Peter Stark Producing Program 2012/2013

[i_spit_hot_fire]

Good to see people talking again. I don't know if there's a smaller presence on the board this year or what (i've just been quietly awaiting the 22nd).

Moonfullofstars, that's rough making the top 40 but not the 25. I commend you for having the fortitude to go through it all over again. When did Larry call you for a 2nd interview?

I almost applied last year, but was also fresh out of undergrad and didn't think I'd done anything that would get me in (and noticed the GRE requirement late). Hell, I still don't know if I've done enough professionally to warrant admission. Still, I'm hoping I gave them a unique enough perspective on my app and that some of the Stark contacts I've made (for LOR) start to pay off.

 

[Coinsquolino]

I must admit I feel quite good about it, but I guess that's how pretty much everyone feels about their own application: it could be totally wrong and I might not even suspect it.

In any case I'm happy about my two essays, I think they're emotional and true to who I am (which is of the utmost importance in my opinion) and at the same time they manage to showcase my passions and aspirations. They're quite short, I think, much because I wrote in 12-point Courier (as absurd as it may sound I wanted to use a film-related font: I had just completed the application from Columbia and I thought that using the same font as screenwriters would be interesting; it now sounds stupid ahahha).

I'm completing my graduate degree this year and I feel as you must've felt last year: like I don't have that much experience in my resume backing me up (even though I have worked as a professional photographer and I co-founded a website about american TV Series, I have no SUBSTANTIAL work experience in a more traditional sense).

But I'm hopeful. I may not have work experience but my passion for film is attested by the courses I attended in LA and at NYFA in 2007 and 2008. And by the elective courses I chose in my university (Visual Arts and Film Management).

Do you think what I'm saying is even relevant to them? Sometimes I wonder if I'm just convincing myself I have a good shot at this.

Study abroad really is awesome. I got to learn a language, assimilate a new culture, travel, open my mind a little bit. I even attended an elective course in argentine cinema, it was really cool!

 

[moonfullofstars]

Hi, i_spit_hot_fire! Love the user name.

You're right; it was rough making the top 40 but not the final 25! I had to mourn that for a couple of months while I was in school still. But by the time I graduated, I was ready to bounce back up and work hard and hustle!

Last year Larry called me for a 2nd interview 8 days before the final notification day, which was Feb. 23 last year.

It sounds like you and I have similar backgrounds. We're both recent grads from LA! Also, looking back at old posts I noticed that you interned at a company with a Starkie CE. I interned at a company with a Starkie co-chairman/in-house producer!

Where did you go to school? Also, what have you been working on since graduating?

 

[moonfullofstars]

Hello, Coinsquolino!

To me it seems like your application was really strong. I think the shorter your essays are, the better. They like to see that you can communicate your thoughts concisely and "pitch" yourself in a way that puts your best foot forward.

It sounds like you've definitely had some interesting work experience that shows your passion for entrepreneurship. Keep it up! That drive will help you no matter where you go next.

I think everything you're saying is very relevant. Best of luck! I hope we'll be classmates.

I love study abroad, too. It's so much fun! Argentinean cinema must be fascinating.

 

[Coinsquolino]

Thanks for the encouraging words moonfullofstars! I really hope we'll all be Starkies soon

Learning about Argentine cinema was incredible, they have a completely different way to do film! If you guys have time watch "El secreto de sus ojos" and "La Historia Oficial": they both won Oscars and are amazing Argentine movies.

Did you guys apply to any other schools?

 

[moonfullofstars]

Coinsquolino,

Thanks for the movie recommendations! I'll look them up when I get the chance.

I didn't apply to any other schools because to me it's not worth it just to go to grad school for film producing, in general. I'm only interested in Stark. I've done a lot of research on all of the grad film producing programs and I've talked to alumni from all of them. Quite honestly, even still, Stark is the only program I'm willing to pay for and commit to for 2 years. If I don't get in, I'll just keep working.

At this point in my life, if I had to choose between Stark or continuing to work in the industry, I'd choose Stark. But if I had to choose between UCLA/NYU/AFI/Chapman/etc. or continuing to work in the industry, I'd choose continuing to work in the industry.

Did you apply to other places? If so, is Stark your top choice?

 

[Coinsquolino]

I get what you mean.

In Italy there are very few film schools and they have little or no connections. I've been studying Economics and Management for the Arts, Culture and Communication in a quite prestigeous school in Milan, but I know that when it comes to film production there are very few opportunities in Italy.

What's more, I've always wanted to STUDY film and learn about producing before really getting into the hard work.

That's why I've always thought that the most natural thing for me would be moving to the States and either studying film or finding a job related to the field. The thing is that it's really hard for an international to get the visa and simply go for it with no connections at all.

