@Fightclub congrats!
i think Columbia offers both merit and need based funding to both internationals and locals. About the interview questions I thought I had posted my feedback after my interview and I tried to find it in the Columbia 2013 thread. But here is what I remember I interviewed with Jeff and June, Jeff a former columbia student and June a prof. They were also running a bit late, my interview was short almost 15mins it was a skype interview and that day my skype was acting up a bit. I felt like my interview was rushed and afterwards and after not getting in I speculated endlessly about why.
Questions they asked me (that I remember) what I am doing/have been doing career wise. Jeff had read all my submitted writing and June asked me to tell her about my sample writing and she mentioned that I was one of the only ones who didn't put it the right format. So that made me freak out! I think they also asked me what directors I like. I was also asked what film do I really want to make.
Columbia's interview style is very relaxed and conversational and even though I had read about it from previous threads it still threw me off cause my interview with NYU was intense , e.g. describe 3 images of sorrow. So don't let the relaxed interview style make you too relaxed! Also my advice is go interview with a clear idea of what type of films you want to make, what inspires you, be certain about your concentration (once in you can always try change it). Also Columbia is about fictional stories, not documentaries (save that for nyu or usc), they want to know that you will be able to come up with stories (thats why they give the scenario exercise) and not rely on personal experiences that you think will make a good film.
Here are some accounts from people who interviewed for 2013 from p15 onwards
http://www.studentfilms.com/threads/columbia-2013-applicants.9913/page-15
To prepare for my interview I compiled some forum feedback . I'll post a short version:
posted March 11, 2008 01:50 PM Hide Post
hey all,
Well I just came back from my Columbia interview so I guess I'll give a bit of a recap for the benefit of the readers.
I interviewed with Bette Gordon and Misael Sanchez. I got the same disclaimer that I read somewhere before where they weren't all that familiar with my application. Basically, they were the third step in the process and only one of them read my essay.
At first I thought it might be a guessing game where I needed to guess who read the app, but they told me; it was Mr. Sanchez.
The interview was informal and very friendly. I felt at ease for the most part and wasn't asked any questions that caught me off guard. It will be your regular stuff; why Columbia, why filmmaking, autobiography (there might be redundancies with the personal statement) and the kind of movies you'd like to make.
The interview was short, 20 minutes - but didn't feel rushed. It seems like they gathered enough information and that was enough.
Unlike my AFI interview, I felt like I did pretty good on that one. No questions were left unanswered, and I didn't make any faux pas. I felt like the interviewers were more down to earth and didn't seem as threatening.
Of course, you never know. You never know how much emphasis they put on the interview, what they were actually wanting to hear, and who you competition is - but I am comfortable about the way I presented myself.
so now it's about waiting... and wait we all shall.
Good luck to everyone interviewing in the next few days.
robertish
Freshman
posted March 12, 2008 07:57 PM Hide Post
Hey I just got from a Columbia interview with Andy Bienan and Tom Kalin. I was nervous as hell, but when they sat me down, it turned into a really nice conversation, just as most of the posters here described.
Columbia did some really nice work pairing me with these two, we had a lot to talk about though time was short (they tried to keep it to 15 but we went over a little). The experience made me really wanna watch some Kalin films and read some of the writers Bienan suggested to me.
Columbia just got ten out of ten for that interview, I left more excited about film than I've ever been.
giulia
Freshman
The questions were: why columbia? what are you doing in these days? why did you choose producing? What are your favorite movies? etc...
and the interview was over 30 minutes so they allow you to talk if you are a very talkative person like me and feel like you have to keep talking to express yourself.
sophiedog
Freshman
posted March 14, 2008 10:52 AM Hide Post
I had my Columbia interview yesterday and I also felt good about it. I was surprised that neither of my interviewers had read my portfolio, they said the other profs read it and highly reccomended me (as I'm sure they do all of us who did interviews). So we didn't talk about the portfolio at all, it was just a short meeting I think to see my personality. Mine was at the very end of the day and all they asked was what I liked about Columbia and what kinds of films I want to make, and if I had any questions.
d_lefeb
Freshman
posted March 14, 2008 11:16 AM Hide Post
Wow, my interview wasn't quite like yours, ada and sophie. One of my interviewers had read my stuff and most of our discussion was about it. We also talked the program a lot. Oh and sophie, btw, the FAQs on the sheet are just slightly different than those on the website, notably the cost of tuition for the thesis years (4000$ instead of 3000$) and that we should expect our answers during the first two weeks of april. Cheers and good luck to all!
