Chapman Fall 2011

[Mike_V]

Wow, that is one super long post. I'll try to answer as best as I can.
1) Yes, there is alot of mutual respect between the production team and the producer. Often times, the producer is considered part of the production team. Their job is to make sure the set runs smooth and protected from outside interference. But as I have mentioned, some producers have a very hands off approach and those producers usually don't give a damn about the project as soon as production is finished. This is to say that it is not specific to the general program but to inform that there are those kind of producers out there.
2) At chapman, the team is pretty tight knit. we all know each other and we work very hard together. Even as an editor, I financially pithed in for the project because I believe that since I have equal ownership of the film, I should also financially shoulder my part of the production.
3) My opinion with the admin is that they're not insensitive and non supportive, but more like they have a disconnect with the faculty and students. They're still a little boneheaded with some of their policies, but I think they're working on it.

in regards to the mentor program, I know nothing about it, so I'd be lying to you if I said that I know anything about it. I hope that helps you out.

 

[FilmSchoolDad]

Thank you very much, Mike_V.

Does anyone out there who currently attends Chapman wish to comment on my questions or add to what Mike_V has said? Is anyone out there familiar with the mentor's program? Or, was it something that Chapman was thinking about but never implemented?

 

[MacyK]

So has anyone else been interviewing? I'm getting kinda antsy here - whatever their decision is, it'd be nice to know soon!

 

[Gordino]

I applied for directing and I haven't heard a word about interviewing or acceptance yet.

 

[Hokie08]

I applied for screenwriting and besides an email inviting me to the First Cut screening in Manhattan, I haven't heard anything yet. Now that we're in the final stretch (hopefully), I'm checking my status on WebAdvisor a couple times a day! Good luck to everyone!

 

[Gordino]

Has anyone heard anything interview or otherwise from Chapman yet? This time last year several people had had interviews and at least a few acceptances. Anyone? Anything?

 

[Gordino]

Speak of the devil, I just got an e-mail from Chapman asking for me to tell them when a good time for an interview would be!

 

[Hokie08]

Congrats! Let us know how it goes!

 

[Gordino]

The interview went very well, I felt. I talked with John Badham for about 25 minutes. It was very informal and really felt just like he was just trying to see how I was as a person. We talked about my video submission, what I wanted to study at Chapman, my history in the Army, the schools equipment, the gradual move to digital video, and the weather. I was able to ask a few questions which he answered admirably.

My last question was just how long it would be before I knew if I made it in or not. He assured me things would be moving quickly now and I should know very soon. He said he was going to pass my application to the committee with his very strong recommendation that I get accepted. He said that if I got a call or e-mail asking me to come out and see the campus it would be an indication that I was in. So here's hoping!

 

[Hokie08]

That's fantastic! Congratulations!!

 

[DJ]

Congrats, Gordino. I got my acceptance on WebAdvisor on April 1st last year, so you'll probably find out soon. Good luck.

 

[MovieTeller]

I want to wish everyone the best. I'm at the end of my third year at Chapman.

I popped in to see what the conversations were and to see how things were shaping up for the next group coming in. If you have any questions, please feel free to fire them off. I'll do my best to share my perspective, opinion about my experience at Chapman.

Don't take it all too seriously. This is fun. ;-)

 

[solojones]

Hey so I'm a second year director at Chapman and I thought I'd respond to the questions that Mike did.

1) I think relationships between producers and directors, like in the industry, are highly varied. Some directors are more controlling than others, it just depends. Personally I've had good relationships with my producers, largely because they were people I knew I could trust to get the job done.

This relationship can get strained if a producer is slacking or a director doesn't trust their producer. Because the things a producer takes care of in pre-production are so vital to actually being able to shoot, some directors probably get antsy and take on more than they should. But again, this is probably a case by case basis.

2) On the whole, I wouldn't say that Chapman gives directors god-like status, though. Sure, the director has to have the final creative say to keep a flim cohesive, but collaboration is something that people at Chapman take seriously and enjoy as well. We all own our films equally. Sure you're always going to have some overly egotistical people, but that's just unavoidable.

I would say on the whole that the collaborative style of Chapman it its biggest positive. People aren't trying to sabotage each other's projects as sometimes happens at USC. Everyone works on each others sets, directors included. So like if people work as PD or AD on my set, when they're directing I'll fill one of those roles for them. If a sound designer needs people to help with foley, there's never a shortage of people willing to help. Editors will grab other directors, editors, dps, sound designers, whoever to give feedback on something that their director isn't sure of.

