Do I Need Different Genres for Creative Materials (Personal Statement, Video Submission, Feature Film Concept)? USC Film and Television Production

[rainydays]

Hi everyone!

I'm working on applying to USC's Film and Television Production program, and I was wondering if I need to make sure all my creative materials focus on different genres? I'm writing about Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy for my personal statement, and my video submission is a horror/docu-horror about quarantine. I was originally going to do my feature film concept based off of a narrative I created previously about sci-fi and the re-birth of humanity on a new planet. However, I was wondering if I should actually not write about that since it is the same genre as what I discuss in my personal statement?

Basically, I'm wondering if I need to do a different genre for my feature film concept than my personal statement? I don't want to write about sci-fi and they're like "Oh, not this again she can only do one thing," but I also don't want to pick a vastly different genre like say historical fiction and they're like "Why in the world is she writing about this? I thought she liked Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy?" I also am a bit worried my horror video submission is too close to my personal statement because they're both speculative fiction?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[catmom]

I’m also applying so I don’t know exactly what they’re looking for but I would think sticking to your personal vision and voice is best. If you’re less excited about the second option, go with your original. You want them to get a good understanding of who you are.

 

[rainydays]

Thanks for the advice! @AlcB

 

[rainydays]

Any other advice would be really appreciated! I'm torn between just using the sci-fi narrative I already have and trying to make an entirely new one in a genre like historical fiction.