Columbia 2021 MFA Screenwriting/Directing Applicants

[acsiv]

Good luck to everybody with your application! Speaking of, does anyone know when Columbia's website will be updated for the 2021 admissions cycle?

 

[cawheeler]

I e-mailed admissions yesterday and they replied with "Our application will be made available on our website in the coming days"...Not super helpful but their website makes it seem like it should be up by the end of September.

 

[Cody Young]

Looks like the Columbia Film MFA application is now available. Deadline appears to be December 15th.

 

[lucychoi97]

Hi did anyone finish the Autobiographical Essay? It's 4-6 pages and I'm struggling to make it to 4-5 pages. Mine seems a little short. How many pages did you write if you don't mind me asking?

 

[catmom]

Hi did anyone finish the Autobiographical Essay? It's 4-6 pages and I'm struggling to make it to 4-5 pages. Mine seems a little short. How many pages did you write if you don't mind me asking?

Mine was about five pages! I was struggling at first but was able to think of a few bits I wanted to include. Good luck!!

 

[lucychoi97]

Mine was about five pages! I was struggling at first but was able to think of a few bits I wanted to include. Good luck!!

Hi thanks for your reply! May I ask how you formatted your film treatment? Did you divide your story into 3 acts?

 

[nycactor7467]

Is the autobiographical essay meant to be in 12-point courier font as well, or just the scripts/treatment?

 

[Chris W]

Is the autobiographical essay meant to be in 12-point courier font as well, or just the scripts/treatment?

I believe yes. 12 point.

 

[catmom]

Hi thanks for your reply! May I ask how you formatted your film treatment? Did you divide your story into 3 acts?

I made sure to follow this part of the instructions, "including major characters and plot developments and a clear statement of the resolution," but I didn't specify the acts. It's more like a synopsis than an outline because they only gave us one page.

 

[lucychoi97]

I made sure to follow this part of the instructions, "including major characters and plot developments and a clear statement of the resolution," but I didn't specify the acts. It's more like a synopsis than an outline because they only gave us one page.

Thank you so much! I have one more question if you don't mind me asking. About the Columbia film prompt, do I have to copy and past the prompt to my script word for word or am I allowed to just use the 'concept' of it and slightly change it? For example, if I choose this prompt,

INT. LIBRARY – MORNING
The TWO WOMEN, 50’s, burst through the library doors and race into the shelves. Scanning the titles of books, they stop short when they spot the exact one they’ve been searching for. One of them grabs for it, but the other stops her before she can open it up.


Am I allowed to add some details like what kind of library or how the characters look on the outside perhaps?

 

[catmom]

Thank you so much! I have one more question if you don't mind me asking. About the Columbia film prompt, do I have to copy and past the prompt to my script word for word or am I allowed to just use the 'concept' of it and slightly change it? For example, if I choose this prompt,

INT. LIBRARY – MORNING
The TWO WOMEN, 50’s, burst through the library doors and race into the shelves. Scanning the titles of books, they stop short when they spot the exact one they’ve been searching for. One of them grabs for it, but the other stops her before she can open it up.


Am I allowed to add some details like what kind of library or how the characters look on the outside perhaps?

I didn't add any extra details except the character's name and brief description but I didn't see anything in the instructions saying you couldn't!

 

[lucychoi97]

I didn't add any extra details except the character's name and brief description but I didn't see anything in the instructions saying you couldn't!

Thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[katiebonnie]

Hi guys! I was wondering if I could ask where everyone put the logline on their 10-page sample? I'm also a little conflicted because I basically took out the best 10 pages from a 30 page pilot but they don't run together in the actual thing. It works and doesn't sound off at all but I'm now wondering if that's allowed? I just think the 10 pages I've picked show off my writing better? Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Cody Young]

Hi guys! I was wondering if I could ask where everyone put the logline on their 10-page sample? I'm also a little conflicted because I basically took out the best 10 pages from a 30 page pilot but they don't run together in the actual thing. It works and doesn't sound off at all but I'm now wondering if that's allowed? I just think the 10 pages I've picked show off my writing better? Thanks in advance for any advice!

I put my log line on the title page of the sample. I'm not sure about the other concern though.

 

[katiebonnie]

I put my log line on the title page of the sample. I'm not sure about the other concern though.

Great, thanks!

 

[Chris W]

It's deadline day! Getting down to the wire!

Good luck everyone.

 

[Chris W]

I hope everyone got their application in on time last night. Good luck!

 

[terabindia]

Hi! I haven't seen a thread for this year so I just thought I'd make one. I applied for the screenwriting/directing side and am anxiously awaiting. Has anyone heard back about interviews yet?

 

[It_movie]

I don’t think they’ll start interviewing until March

 

[Vindhya]

They send out their calls during this time. But there is no active thread to check the status this year.

Any one has any leads?