FSU MFA Motion Picture Arts – Production 2020

I had my Skype interview yesterday as well! While the interviewers were friendly, it honestly felt more like a test than an interview. Sometimes when I answered questions like “What’s your Favourite movie?” they responded with “good” as if I had given a worthy answer. They asked the same questions that Gokuladharsan mentioned but they were phrased differently and I got asked quite a lot of follow up questions based on my responses and about my submitted materials.

I actually found many of the questions to be critical and at times, it really just felt like one of the interviewers disagreed with the way I saw the world? For example, I talked about my personal experiences making the short film I submitted and one of the interviewers responded by pointing out what they saw as contradictions in my experience.

At the end, I got the chance to ask questions about the program and personally didn’t feel excited by their answers. I got the vibe that I wasn’t the kind of candidate they were interested in? I also think I realized that FSU might not be a great for me.

I strongly agree with you! Because I mentioned Parasite film, but they did not like my answer. In fact, I think that film's message is found simple by them. their mail told me I will not need to prepare anything special for your interview but I was forced to answer many questions about cinema 101
 
I strongly agree with you! Because I mentioned Parasite film, but they did not like my answer.
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Sometimes when I answered questions like “What’s your Favourite movie?” they responded with “good” as if I had given a worthy answer.
I mentioned Parasite film, but they did not like my answer. In fact, I think that film's message is found simple by them.
Ok now I'm genuinely curious... What film was deemed "worthy"?
 
Parasite was an amazing film. It was a little predictable in that it was all certainly going to come tumbling down but I certainly didn't expect it to happen the way it did.
 
I had my Skype interview yesterday as well! While the interviewers were friendly, it honestly felt more like a test than an interview. Sometimes when I answered questions like “What’s your Favourite movie?” they responded with “good” as if I had given a worthy answer. They asked the same questions that Gokuladharsan mentioned but they were phrased differently and I got asked quite a lot of follow up questions based on my responses and about my submitted materials.

I actually found many of the questions to be critical and at times, it really just felt like one of the interviewers disagreed with the way I saw the world? For example, I talked about my personal experiences making the short film I submitted and one of the interviewers responded by pointing out what they saw as contradictions in my experience.

At the end, I got the chance to ask questions about the program and personally didn’t feel excited by their answers. I got the vibe that I wasn’t the kind of candidate they were interested in? I also think I realized that FSU might not be a great for me.
Do you mind me asking what questions you asked about the program and what their responses were?
Also I'm super sorry the interview went the way it did, it sounds kinda strange!
 
Do you mind messaging me too? I’m supposed to interview in person in a couple weeks, but hearing your story makes me wonder if it’s the right school for me as well. Really sorry you had that experience.
Will do! And I hope my experience doesn’t deter anyone too much! I think I just wasn’t the type of candidate they’re looking for.
 
I had my Skype interview yesterday as well! While the interviewers were friendly, it honestly felt more like a test than an interview. Sometimes when I answered questions like “What’s your Favourite movie?” they responded with “good” as if I had given a worthy answer. They asked the same questions that Gokuladharsan mentioned but they were phrased differently and I got asked quite a lot of follow up questions based on my responses and about my submitted materials.

I actually found many of the questions to be critical and at times, it really just felt like one of the interviewers disagreed with the way I saw the world? For example, I talked about my personal experiences making the short film I submitted and one of the interviewers responded by pointing out what they saw as contradictions in my experience.

At the end, I got the chance to ask questions about the program and personally didn’t feel excited by their answers. I got the vibe that I wasn’t the kind of candidate they were interested in? I also think I realized that FSU might not be a great for me.
Sounds like my interview went similarly to yours. Sometimes their follow-up questions were honestly a little aggressive, and I get that they wanted to challenge me but it left me with an uneasy feeling after the interview was finished-- kind of like they weren't satisfied? Anyways, glad it's over and now just have to hope for the best! :)
 
It's a little bit of a silly question to "test" someone on and you certainly don't want people to think they need to think of a critically acceptable movie to say. Then you aren't being real and you are second guessing everything you say.

For example one of my favorite films of all time is definitely not on an "approved" list. It's Throw Momma from the Train because it's a hilariously genius adaptation of Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train directed by Danny DeVito, written by Stu Silver, and is extremely clever. The phonebooth scene is one of my all time favorites. Maybe it's just my sense of humor. I don't know.

Or maybe they're testing you to see if you'll say something off of the beaten path like that and not something that is "approved". See! Second guessing. It's not good. Oh well.
They also said to pick something I think they would've seen. I understand, but then I felt like I couldn't answer genuinely either because my favorite film is We Are Little Zombies, a Japanese film that I saw in a festival in Asia last year and which is only just now being distributed in Japan.
 
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They also said to pick something I think they would've seen. I get why, but then I felt like I couldn't answer genuinely either because my favorite film is We Are Little Zombies, a Japanese film that I saw in a festival in Asia last year and which is only just now being distributed in Japan.
I saw this film at a North American festival! It was great, such a wonderful choice!
 
Other things asked in the interview included an example of a teamwork situation I'd experienced where I had to work out a disagreement, an example of a film that I'd aspire to make which also reflects my interests/aesthetic tastes, and whether I had a particular area of filmmaking that I'd like to specialize in down the line like editing or cinematography.

When I answered the teamwork question they brushed me off and said like it sounded like my whole team (not just me) had a hard time in the situation I described and asked me to give another example, so I'd suggest preparing some backup answers in case they don't like what you said....
 
Thanks for the details!
Those really work.

I have been trying to think of how would I answer all these questions.
It is so hard to think of if I should speak deeply from my heart or think of an answer the interviewers would like.
I actually have a question about the film I dislike.
Currently, I would like to answer a Taiwanese film.
But I think they would never watch that before.

Should I pick something a little more famous? Or maybe an American film so they would know that better?
 
Thanks for the details!
Those really work.

I have been trying to think of how would I answer all these questions.
It is so hard to think of if I should speak deeply from my heart or think of an answer the interviewers would like.
I actually have a question about the film I dislike.
Currently, I would like to answer a Taiwanese film.
But I think they would never watch that before.

Should I pick something a little more famous? Or maybe an American film so they would know that better?
Maybe have two examples- one that you're sure they'll know (because it's what they asked), and one more if you have strong feelings about it and are able to describe the problem clearly enough that they can understand without having seen it.
 
Thank you so much, that would be great!! :)
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