I've been wanting to go to film school since I was 12. I have to admit that I learnt about Stark pretty late and that my top choice at first was Columbia, but in the past months I had the time to consider all the schools I applied to together (NYU, UCLA, Columbia and USC) and I realized that USC is my top choice: it's the right side of the industry for me, and the one that attracts me the most.

And I totally get why you say that it is the only program you would be willing to pay.

 

[i_spit_hot_fire]

@Moon

I graduated from UC San Diego in 2010 and moved to LA shortly after. I come from a writing background, so I spend the bulk of my time committed to my own projects, and spent a lot of post grad time on a few TV specs and what are now 3 pilots.

I PA'd on a few D-movies when I got up here, then spent most of my time working at a restaurant like some sad cliche. Last June I quit, gave up my apartment, and sort of wandered around LA/SD to get my creativity going again. I directed my first short and then Co-DP'd and associate produced a pilot presentation (we shot the whole thing, though) that a close friend is developing at Comedy Central.

And I just recently ended my internship, simply because I couldn't work for free anymore. It was a great place. And yeah, I had a Starkie CE, and one of the partners there is teaching for the program this semester. I literally answered calls from Larry a few times and secretly wanted to introduce myself and make some impression (which would've been wholly unprofessional).

With all that over, I'm quietly waiting to hear about my app, as well as my app at UCLA (the only other school I feel would be worth it to attend). I'm also in the process of writing and producing a feature with a director friend. We're on the long journey of locking down our story and starting to raise some money.

What about you? (School, work, etc)?

 

[moonfullofstars]

Coinsquolino,

I know many international students who wanted to go to school in the States in order to obtain a student Visa! I completely understand why you are so interested in going to grad school here. If I didn't have the right to work in the U.S., I'd do the same thing. You applied to the best schools for film producing on both coasts, and I'm sure you'll get into a few or hopefully all of them (and especially Stark at USC!)

I know what you mean about wanting to go to film school since you were 12. I'm the same way. I feel like if you know exactly what you want to do, why not learn about it before you start doing it? Sure, there are some things you can only learn "the hard way" through work experience. But I still think that the more you know, the less mistakes you'll make along the way. Sometimes the right education can give you more confidence, as well.

It's really sad that there is so little opportunity for filmmakers in Italy today. I love old Italian films!

 

[moonfullofstars]

i_spit_hot_fire:

That's awesome that you went to UCSD. It's a great school! Did you study writing while you were there?

I love writers. I want to be a creative producer someday, so story analysis and development is one of my biggest passions. Among other things I'm working for a screenplay competition right now.

We've all worked odd jobs to survive our youth--don't feel embarrassed! That's cool that your project is in development at Comedy Central. What was the name of the company where you were interning? I interned at Double Feature Films in college. That's Stacey Sher's company with Michael Shamberg. She's a Stark alumna and she used to be on the Stark Mentor Board. They had a "Stark temp" position within the company just like I think you mentioned your company has. Smart move on your part not to try to talk to Larry in context. Let's hope you get into Stark and you'll have plenty of opportunities to talk to him candidly

That's cool that you applied to UCLA. They accept less applicants but they also receive less applications, so I think it's less competitive than Stark on the whole. Have you gotten a call back for an interview yet?

I went to UC Irvine and studied film and business management. I interned at many different places, the "coolest" one being Scott Free Productions. After graduating, I produced a USC graduate thesis film and production coordinated a Stark film. I also got an assistant job at a nature documentary production company and, as I mentioned, started working at a screenplay competition both as a story analyst and as a marketing coordinator (2 positions within the same company). It's been a busy few months but my resume is much stronger this year, so let's hope the Stark Program will take me!

If they don't take me this year, I'm still willing to reapply a third (and final) time. But if they reject me a third time I won't reapply at that point. I'm not going to let myself get old and boring while I wait for Stark; there are other ways to find success in this industry!

 

[moonfullofstars]

Of course, that last remark was NOT a jab at old people. I'm just an impatient person!

 

[i_spit_hot_fire]

A fellow UC student. I hope we get in so we can lament the price increase of going from public to private.

My degree at UCSD was a combined Writing / Literature degree, which I managed to morph into a screenwriting emphasis during my senior year.

No embarrassment about restaurants, just an absolute hatred. I left for better opportunities (even if it meant sleeping on floors and couches) and found them. I interned at Apparatus Productions, which is partnered by Brad Simpson and Marc Forster. Brad's the one teaching right now. They don't have an official Stark intern spot, but they take a good amount of Starkies.

I've heard from UCLA, saying they'll be scheduling an interview; still waiting on the call. From what I hear they take a little longer. I don't know about the acceptance rates--I applied to the screenwriting MFA (which lets in around 25); however, my real application is for a joint program in Writing and Producing for TV. So any number I hear is skewed, since I'm a subgroup.

