Chapman News

[wannabe2]

I have pretty good grades (3.5). I was satisfied with my writing samples, but who the hell knows what these folks are looking for. Sometimes I think it's like throwing a dart from LA and hoping it reaches SF.

 

[Philly]

Hugs and much love to Winter

My undergraduate G.P.A. was 3.5 as well. So that seems on target for you. They didn't interview me either, Joe just called me and told me about the program and asked me if I wanted to move to Orange. I was so nervous-funny now that I think back on it

 

[wannabe2]

Philly, I think you got in without an interview due to your lengthy experience. But good for you. From everything I've read about Chapman it sounds amazing.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

i really like chapman also. But i'm applying for the producers program, which is also why i did the dual mfa/mba degree. do you have any comments on that? is that one new also like the one at nyu?

 

[Philly]

I have several friends that are in the producing program. They seem to really be enjoying themselves as well. Alex Rose is the head of the program. She also used to teach at AFI. She is a phenomenal producer with several credits including "Norma Rae", "The Other Sister", "Exit to Eden", etc. She's really helpful as well. A few months ago I had a distribution contract for a short film that I wrote and directed before I came to Chapman and she reviewed the contract for me and sat down and gave me advice on what i should ask for and make sure is included in the deal. She's great!

The producers have the opportunity to take screenwriting classes as well as producing classes and are required to take production 1 along with all of the production emphasis students. All students are required to crew on upper level cycle films their first semester. I think it really gives all the emphases and understanding of what goes in to the production process regardless of what you ultimately want to do professionally. it is also great for bonding and making friends. You very quickly find the like minded people and are able to discover who you want and don't want to work with in the future.

 

[birdman78]

philly and winter.

do you have any insider information on Chapman vs. AFI? I am putting my chapman application together right now. I wasn't aware of the program until I flew out to LA to check out AFI (I got invited to an interview). A friend recommended chapman and I stopped by and was blown away.

Insider thoughts?

 

[Philly]

I have several friends that graduated from AFI and really enjoyed their experience. AFI is $60,000 a year. That really frightened me. It is only a two year program but that still ends up being $45,000 more than Chapman's program. AFI owns the films as well. Didn't like that either. AFI does have the name that everyone in the world knows, but Chapman has most of the professors that made the school what it is today. Deso Magyr is the Artistic Director of our program. He used to do the same at AFI.
I think our facilities BLOW them away, and I think that since we don't really compete for resources at Chapman (every director gets to make films...Actually any student can do an independent project and Direct a film) it makes for a more collaborative environment. When those in my cohort succeed, we all succeed. Of course, I'm biased

 

[Winterreverie]

birdman78 what discipline are you applying to? Since its past the priority application deadline I recommend talking to someone from that discipline to make sure they haven't filled all the spaces.

I'm right up there with Philly-- the only thing I perceive AFI having over Chapman is the reputation, but Chapman's rep is growing by each graduating class... We're mentioned in almost all of the big West Coast School's 10 year plans. (I didn't consider east coast school's so I never looked it up) Many are threatened by our resources. And, though I haven't read it yet, our review in the latest film school confidential is stellar.

And yes I'm biased... I love our school.

 

[birdman78]

I'm applying for directing. I realize that the priority deadline has passed, but I wasn't aware of chapman when i did my initial round of applications. I really love what I'm hearing and what I saw, and hope that the admission committee will not judge me for not making the priority deadline.
I've been working real hard on the submissions and should be ready to send them out by mid next week.
Do you know anyone who could tell me if I'm too late?

 

[jsirkin]

Hey philly, what did Chapman ask for when they asked you to send your reel? Did they want everything on your list or just a couple of samples? How much content did you end up sending?

Im applying for directing and my reel mainly consists of stuff I did in documentary and experimental production classes...I'm thinking about shooting a narrative short next week so I can have it ready if they ask to see my stuff. If I do, do you think I should email someone to add it to my list? Or just wait and send it if they ask?

Thanks in advance for the help...my mind was off "the waiting process" for a while but I know people might hear something as early as March, so its back to stressin.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

oh no! is it bad that they didn't ask for my reel? it might actually be better if they never see it...but i don't remember if I even had to have a reel as a producer applicant.

i really want this school. One of the other trends had people saying they already got in. I got my app in before the priority date but maybe it's too late?

 

[Winterreverie]

They don't typically ask producers for a reel unless something has changed... and I'm pretty sure the other thread was an undergrad thread

 

[pinger007]

Not to be negative, but is it really a perk to be able to purchase Avid Media Composer for $300? As long as you are a student any where, whether it be junior high all the way up to PhD, you can get the discount on Avid. I bought my copy of Composer almost two years ago for $245 and I'm not yet in film school.

But Chapman's still tied for my #1 spot, though.

 

[Winterreverie]

You sure you have media composer and not Avid xpress pro? Thats the one they have the student discount for typically. Media composer there isn't supposed to be a discount unless you're faculty or at least higher ed. And $300 was an estimate, its been a while since I bought it, was probably less.

 

[Jayimess]

Winter, did you get my voicemail? We'll be at Chapman around 10 tomorrow...

 

[pinger007]

Yep. It's Media Composer. All you have to do is search for it online and you can get a student discount on it. I think it's up to $295 now. When I bought it, there was like a $50 off promotion going on.

I've also got Xpress Pro, which is really all you need, minus a few of the bells and whistles of the Composer package.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

Since i'm going to be in LA next week i'm going to go see Chapman's campus, for the first time. i'm excited but also afraid that if i love it i don't want to know if i get rejected or not...oh pooh.

 

[Winterreverie]

Best of luck red-- it was my visit to chapman that made the huge difference to me!

 

[redpokiepenguin]

i'm not going to lie. When someone said that the little town next to Chapman looked a lot like Main Street Disneyland I got really excited. It gave Chapman that extra 'something.'

 

[Winterreverie]

LMAO... Seriously, one of the major selling points to me was that it was so close to Disneyland, its like an unwritten law to get a seasons pass. And old town is soooo cute. Lots of great little restaurants, bars, and coffee shops you can walk to from the school. If you find a good place to live (I did-- and I LOVE IT) you rarely have to use a car and can save up the parking pass money for something more fun!