Film School MFA Written Materials of Accepted Students; Personal Statements, Screenplays, Stories

[mistah_P]

Hey all,

Browsing through the forums here, I came across a few samples of SOPs, screenplays and so on of folks who have been accepted before and have graciously shared this stuff on the site, and couldn’t help but think what a great resource this would be for all current and future applications to make a kind of “Master Thread” with all those materials. And this is it!

I’ve copied the materials I found (and it’s not much, yet) to a Google drive folder which I wanted to share with y’all: Folder with Written Materials of Accepted MFA Applications.


The materials are organized by user name. I’ve taking the liberty of placing files already shared openly by the following users: @JLWilco, @Michel Lichand, @Olivia Song and @Teddy. So a hearty thanks goes out to you guys who have generously shared.

And since we are in a celebratory time for many of the users here who are just now getting their accepts, I thought this would be a great time to ask those who are willing to share their written materials here (I’ve seen other threads with Vimeo links, so thought it would be best to limit it to application materials):

- Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- Screenplays
- Writing samples
- Essays
- Letters of reference
- Portfolio List

So if you are willing (and that would be awesome) just post them here in the forum (as per your suggestion @Chris W), and copy them into the Google Drive Folder (best would be under your user name, as well as which school or schools the application was for).

I think most useful would be to share the applications “that worked” so we can get get insights into them.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

Here's a link to one of 3 short films I submitted to Chapman. This is the longest. It was shot in 2011 during my undergrad at University of Michigan. My most recent shorts are in festival competitions so I am not able to share those publicly at this time.

Little Shadows (2011) -

I'd be happy to publicly share my resume also. As soon as I figure out what drive it's on haha. I will mention that I had to completely re-tool my regular film resume which is all my AD and PA credits and give it more of a grad school/traditional format which I was very out of practice doing.

 

[Teddy]

Hey, just a note - the file in JLWilco's folder that says UCLA_SOP_JoshuaStaman.pdf is actually Sabin's SOP.

 

[mistah_P]

Hey, just a note - the file in JLWilco's folder that says UCLA_SOP_JoshuaStaman.pdf is actually Sabin's SOP.

Whoops. I'll move that. Thanks for the note.

 

[mistah_P]

Here's a link to one of 3 short films I submitted to Chapman. This is the longest. It was shot in 2011 during my undergrad at University of Michigan. My most recent shorts are in festival competitions so I am not able to share those publicly at this time.

Little Shadows (2011) -

I'd be happy to publicly share my resume also. As soon as I figure out what drive it's on haha. I will mention that I had to completely re-tool my regular film resume which is all my AD and PA credits and give it more of a grad school/traditional format which I was very out of practice doing.

oh yeah....

 

[IndecisiveElle]

Found my resume!

 

[Jason]

Attached are some items. The other school's essays were basically the same, a bit different.

. --- visual sample (shot just me, no artificial light (camera on tripod)

 

[Operator]

Here's my resume I used for Chapman's MFA in TV Writing and Producing. I'm not posting my essay or any writing samples, though. I removed my demo reel link because it has personal contact info on it. But I think my application was more weighted on my interview rather than my resume.

 

[mistah_P]

Thanks! Added to google Drive.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

This video won't be able to be embedded as I don't have it listed publicly yet, but this is the 5 minute short I made on the topic: A Discovery - for my AFI Application. I also submitted it to Chapman. Both schools had really positive feedback about it.

 

[Zafar Truth]

Thanks for compiling this information! I've been searching desperately for something like this.

Hey all,

Browsing through the forums here, I came across a few samples of SOPs, screenplays and so on of folks who have been accepted before and have graciously shared this stuff on the site, and couldn’t help but think what a great resource this would be for all current and future applications to make a kind of “Master Thread” with all those materials. And this is it!

I’ve copied the materials I found (and it’s not much, yet) to a Google drive folder which I wanted to share with y’all: Folder with Written Materials of Accepted MFA Applications.


The materials are organized by user name. I’ve taking the liberty of placing files already shared openly by the following users: @JLWilco, @Michel Lichand, @Olivia Song and @Teddy. So a hearty thanks goes out to you guys who have generously shared.

And since we are in a celebratory time for many of the users here who are just now getting their accepts, I thought this would be a great time to ask those who are willing to share their written materials here (I’ve seen other threads with Vimeo links, so thought it would be best to limit it to application materials):

- Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- Screenplays
- Writing samples
- Essays
- Letters of reference
- Portfolio List

So if you are willing (and that would be awesome) just post them here in the forum (as per your suggestion @Chris W), and copy them into the Google Drive Folder (best would be under your user name, as well as which school or schools the application was for).

I think most useful would be to share the applications “that worked” so we can get get insights into them.

 

[mistah_P]

New Thanks for compiling this information! I've been searching desperately for something like this.

You're welcome Just keep on adding to it.

 

[Chris W]

Awesome stuff! Now with the new built in Application Tracker you can even attach these files with the applications in the tracker. @JLWilco, @Michel Lichand, @Olivia Song @Teddy @IndecisiveElle @Operator @Jason - Can you add them to your applications that were imported from the Google Sheets?

I can attach some of them if you're unable.

 

[Chris W]

Here's a link to one of 3 short films I submitted to Chapman. This is the longest. It was shot in 2011 during my undergrad at University of Michigan. My most recent shorts are in festival competitions so I am not able to share those publicly at this time.

Little Shadows (2011) -

I'd be happy to publicly share my resume also. As soon as I figure out what drive it's on haha. I will mention that I had to completely re-tool my regular film resume which is all my AD and PA credits and give it more of a grad school/traditional format which I was very out of practice doing.

Added this to your Application.

Attending - Chapman - Film Production - Directing 2018

 

[Julie Lew]

In the Google Drive, can you add what program they were applying for as part of the name of the folder? That might be incredibly helpful for people trying to find successful applications to the program they want to get into.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

I'd be willing to share some of the writing materials from my applications if anyone DMs me too.

 

[mandaa]

Attached are some items. The other school's essays were basically the same, a bit different.

. --- visual sample (shot just me, no artificial light (camera on tripod)

Hi Jason

I am just reading your personal statement and I am like, wow!, I am not alone with an MBA degree and finance background applying for film study at late stage! Thanks for sharing mate, this is really inspiring.

Mandula