Chapman Fall 2012 Applicants

[Regs]

Is it fine to apply for two specialization like for both Directing and Cinematography?

And also while creating the cinematography reel should we submit entire work or create demo reel with interesting shots?

Can any one help me out on this?

Also I gave a call to the Admission Office regarding the essay. She said it is fine to submit essay's with single space.

 

[SouthboundPachyderm]

Is it fine to apply for two specialization like for both Directing and Cinematography?

And also while creating the cinematography reel should we submit entire work or create demo reel with interesting shots?

1. My guess is no. But if you submit the appropriate materials for each emphasis and pay two application fees: maybe. Just call the admission office and ask.

2. The application states: Cinematography applicants can submit either body of work or a compilation of work, up to 20 minutes. So you should pick whichever showcases your talents best.

 

[trucherrygirl]

Originally posted by lite1:
@Mason great to know. My understanding from prior forum years, is that you should be able to call and find out over the phone without waiting for snail mail.

Grad school can be enough of a suspense, thriller, drama, comedy, without having to wait for snail mail.

Hope you get the response that is right for you.

Yeah, to follow up on this. My friend, who is a current Chapman MFA student, said that if you applied by the priority deadline and don't hear anything back from them by April to call the Admissions Office. I know he had to call to find out if he was accepted.

 

[doudou8310]

Hi all,

My first post on this thread...

I applied to the MFA in Film & TV Producing on February 1st (the last day of the Priority Deadline).

Since then - and until today - my Admission Status read "Decision Pending".
It now reads "Decision Mailed".

I was never contacted for any interview nor anything.

Is there anything to make out of this?
Did anybody else notice their decision also being mailed today?

I'm very happy to find out soon - crossing fingers!

Good luck to you all!

 

[lite1]

@doudou8310 One other person had their status changed today. The suggestion from most people is not to wait for snail mail, but to call Dodge film school and they will tell you over the phone. Glad that the suspense will be over for you soon.

 

[AB932]

My status also changed from Decision Pending to Decision Mailed on March 14.

I applied to the Film and TV Producing program late in January.

If nothing arrives by next week, I'll give them a call.

Thanks for all the good info on this thread and good luck to everybody!

 

[rob0683]

Hey Chapman applicants. My name is Rob and I was in the same spot as you a year ago. I'm an MBA/MFA in the Producing program. If you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. My email is roberickson83@gmail.com. I rarely check this site anymore since I got in.

While not perfect I'm still extremely impressed with the Chapman system thus far. Let me know if you have q's.

-Rob

 

[freakyfreddy]

Do you remember any interview questions? Are they more geared towards business rather than film?

 

[lite1]

@freakyfreddy A search would get you answers to interview ?s. See also in the current thread page 4 last post by let'sdothis and then page 5 post by observe.

Relax and enjoy your interview.

 

[let's do this]

Yep, I agree with lite1. For the rest of us waiting, remember:

"A watched pot never boils." (someone used that line on me yesterday)

So let's relax, we'll know when we know. For now, enjoy St. Paddy's

 

[observe]

@freakyfreddy I had an interview last week with business college.
I made a post on page 5 related to the interview questions.
The interview is geared mostly toward business. All the questions I was asked were related to business and why I wanted an MBA.

The best advice is to make time to prepare genuine answers to any possible question that can be asked related to MBA.

Wish you the best.

 

[lite1]

When will you actually know of the decision?
Some info that might be of help to you.
I still suggest calling and perhaps you will get someone on the phone who will actually tell you. Letting them know that you need to plan your life (and perhaps respond to some other opportunity)might get you an answer.

1) Some people's webadivsor status changed this past week, and so a decision has been made.

2) This is the case for my son, but unlike prior years when some on this forum indicated that they were able to call Chapman and find out over the phone, he was unsuccessful in getting anyone to tell him on the phone on Friday. The person indicated that they do not tell people over the phone.

