MFA Producer updates

[redpokiepenguin]

Oh no this is bad. If you guys heard, Congrats btw, then it means they did let people know on friday. I'm going to assume I got rejected so the letter doesn't make such a blow when i get it.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

i'm with you foxwithcpu. i'm beginning to hate the mailman simply because he's the messenger

 

[cabezon]

I already posted this on the Chapman News thread but I'll repost for my producing buddies:

Hey guys,

Good news! I just got a call from Alex Rose's office @ Chapman and she wants me to come in to interview for the Film/TV Producing program! I was busy at the time I was called so told them I would call back early tomorrow to schedule a date. Can you believe that? I've been waiting so long and when I get 'the' call I'm busy with something important. Ahaha! I'm so excited nonetheless. Good times

Just thought I let you guys know. Wish me luck with all this.

 

[ds]

Great news, cabezon! Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

awesome cabezon! I hope they call me soooon.....i'm getting nervous.

Anyone hear from ucla at all yet?

 

[cabezon]

Thanks guys. I haven't heard from UCLA either. I hope they call me. I want to be able to go down to SoCal and crank out two interviews instead of going back and forth.

When I got in touch with Ben @ UCLA he told me that they are still "in the midst of reviewing applications" ... "some invites have gone out, but we expect to issue some more"

Let's not lose hope yet guys. Best of luck and let's all keep each other posted. I'll let you guys know how my Chapman interview goes but it won't be for another week or two.

 

[Russell Blanchard]

i dont think its looking good for us UCLA MFA Producing applicants who havent got interviews yet.....

 

[redpokiepenguin]

well i've honestly given up on afi and ucla. i just want to know, but i keep getting nothing in the mailbox.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

just curious because this is ridiculous. did anyone hear ANYTHING, good, bad or ugly, from ucla?

 

[beez]

ya i heard from ucla about a month ago, but i think they release their interview invites/admission invites on a rolling basis (or so), so i don't think that necessarily means anything for anyone else.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

hey guys, this topic has died off a bit eh? a little my fault also i've been hearing nothing, so had nothing to report. What's everyone up to now? i'm going to be on chapman's campus on april 22nd if anyone's around.

 

[Joe Snell]

What types of things do these colleges look for in an application?

 

[FLFilmFan]

joe,

i dont think god knows the answer that question.

i think that goes into the same category of questions as:

"what is the meaning of life?"
"why doesn't she love me?"
"why is gray/grey spelled like that?"

 

[Joe Snell]

Originally posted by FLFilmFan:
joe,

i dont think god knows the answer that question.

i think that goes into the same category of questions as:

"what is the meaning of life?"
"why doesn't she love me?"
"why is gray/grey spelled like that?"

meaning of life?
make movies

why doesn't she love me?
she loves your friend

why is gray/grey spelled like that?
it's fun to confuse people.

Ok, now what types of things do these colleges look for in an application?

 

[redpokiepenguin]

i kinda agree with filmfan. i mean if we all knew EXACTLY what they wanted then wouldnt we all be shoe in to school? clearly that's not the case. so in terms of advice all i have to say is...don't be boring. i'm sure you can't go wrong there right?

Also you know the standard stuff. Don't be careless with grades and your application. Be passionate, etc. Past that it's completely subjective.

 

[FLFilmFan]

joe,

geez, dont take offense. why does she love my friend? haha

no, seriously, that question can never be answered correctly.

get perfect gre? youre in? the answer is no. schools dont look for just test takers.

get perfect gpa? youre in? the answer is no. schools dont just accept you based on a figure.

get tons of experience? youre in? not really sure, many schools look to diversify their classes and even sometimes favor those without film backgrounds in order to give new voices to their incoming class.

write a perfect essay? youre in? not really because even though it shows that you can write, what makes you so sure that you match that specific type of school's writing style (ie studio films, art house, experimental)

give an amazing interview? youre in? not really because well... ask anyone after they have finished their interview how they felt and if they could confirm with no doubt that they have been admitted. there are some people who will interview you and not shake a head, move a nose or just keep on furrowing that bastard brow. others will laugh with you and tell you how you should start looking for housing in town and later reject you.

fantastic portfolio? youre in? not sure because how can you know if that person gets your kind of humor, storytelling, genre, language, or whatever. i bet youve seen a million short films and you can honestly agree that not everyone will dig your film. my favorite film "a beautiful mind", people call me a hack. (ok, that had nothing to do with point but telling you i love jennifer connelly)

to cut my trap. i didnt mean to offend you, but honestly, some schools like kids without a film background, without the perfect grades and some rough ends on them. it all depends on their impression of you as an individual.

(cue sappy scene)
(jump cut)

honestly, it is like the guys/girls story. why doesnt she like me? i have money, job, skills, and mad charming attitude. you can make your case but ultimately it is her who chooses out of you. and yea, she probably does love my friend because he is the douchebag that has never made a movie and turns his application in past the deadline but still gets into my dream school.

im sorry, but if i knew the real answer to that question, i dont think i would be a filmmaker, i would be on the admissions committee.

 

[Joe Snell]

No offense taken FLFilmFan, in fact your last comment was really helpful, thanks.

I'm not looking for every single thing necessary to get accepted, that is a very loosely based phrase and every college looks for different things. What I'm asking is what are one or two key qualities that are most influential at a majority of these educational institutes. In your experience, how does a portfolio compare to a good gpa, or a great interview weigh against a lot of experience.

 

[Cine]

I feel happy for everybody who got in and sorry for everybody who was rejected.

I forgot to ask, was the admission process for such film schools as UCLA, Chapman and AFI very hard (I didn't mention USC, because from what I have read it's one of the most hard schools to apply)? In terms of difficuly, I mean what do they really seek for in applicants (achievements connected with filmmaking, business achievements based on different internships or excellent portfolio packed with many projects)?

 

[redpokiepenguin]

USC's admissions process was actually easy. They don't do interviews or ask for reels. You fill out the application, set up an optional interview, and wait.

UCLA, AFI and Chapman I feel had the same process. Fill out the application. Get called for an interview, or not. Do interview, or not. Get in, or get rejected. It varies on what they ask you to submit. UCLA and Chapman had straight foward personal statments. AFI had a 5 page, narrative statement. Chapman asked for a lot of other things like favorite film, transitional moment, etc. I wouldn't say one is harder than the next, just longer.

 

[Cine]

Originally posted by redpokiepenguin:
USC's admissions process was actually easy. They don't do interviews or ask for reels. You fill out the application, set up an optional interview, and wait.

UCLA, AFI and Chapman I feel had the same process. Fill out the application. Get called for an interview, or not. Do interview, or not. Get in, or get rejected. It varies on what they ask you to submit. UCLA and Chapman had straight foward personal statments. AFI had a 5 page, narrative statement. Chapman asked for a lot of other things like favorite film, transitional moment, etc. I wouldn't say one is harder than the next, just longer.

Well, even though the whole process sounds easy, it's actually difficult to pass. I mean, yeah, USC doesn't require so much from producers, but still it's very hard to get in, because there is a ot of competition and you need to make the best out of your application. Right?

UCLA, Chapman and AFI are a bit easier to get, but still there is no guarantee that they will accept you.

So my only question was what they're looking for in an applicant? Numerous awards from film festivals or business experience based on internships and other similar stuff?