Justin18:
AFI/USC/UCLA/Columbia U./Columbia C./ Florida St./Boston U./Loyola Marymount...but one 'yes' is all you need, right?

Northwestern is appealing b/c of the tiny size of its graduate screenwriting program. I went to a small lib. arts college, and thoroughly enjoyed having small classes of like-minded, creative people. I'm itching to get back into that sort of creative community again. I've taught all the English as a Second Language classes that I care to teach in a lifetime.

And you, Filipe?

Just for the record, all of your programs will provide small, creative classes of love and fuzzies and constructive criticism. The largest writing workshop I've had at USC was 7 students, non-workshop writing 15. Our class is just 30 students. At AFI, there are only 28 screenwriting students, split among their classes.

I went to a small, tiny school...our film department had only eight committed students...five of us are now in LA, because the limited choice of nears and dears connected us deeply both professionally and personally.

There is inimitable joy in being surrounded by people trying to do exactly what you are, in so many different approaches. The praise holds more weight, too.

Film school is bliss. Pure and simple.

 

[FarhanAli]

Originally posted by Justin18:
Farhan,

For Northwestern's application, they require a one-page statement about a project you'd like to pursue while in the Writing for Screen and Stage program.

I want to write about a screenplay I've been working on. I'm about 1/2 done with it, and would write about how NW's program could help in terms of feedback adn critiques.

Would you recommend writing about a work-in-progress for this assignement, or would it be better to write about a new project that I'd like to tackle in NW's program?

Hi Justin,

So sorry for the late reply. I completely forgot that I posted this. I know the deadline has already passed, but either way you should be fine. I wrote about a project that I hadn't previously written about and I know others wrote about things that they had worked on. It's all gravy as long as you pick something interesting

They're basically looking to see if you're a thoughtful person with good ideas and potential.

Good luck with your application!

 

[FarhanAli]

Originally posted by Andriy Pryymachenko:
Pardon my ignorance, but what is "Northwestern"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwestern_University

 

[Justin18]

Well that's inspiring to know that even at the larger universities, grad screenwriting programs are on the smaller side. It sounds like the personal attention is there in terms of feedback from professors and other students.

Also comforting to know that the grad screenwriting admissions committees are essentially looking for interesting and thoughtful pieces of creating writing that show potential. Too many times, I've thought my own writing, especially for admissions pieces, needs to be almost super-human in order to be "good." But Farhan's advice reminds me of a quote by Confucius...

'The tao is not far from man. Where someone takes as tao something distant from man, it cannot be the tao.'

 

[thegreenwallpaper]

has anyone heard from northwestern yet regarding an interview ?

 

[Filipe]

Not me...

 

[thegreenwallpaper]

me neither.

 

[jmarie6287]

so i definitely started a new thread for this by accident; anyway, i was contacted today via email about setting up an interview for next week! any news from you guys?

 

[azuernd]

I got the e-mail about an hour ago, same thing. Let the nervous waiting commence!