3) His webadvisor had indicated that things had been mailed on March 13th, yet person over the phone indicated that most of the recent decision mail that had been sent out was actually mailed on March 15th or 16th regardless of whatever prior information you might have had. Transit time will be 3 USPS biz days from Chapman/California to Oregon. To parts of California it'd only be 1 or 2 days, so some people probably heard today, Saturday, in the mail.

Unfortunately the school holds the cards and the power, but I find it slightly insulting to keep people waiting in the day of email, and phones. You will invest 3 years of your life, over $100k in tuition, and one of the early interactions is being placed on "snail mail" hold. Chapman has an excellent reputation and comments on this forum of those who are currently there are positive, yet some of those same students indicate that the administration at times does not have much idea of how to be supportive of students. It seems like this is an early example.

 

[freakyfreddy]

Technically the tuition is closer to $60K.

http://www.chapman.edu/sbs/tuition/FeeInfo1.asp

 

[freakyfreddy]

Oh, I got that figure because the last year (thesis prod) you just have to pay some small matriculation fees of a couple thousand dollars.

Just fyi because I figured some would argue 15*6=90.

 

[Mike_V]

that admin mostly are just slow. but you also do not rate the school based on their admin.
Personally, I agree that it's ridiculously slow when I applied 3 years ago and I still think the admin is still pretty darn slow, but what you get at dodge is worth it, for me atleast.

 

[lite1]

@Mike_V Agree, and glad to have your opinion and inside perspective. As long as admin is generally supportive and there are work-arounds to deal with any obstacles or annoyances that admin creates, then admin is generally ajust a background factor.

I believe that as long as grad program has at least moderately adequate facilities (and Chapman is beyond adequate) then the key to being a good value is:
Quality of faculty as teachers and mentors;
fellow students and whether the interactions bring out the best in everyone (which to me comes from good team work and a collaborative atmosphere with egos in check);
and whether the sequence of courses has a synergistic impact on learning and skill development.

Internships, and industry contacts are also an important part of the equation, but might have more to do with success after graduation than with becoming better as a filmmaker. The impact on learning opportunities of the planned "Dodge Entertainment" project will be interesting to observe.

 

[Mike_V]

Speaking of Dodge Entertainment.........
that only has the name of Dodge. It has almost nothing to do with the film program with the rare exception that they might recruit from the chapman alum/student pool. Apart from that, they're independently financed and operated and is technically out of Dodge College's jurisdiction.

 

[lite1]

@Mike_V thx for your perspective on Dodge Entertainment. This article (http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/10/entertainment/la-ca-chapman-20110410) makes it seem like it is a pet project of Dodge chairman Bassett and that at least he sees it as a great deal for Dodge film school. While it seems that it is just getting launched, do you know of any grad students who have actually benefited e.g. had a paid position.

Thanks for your continued time commitment to this forum and in answering ?s during your busy time at school.

 

[Mike_V]

Lucky for you, I just finished dialogue editing, so I'm taking a break for abit.
Personally, I don't know who is in that dodge entertainment program, but it pretty much is separate from dodge as far as the school in concerned. They also allow their equipment to be rented to the students when it's not in use. I believe they have an Arri Alexa that students are allow to check out for their film if they aren't using it that weekend.

 

[lite1]

My son just received snail mail of Chapman acceptance with Cinematography focus. It is his first choice of only two places he applied.

He is quite visually oriented and not much of a writer, but I am sure I can finally get him to post here in a thread on Chapman autumn 2012 new students, and what seems to be a tradition of someone starting a Facebook page for group to share and get acquainted.

======
Even though his webadvisor had indicated that decision had been made and mailed March 13th (actually the day he visited campus), based on his call to Chapman office they said snail mail decisions were sent on March 15th and 16th - the latter is true. His was mailed on March 15th so most other people in USA should be hearing from this round of notification either today or tomorrow. Hope all of you hear what is right for you.