NYU Graduate Film 2020

[dev1408]

I was waitlisted after my interview last year and ultimately did not get in. I'm in the process of reapplying but I feel somewhat stuck. Should I submit the same material I submitted last year? Anyone else going through the same thing?

 

[Chris W]

I was waitlisted after my interview last year and ultimately did not get in. I'm in the process of reapplying but I feel somewhat stuck. Should I submit the same material I submitted last year? Anyone else going through the same thing?

Here's a good thread on that.

Reapplying to MFA programs & wrestling with new versus revised materials. What are your experiences?

Reapplying this year! This after interviews at Columbia, UCLA, and AFI last year. Have found that coming in fresh on this go round has been tougher. That said, have completely rewritten my statement of purpose and have a brand new short film. But, for instance, reused and revised my pitch from...

www.filmschool.org

Personally I'd revise and not submit the same thing.

Good luck!

 

[Olivia Chen]

Similar situation here. I applied for NYU undergrad and did not get in. I'm curious what does it mean to tell admission office we've applied for this school before and what year. Would they dig out our old application materials and compare?
Thank you!

 

[Chris W]

Would they dig out our old application materials and compare?

I think the only safe bet is to assume they would. I probably would if I was considering a candidate. If someone just presents the same exact thing again it would give the impression that they don't care.

 

[rpghamlyn]

Hi all,

Hope all the prep is going well.

I have a few questions that I'd love to hear your thoughts on.

1) Formatting. NYU only details a page count; no set formatting style (font size; margins). I emailed admissions and Courtney said that 'The faculty are not particular about font or margins; it just has to be easy for them to read.' The thing is at font size 9 (still readable) with no margins you have maybe 75% more space than size 12 with margins. Do you think there is any "test" of your concision and ability to self-edit at play here?

2) Personal Statement. The personal statement is meant to 'tell the committee more about yourself; why you're applying to the program, why you think the program is a good match for your educational goals, why you think you would be an asset to the program etc.' I see a lot of people talking about their personal statement as if it is a story they have selected to illuminate who they are as a person; or at least as some sort of experimental, creative writing exercise. Mine currently defines the type of films I want to make - with a short, grandiose, kind-of conceptual "origin story" – it sounds terrible – as the first two paragraphs. Following this, I kind of render my CV/resume into an essay format, veering everything towards why I think NYU is perfect for me. Do you think this is right? I haven't talked about my upbringing etc. Do you think they want this nor anything about myself that doesn't relate to why I love/make films. I don't really know how to answer 'why you would be an asset to the programme?' Is this like 'I am personable and motivated and rarely get sick and bake large amounts of muffins every monday etc'? Finally, reading through my personal statement it just seems so boastful a lot of the time. This isn't how I would normally talk about myself. Do I need to ramp of the self-aggrandisement or actually try to reflect who I am, maybe at the expense of including some accolades etc.

3) Concept page. My concept page is currently just a log line and then a 3 act synopsis of a script. I am applying to Directing/Screenwriting. Do you think it is a mistake to not include a description of the visual form of the film?


Thanks in advance for you help,
Reuben

 

[Olivia Chen]

I think the only safe bet is to assume they would. I probably would if I was considering a candidate. If someone just presents the same exact thing again it would give the impression that they don't care.

I thought so too. Thank you!

 

[Addi Ajmani]

just applied to the program!! good luck everyone <3
what other programs are you all applying to?

 

[rpghamlyn]

Hi all,

I was wondering if I could ask your advise on what one page concept to submit.

I had been planning on submitting a concept for a narrative feature that very closely aligns with the type of film I ultimately want to make. My personal statement describes my filmmaking aspirations, and the narrative feature idea fits in perfectly with how I describe my style. It is also more fitting with my visual submission, and the dialogue submission so coheres with the application as a whole. However, I'm worried it isn't good enough.

I also have a concept for a feature documentary that is more innovative, topical, developed and probably better all-in-all. It is also does have some common themes with the topics I'm interested in although the style could not be more different. The treatment has attracted interest from a few companies, and a short form version is in pre-production.

I just can't decide what to submit: the less developed narrative feature which is truer to what I ultimately want to do; or the more developed, "experimental but marketable," on-the-pulse documentary which doesn't really fit with the rest of my application.

I'd be so grateful for your opinions.

Take care,
Reuben

 

[Addi Ajmani]

Hi all,

I was wondering if I could ask your advise on what one page concept to submit.

I had been planning on submitting a concept for a narrative feature that very closely aligns with the type of film I ultimately want to make. My personal statement describes my filmmaking aspirations, and the narrative feature idea fits in perfectly with how I describe my style. It is also more fitting with my visual submission, and the dialogue submission so coheres with the application as a whole. However, I'm worried it isn't good enough.

I also have a concept for a feature documentary that is more innovative, topical, developed and probably better all-in-all. It is also does have some common themes with the topics I'm interested in although the style could not be more different. The treatment has attracted interest from a few companies, and a short form version is in pre-production.

I just can't decide what to submit: the less developed narrative feature which is truer to what I ultimately want to do; or the more developed, "experimental but marketable," on-the-pulse documentary which doesn't really fit with the rest of my application.

I'd be so grateful for your opinions.

Take care,
Reuben

Hey Reuben,

I totally understand and empathize with your dilemma, I faced something similar too during my application process. I think you should stay true to you and your vision. Go the path less traveled, go with the one you ultimately want to do. That's what NYU wants.

 

[fitz]

H

Hi all,

I was wondering if I could ask your advise on what one page concept to submit.

I had been planning on submitting a concept for a narrative feature that very closely aligns with the type of film I ultimately want to make. My personal statement describes my filmmaking aspirations, and the narrative feature idea fits in perfectly with how I describe my style. It is also more fitting with my visual submission, and the dialogue submission so coheres with the application as a whole. However, I'm worried it isn't good enough.

I also have a concept for a feature documentary that is more innovative, topical, developed and probably better all-in-all. It is also does have some common themes with the topics I'm interested in although the style could not be more different. The treatment has attracted interest from a few companies, and a short form version is in pre-production.

I just can't decide what to submit: the less developed narrative feature which is truer to what I ultimately want to do; or the more developed, "experimental but marketable," on-the-pulse documentary which doesn't really fit with the rest of my application.

I'd be so grateful for your opinions.

Take care,
Reuben

Hi Reuben, I feel that the prompt for the concept is left vague because they'd like to see how well you can 'sell' a film in one page. I would go with whichever idea you can articulate most compellingly, at least that's what I've done.

 

[rpghamlyn]

Thanks everyone for your advice! Good luck!

 

[truffleshuffle]

Woop! Submitted with a half-hour to spare! Lol... why do I do this to myself?