Chapman News

[birdman78]

it does make me feel better. I would hate to be the only geriatric student

I studies art and illustration in my undergrad, and we had a 50 year old lady studying with us. She always had excuses why she hadn't done her assignment (2 of my 4 kids had the flue etc.).
She was really nice, but I don't want to be her.

My second choice is screenwriter. I see myself as a director writer... so it makes sense.
I will have to transfer though ig I get in. I already took some screen writing classes etc. and really want to learn the art of directing.

you never did tell me what you were in for.

 

[Winterreverie]

Screenwriting-- but I dabble in directing. I was given the opportunity to switch last year or stay a screenwriter and do directing on the side-- I chose to stay because the program is a year shorter about $10,000 cheaper-- and I got a fellowship for writing.

Plus-- everyone is given opportunity to do Independent study projects and direct and most teachers will allow you to take their classes as electives. (There are a couple who'll throw a fit if you do, so if you get in ask me and I'll tell you who to avoid.)

 

[birdman78]

hey winter,
when you say you were given the opportunity to transfer what do you mean exactly?
did you ask for it and they said yes? did they just offer it out of the blue? was screenwriting your second choice?
In that same vain hoe common/easy is it to transfer? Is it safe enough to assume that if I am dedicated and really want to transfer disciplines it will happen?

 

[Winterreverie]

I had a meeting with the chair prior to my accepting admission saying that it was important to me to be able to do both directing and screenwriting-- it was the same conversation I had with UCLA. At that point Joe offered to switch me into the directing discipline if I wanted-- we discussed it, and I chose to stay screenwriting, provided I'd have opportunity to direct.

I had screenwriting as a first choice and directing as a second. Screenwriting actually filled up first last year.

It's rare to transfer disciplines from screenwriting to directing or vice versa-- but from another production discipline to directing happens about once a year. Talk to Joe-- he gets the final say.

 

[Matty]

Hello all,

I haven't written in a while as I've been in the application dogfight and am now nervously awaiting the results. To all those in the same boat right now, my best wishes.

If I may, I'd like to ask a few questions from people applying to Chapman for directing, and those currently studying directing there.

1) Have any directing applicants heard anything yet? I read that someone already got accepted for editing, and naturally my heart rate increased quite a bit.

2) For those currently enrolled, I keep reading how competetive the program, and I have no doubt about that fact. However, if you could share some of your history or some of your classmates' pior to getting in, that could put just how competetive in perspective... it would be very much appreciated. I guess I'm just really nervous at this point, I don't know if my application is competetive enough, and having been denied by the AFI last year, I guess I'm even more trepedatious about the whole thing.
Basically, I think there are good aspects about what I sent, but I'm not sure how high the bar is set. I think my dramatic scene wasn't as strong as it could have been, and I'm not sure how well my essay came across. For my experience, I'm a Film Production Major from the University of British Columbia, I've directed several short films (one for network television on comission, one of them is an international film festival award winner). For the last two years, I've directed commercials, promotional videos, and documentaries on a freelance basis. I'm set to direct my latest short film in the spring, but it'll be too late to show any of it if they ask for samples. I think my letters of recommendation are fairly good (one of them is by Hollywood director Ken Kwappis).
I'm babbling here, but I guess I just wanted to see if any of you students right now could tell me if I'm at least in the same realm of the competetion to get into this school which I have my heart set on attending. Obviously, none of you can predict anything, that I'm aware of.

3)Finally, I beleive somebody mentioned what their friend got in by persisting on the phone. Any tips on that front? what kind of calls and to whom?

My utmost gratitude and thanks for any responces.

 

[Glenn Jason]

Is it true that the Chapman directing program is still accepting submissions?

 

[Jables]

According to their own applications, the deadline isn't until May 1, the priority deadline was Feb 15 if I recall correctly.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

I HAVEN'T HEARD A THING!!! OMG!

I just went to chapman and I keep calling and harassing then and still no peep. They can't even answer my questions. I applied with a discipline in Producing but to the joint MBA/MFA program. Please let yourself be known if there are more MBA/MFA people. Anyway! The MBA people are so nice, but they haven't had the opportunity to see my application yet because apparently film is looking at it. Plus neither department knows how it'll work, if they'll talk to each other, etc. because it looks like they're never had a student do the MBA/MFA. It is really new.....Good lord I'm freaking out.

 

[Winterreverie]

lol-- breathe. Oh and PM Bruno for more details on the producing side-- he's on these forums somewhere...

 

[V2M]

Hey, redpokiepenguin, I don't think that you need to worry because double producing program application should take longer. I applied to "regular" producing, and I had an interview on 03/05, but it should be totally different in your case.
I also applied to UCLA producing; was anybody in CA invited for UCLA producing interview yet?

 

[cabezon]

Hey redpokiepenguin & V2M I also applied to producing programs at UCLA & Chapman. This waiting sucks. lol

I haven't been invited to any interviews yet but I'm maintaining a positive attitude. Thanks to this forum I know I'm not the only one waiting. Winter is right, I've PM'd Bruno and one of the UCLA producing students who was on these boards last year and they've helped out a bunch. Everyone's experience is different but it's always good to have an idea of what to expect. I'm so excited about getting in.

The last time I called Chapman the person on the phone seemed like they'd been receiving tons of calls because they were almost answering my questions before I asked them. haha! I emailed Joe Slowensky last week but he hasn't returned my email. So I'm trying again, this time I'll email the grad assistant.

Best of Luck everyone! We'll know soon

 

[Russell Blanchard]

i applied to UCLA producing, no word yet

 

[V2M]

Although I went to interview on the 5th, I am not supposed to hear from Chapman until 3-4 weeks later, so I guess Chapman is still interviewing. Plus I was invited only one week ahead of the interview date. Hopefully that heps.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

hey all, thanks for telling me to calm down. i definitely need it. I'm calling chapman soon so let me know if you need anything asked.

 

[cabezon]

I don't know about any of you guys but I just got an email from one of the producing professors @ Chapman, Alex Rose, apparently she's looking over my portfolio, etc. That doesn't really mean I'm 'in' but I was excited to see that email sitting in my inbox when I checked it. Considering UCLA & Miami have been quiet so far and pretty much everyone else is on the same boat. just waiting....lol

I applied in January so I'm kinda surprised that they are just getting to my stuff. But hey! Better late than never right? Wish me luck guys!

Has anyone gotten an interview or been admitted to Chapman yet?

 

[cabezon]

By the way how many other Chapman TV/Film producing applicants are there on here? Am I the only one? What about applicnats to other disciplines? Any news?

 

[redpokiepenguin]

i haven't heard anything from the producing department at all. i can't even get in touch with someone in the general film/tv department to ask questions

 

[wannabe2]

I spoke with the "grad assistant" line.
1. They have just started prelim interviews for directing emphasis.
2. Yes, they do interview all directing interviews.
3. To the best of this person's knowledge, they have not finished going through all of the priority apps.

4. I'm a mess and I don't think I'll get in.

 

[Jables]

I got a call today for Producing. They wanted me to fly out for an interview in 2 weeks, but I declined for a phone interview since I'm flying out next week for a UCLA interview, and can't afford two flights a week apart.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

producing calling out already? omg i don't know what to do with myself. I totally fell in love with the school, the people, and the program when i went to visit. to quote wannabe: i'm a mess....true very very true..