You were definitely not tricked!!! My interview was fairly smooth as well, although I was asked to give examples of movies I admire
i think Columbia offers both merit and need based funding to both internationals and locals. About the interview questions I thought I had posted my feedback after my interview and I tried to find it in the Columbia 2013 thread. But here is what I remember I interviewed with Jeff and June, Jeff a former columbia student and June a prof. They were also running a bit late, my interview was short almost 15mins it was a skype interview and that day my skype was acting up a bit. I felt like my interview was rushed and afterwards and after not getting in I speculated endlessly about why.
Questions they asked me (that I remember) what I am doing/have been doing career wise. Jeff had read all my submitted writing and June asked me to tell her about my sample writing and she mentioned that I was one of the only ones who didn't put it the right format. So that made me freak out! I think they also asked me what directors I like. I was also asked what film do I really want to make.
Columbia's interview style is very relaxed and conversational and even though I had read about it from previous threads it still threw me off cause my interview with NYU was intense , e.g. describe 3 images of sorrow. So don't let the relaxed interview style make you too relaxed! Also my advice is go interview with a clear idea of what type of films you want to make, what inspires you, be certain about your concentration (once in you can always try change it). Also Columbia is about fictional stories, not documentaries (save that for nyu or usc), they want to know that you will be able to come up with stories (thats why they give the scenario exercise) and not rely on personal experiences that you think will make a good film.
Here are some accounts from people who interviewed for 2013 from p15 onwards
http://www.studentfilms.com/threads/columbia-2013-applicants.9913/page-15
To prepare for my interview I compiled some forum feedback . I'll post a short version:
posted March 11, 2008 01:50 PM Hide Posthey all,
Well I just came back from my Columbia interview so I guess I'll give a bit of a recap for the benefit of the readers.
I interviewed with Bette Gordon and Misael Sanchez. I got the same disclaimer that I read somewhere before where they weren't all that familiar with my application. Basically, they were the third step in the process and only one of them read my essay.
At first I thought it might be a guessing game where I needed to guess who read the app, but they told me; it was Mr. Sanchez.
The interview was informal and very friendly. I felt at ease for the most part and wasn't asked any questions that caught me off guard. It will be your regular stuff; why Columbia, why filmmaking, autobiography (there might be redundancies with the personal statement) and the kind of movies you'd like to make.
The interview was short, 20 minutes - but didn't feel rushed. It seems like they gathered enough information and that was enough.
Unlike my AFI interview, I felt like I did pretty good on that one. No questions were left unanswered, and I didn't make any faux pas. I felt like the interviewers were more down to earth and didn't seem as threatening.
Of course, you never know. You never know how much emphasis they put on the interview, what they were actually wanting to hear, and who you competition is - but I am comfortable about the way I presented myself.
so now it's about waiting... and wait we all shall.
Good luck to everyone interviewing in the next few days.
robertish
Freshman
posted March 12, 2008 07:57 PM Hide PostHey I just got from a Columbia interview with Andy Bienan and Tom Kalin. I was nervous as hell, but when they sat me down, it turned into a really nice conversation, just as most of the posters here described.
Columbia did some really nice work pairing me with these two, we had a lot to talk about though time was short (they tried to keep it to 15 but we went over a little). The experience made me really wanna watch some Kalin films and read some of the writers Bienan suggested to me.
Columbia just got ten out of ten for that interview, I left more excited about film than I've ever been.
giulia
Freshman
The questions were: why columbia? what are you doing in these days? why did you choose producing? What are your favorite movies? etc...
and the interview was over 30 minutes so they allow you to talk if you are a very talkative person like me and feel like you have to keep talking to express yourself.
sophiedog
Freshman
posted March 14, 2008 10:52 AM Hide PostI had my Columbia interview yesterday and I also felt good about it. I was surprised that neither of my interviewers had read my portfolio, they said the other profs read it and highly reccomended me (as I'm sure they do all of us who did interviews). So we didn't talk about the portfolio at all, it was just a short meeting I think to see my personality. Mine was at the very end of the day and all they asked was what I liked about Columbia and what kinds of films I want to make, and if I had any questions.
d_lefeb
Freshman
posted March 14, 2008 11:16 AM Hide PostWow, my interview wasn't quite like yours, ada and sophie. One of my interviewers had read my stuff and most of our discussion was about it. We also talked the program a lot. Oh and sophie, btw, the FAQs on the sheet are just slightly different than those on the website, notably the cost of tuition for the thesis years (4000$ instead of 3000$) and that we should expect our answers during the first two weeks of april. Cheers and good luck to all!
You were definitely not tricked!!! My interview was fairly smooth as well, although I was asked to give examples of movies I admire
I would definitely prepare for why Columbia and why do you want to be a writer/director.
