Columbia University - Screenwriting/Directing Fall 2022 entry

[fosteli124]

Sure - I'll be honest that my situation was a unique one in that my experience with film at the time was very limited (had directed approx. 3 short marketing videos for my theatre company to advertise and the only written materials in my portfolio were for Columbia's application). Instead, I'd been directing theatre for the past 6 years in NYC and abroad, so the questions mostly pertained to how I expected to be able to apply the theatre skills I had to film.

Beyond that, we spent some time discussing my personal statement and stories that could potentially come out of the experience I had written about. They were both very friendly and seemed to genuinely want me to feel comfortable so I wouldn't say it was a high stress conversation because of anything they did, however considering my specific circumstance I did feel that I had a lot to prove.

Hope that answers your question!

thank you!

 

[JZH]

Anyone have any idea when the application opens based on past years?
(In particular the updated film prompt & visual exercise)

 

[Chris W]

Anyone have any idea when the application opens based on past years?
(In particular the updated film prompt & visual exercise)

Oh wow you're right it still has the 2021 prompt

Film MFA Admissions & Creative Materials | School of the Arts

arts.columbia.edu

Unfortunately no I don't remember when they updated it. Perhaps give them a call?

 

[Lunathena]

Hi! I'm also applying for Fall 2022!

 

[Browncapital]

I am applying this year, I hope to get in!

 

[its_me_mari]

New prompts are up guys! =D

"You may change the gender of any character in these prompts, but do not change ages or relationships.

• INT. KITCHEN – LATE NIGHT
  • TWO TEENS sit silently at opposite ends of a kitchen table. Occasionally, each one of them glances up at a wall clock. Just as the hands of the clock reach midnight, both of them stand and look toward the FRONT DOOR.
• EXT. BACKYARD – AFTERNOON
  • A WOMAN hastily exits the house leaving the noise and chaos of the party behind her. Finally alone, she relaxes her posture, exhales, then laughs to herself. After a moment, she realizes she isn’t the only one out there.
• EXT. SMALL TOWN – NIGHT
  • The COUPLE walks through the empty streets of the town at midnight, eventually, arriving at the small bridge. One of the two reaches into a pocket, pulls out a wrapped OBJECT and is about to drop it into the water below."

 

[mcama]

Re-applying this year. Waitlisted last year.

 

[weeblewobble18]

Re-applying this year. Waitlisted last year.

Good luck!

 

[FuschiaFlows]

Applying this year as a re-applicant - hoping for the best!

 

[It_movie]

Has anyone had trouble accessing the information session?

 

[Browncapital]

Has anyone had trouble accessing the information session?

I am having trouble

 

[FuschiaFlows]

Yeah. Y'all have to try the link from the second to last email they sent. The first email link isn't working. Hope that helps.

 

[FuschiaFlows]

Anyone have any thoughts post-informational admission session today? I was hoping they'd share a bit more about financial resources / scholarships given the recent, negative press on student loan debt from columbia mfa grads.

 

[Browncapital]

I couldn’t even see it

 

[Chris W]

Anyone want to share what was said for people who missed it?

 

[FuschiaFlows]

I attended. It was basically a general overview of the MFA program by the faculty directors. Then there were breakout rooms for each of the concentrations and an opportunity for Q&A.

I'm pretty sure they recorded the session and will probably upload it to their official Columbia SOTA YT channel for anyone who missed it. They did also mention they'd be having a separate informational session for both the Creative Producing and Screen / Directing Concentration in early Dec for any last minute questions.

 

[Lunathena]

How far is everyone with the application process? BTW is it okay for international students to submit their IELTS score post-deadline?

 

[its_me_mari]

How far is everyone with the application process? BTW is it okay for international students to submit their IELTS score post-deadline?

I'm kinda half-way there.
I only need to write the scene part of it. Rest it's done!

But I have NYU, AFI, and Chapman to handle this week, so I'm finishing those first (reviewing).
I'm an international student, but no idea about the scores. Since I've done my test in 2020, that was the first thing I uploaded to the application. If I find any information about it, I'll let you know

How far are you??

 

[Lunathena]

I'm kinda half-way there.
I only need to write the scene part of it. Rest it's done!

But I have NYU, AFI, and Chapman to handle this week, so I'm finishing those first (reviewing).
I'm an international student, but no idea about the scores. Since I've done my test in 2020, that was the first thing I uploaded to the application. If I find any information about it, I'll let you know

How far are you??

Woah. To be very honest, I’m just starting my application this week.

 

[FuschiaFlows]

Also starting my application this week. Haha! The pressure is on.