Columbia (NY) Interview

[ds65]

Anyone know what we can expect from the Columbia interview? Any insight or advice would we appreciated!

 

[bombshellfilms]

hey panda - what i got from them is that they are making decisions next week. i don't think that means that offers would go out but i'm not sure. on the columbia site, it says the last week in april, beginning of may.

 

[bombshellfilms]

fyi - i interviewed with Tom Kalin and Trey Ellis. Tom is a great filmmaker - directed a film called "Swoon" which was excellent and also made "Savage Grace." Trey teaches screenwriting and is a screenwriter, fiction writer and essayist. both men were extremely friendly and conversational.

 

[Filipe]

Hey Race, I still haven't heard anything either.

I'm trying to keep my hopes up.

What's your concentration of study?

 

[Race_Bannon]

Directing. You?

 

[Suzako]

Hey, guys, thanks for the advice about asking who is interviewing me! They answered me right away. Its nice to know, even though I'm pretty sure its not going to significantly change my preparation.

Looking forward to getting it over with next week. I keep debating on what to wear. Don't want to look sloppy, but don't want to look stuffy.

 

[Filipe]

Screenwriting.

 

[chocolak]

Did anyone else interview on Tuesday, March 10th? I'm trying to remember the name of the two interviewers (both men, one former student, one professor) who interviewed me.

Thanks!

 

[Suzako]

Did anyone who interviewed already have three people? It looks like I'm going to be interviewed by two professors and a grad student. I think this is probably just because Columbia is on break next week, so the students are available. Still, its hard enough to make sufficient eye contact with two interviewers. Six eyes!

 

[Filipe]

Look at the bright side, Suzako: You HAVE someone interviewing you!

I'm still waiting for their eyes to meet mine for an interview...

 

[Suzako]

Oh, I'm sorry, Filipe. I really don't mean to make anyone feel bad. I was just venting interview anxiety. Of course, I'd gladly be interviewed by 20 eyes if it would help my chances.

Hang in there, dude!

 

[bombshellfilms]

chocolak - see my above post. tom kalin and trey ellis.

 

[SimAlex]

that's when i interviewed, and for the life of me i cannot recall their names either, lol.

 

[Filipe]

Don't worry, Suzako! I know you did mean like that. I was just trying to cheer you up. Good luck there!

 

[KayS]

I have my interview in a few hours. I have ZERO sense of direction. Getting there will be fun...but thank god for public transportation, NY.

 

[Suzako]

Take the 1 train to 116th and you're right there!

 

[d_lefeb]

Good luck to everyone interviewing!

 

[Filipe]

GOOD LUCK, KAYS! PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES.

 

[KayS]

Thanks guys! I'll let you know for sure.

 

[sophiedog]

Hey guys, I had my interview yesterday by phone, with 2 directors and one was also a screenwriter. I couldn't tell for sure how it went because I couldn't see them! But I got the sense that one interviewer had at least skimmed my autobiographical essay, I didn't sense the other had and I don't know if they read my portfolio materials because they didn't ask questions about them, I think if they had read them they may have wanted to discuss them. They asked about recent movies that I liked (I think I should have listed more but most of my favourites haven't been in the last like 6 months except Slumdog for ex). They asked the basic why film school, why now and the interviewer who I thought had read part of my essay asked one question more specific to my background so that was the best question. It was exactly 20 minutes. Now for the waiting, good luck!

 

[KayS]

Hey everyone, I just got back from my Columbia interview. Here's my post interview analysis:

It started almost exactly at 3:00, which was when it was scheduled. It ended at 3:30.

I was interviewed by Nick and Christin(e/a?)
Before I sat down they asked me where I had just come from and I told them Austin, Texas. I was completely thrown off even before I finished sitting down by Nick saying: Oh, why don't you go there then? They have a great film program with lots of money. I was like: uhh...really? I applied? We'll see? I completely flubbed that one. But later on I expressed that I had always wanted to go to Columbia, tried as an undergrad and didn't get in, etc. Anyway, Nick was funny/scary/sarcastic/interesting. Christina (or Christine, but I'm going to refer to her as Christina since I can't remember) was nice, straightforward, and didn't try to throw me off. I almost felt like Nick was trying to, but I think that's his personality. Nick took notes. Overall, I think it went okay after that first crazy throw-you-off question. Nick went into tangents about the visual arts program because I mentioned art; he talked about some crazy installation a professor did at an exhibit as he made pad thai noodles for the public. I think Christina was even like "haha...awkward...let's stay on topic." She had that same look on her face when Nick asked me why I wasn't just going to UT. But I loved it because he was strange.
I wasn't sure if Christina had read my application but Nick had and he complimented my work, but we both joked around about how that was probably as good as my writing was ever going to get. Overall, very casual interview. I really don't know how it went, but it was kind of fun.

Anyone in NY right now? I'm going to be here for a while.