3) If the collaborative student body is the best thing about Chapman (well, possibly tied with some of the absolutely awesome faculty with tons of experience)... then the admin is the worst. Some of it's beyond their control. Scheduling issues come up because right now there aren't enough classrooms in the film school. The University itself sometimes mandates totally impractical things because they know nothing about filmmaking.

But the admin deserves blame for many of their mistakes. There are some simple things like not replying to emails or not being in their offices that really drive students crazy when they're trying to make permit or production deadlines. The most frustrating thing seems to be the lack of communication between the admin and the faculty. So for instance, faculty are working with you on your scripts and encouraging you to push the limits and do things that, it turns out, the admin doesn't want you to do or that can't be done within some admin rules the faculty aren't always aware of. I'm not going to lie and say I think the admin is perfect. Evidently they have about 1/3 the staff that most comparably sized schools have and the University won't budget for more people, which is a lot of the problem. But it does create some problems.


EDIT: Oh, I noticed that someone had mentioned directors writing their own stuff. Definitely true. And some shouldn't. Personally I was a writer long before I was a director and want to pursue both, so obviously I will write when I have the chance. But also most indie directors who get ahead write at least some of their own stuff. The script is the currency of Hollywood, and smart directors know they need them.

However, when I worked with a writing student I had a great experience. We never butted heads at all. I had him come help out on set in a variety of roles because he wanted to. Many directors don't want writers on set. Many writers don't want to be on set.

But let me tell you the main reason people don't use screenwriting students much: screenwriting students don't *want* to write short films. They have to write film and TV scripts. The short scripts get pushed to the side, and rightfully so, because no agent or producer is ever going to read them. There's no industry for being a short script writer. Yes, it's good that they have one cycle film produced so they know the process. But quite honestly, most of the writing students I know couldn't care less about not writing, say, a thesis film. They have more important things to focus on.

 

[solojones]

BTW, add me to the 'I've never heard of a mentoring program' list. Can you explain what they told you about this? Maybe it's something they're just instituting next year. I would love to take part in something like that, obviously

 

[Mike_V]

there ya go. Rachel pretty much hit it right on the head.

on the note about screenwriters though. there are some out there that are very willing to work on short stuff too. I've heard from some directors about how willing the screenwriters are to work with them if they were given a core concept, but that's only a case of some. not all.

 

[super8isgreat]

man! im glad i finally get to chime in. i couldnt register for the past week or two...system glitch.

any other cinematography applicants? have you guys heard anything yet? ive been seeing a lot of directing and screenwriting people.

 

[birdude]

Solojones, thank you for your helpful post. I'm growing more impressed with Chapman the more I hear about it. I have a couple questions. 1) How is the cinematography program, especially compared to UCLA and AFI? 2) I'm also interested in other areas like editing and writing; does Chapman allow students to dabble in other areas outside their main field of study?

Originally posted by super8isgreat:
man! im glad i finally get to chime in. i couldnt register for the past week or two...system glitch.

any other cinematography applicants? have you guys heard anything yet? ive been seeing a lot of directing and screenwriting people.

Hey super8isgreat (an apt name, by the way), it's nice to see another cinematography applicant. I haven't heard anything from Chapman, although the admissions department has been helpful with setting up WebAdvisor and fixing minor things.

This is the last school I'm waiting to hear back from, and the wait is killing me haha.

 

[notroberttowne]

dabbling: Chapman has a unique structure in that you pay whatever the (outrageous) semester fees are and can take any additional classes in the summer, interterm, and semester that you want. Editors can take directing classes, writers can take cinematography classes, etc... How many extra classes you want to take is determined by how much work you're willing to do and how far your interests stretch. But you can definitely take classes outside your discipline - and at no extra cost.

 

[Gordino]

So no one's heard anything from Chapman yet? If we don't start hearing anything by tomorrow it'll be the longest they've waited in the past four years to start notifying people. I sent an e-mail to Eva but as of yet haven't heard anything back. Anyone hear anything?

 

[Gordino]

I was wondering, while we wait, for those that currently are attending Chapman, what are some good places near campus to live? Perhaps a little presumptuous but I haven't seen much on this topic since the '09 thread.