Sounds like we've been doing very similar things and just trying to work in any capacity. Which competition do you work for? And how'd you get it?

And thanks for caring about story. It's important, and so many people in the industry seem to ignore it. I spent part of my personal statement discussing the fact that story is considered irrelevant by so many modern execs, producers, and even directors. It's a big reason I'm applying to producing based programs, in order to understand the business perspective and reconcile it with the artist in me.

 

[i_spit_hot_fire]

And yeah, 3 times sounds like a good max. I can't imagine even trying for 2 straight. The application took so much away from my other projects.

 

[moonfullofstars]

USC is going to be SO expensive if we get in! You're right, our undergrad schools were definitely easier financially. Do you know if UCLA's grad school would be significantly cheaper than USC's? I heard that once you compare the costs it ends up being about the same, but that doesn't sound right.

It's really smart to go to Stark or any producing program as a writer. Larry Turman likes to brag that the Stark Program churns out more successful screenwriters than the screenwriting program at USC does. The reason is because as a Starkie, you learn about screenwriting and story from the perspective of the buyer, which ultimately will make you a smarter seller. You're definitely on the right track with that choice. I also think it was a smart move to emphasize story in your Stark personal statement, since Larry Turman also really emphasizes story. Have you read his book?

Also, would you rather go to USC or UCLA at this point?

I work for BlueCat Screenplay Competition: www.bluecatscreenplay.com. I started as a story analyst and I got the job through an entertainmentcareers.net posting. If you're looking for something similar, though, I'll warn that script reader jobs really don't pay much. I mainly do it because of my passion for story analysis. It's not a very strong primary source of income.

Sounds like Apparatus Productions was a cool internship! Did you enjoy it?

 

[lmw813]

I have been lurking for a while... I am a 2nd time Stark Applicant. My first time was last year, I received the 2nd Interview with Mr. Turman and then made it on the wait list..

Even worse than waiting for the decision in February, is the time between February and when you know the program starts at the end of August!

So now I wait again! I just moved to LA from NYC after working in television for the past 4 years-- and then three years interning before that. I hope that I am what they are looking for this year.

 

[srao]

Hi lmw813 and everyone else -

Wow your story is almost identical: especially in terms of the lurking )) and being on the waitlist last year.

I'm based in India and honestly the hardest part about applying to schools in LA is the distance. I'm never sure if what I'm saying is in anyway relevant to them or not!

I sincerely hope I am what they're looking for this year too. And good luck to everyone.

Does anyone know if they're going to have a second round of interviews? Is that what they do every year or is it a final decision call that one waits for?

Best,

 

[moonfullofstars]

@lmw813, hello! We both reapplied this year after not being accepted last year. You actually made it all the way to the wait list after Larry's phone call, though; I was just rejected let's hope we'll be classmates this year! I've repeatedly heard that the Stark Program loves people who reapply. Maybe this is our year.

@srao I saw you on the message boards last year! I'm really excited that you reapplied. Congratulations on making the wait list last year. Like lmw813 you're probably much closer to acceptance than you think. Best of luck!

I think the phone calls 1 week before decision day are just something they do for people on the cusp. I feel like we won't have a call like that this year since Larry already spoke with us last year. But, who knows?

 

[srao]

@moonfullofstars - it's very kind of you to say that so, thank you very much. I really hope it works out for us this year.

Did you submit entirely new essays this time around? Because I re-wrote mine and added and deleted a few things - but in essence they didn't change a whole lot. Found the 'weakness' essay the hardest one to write.

Also, I wondered why they stopped asking for recommendation 'letters' this year...

Sorry I'm probably talking to myself at this point...hahaha ..but I'm just unnecessarily anxious today. So don't mind me.

 

[moonfullofstars]

srao,

I submitted entirely new essays. I rewrote my personal statement, emotional moment and weakness essays. The weakness essay is always the hardest one to write! I didn't "rebrand" myself, but all of my essays were definitely completely different this year.

As for the recommendations, I e-mailed them about that to clarify. They said you could submit one new letter of recommendation if you wanted, but it was optional. When you reapply within the same year, they hang on to your file from the year before, so they still review the 3 previous letters submitted. That means for me, they'll have 4 letters to review (the 3 old ones plus 1 new one).

I definitely relate to the anxiety. I think we all do in this thread. Don't worry! We're here to talk each other through it

 

[srao]

No I meant more about the questionnaire versus the letter; I would've preferred sending a letter. Anyway, I should stop over-thinking this and just CHILL OUT .

"We require (3) three recommendations. More will not be reviewed. Rather than letters, recommenders are to complete each section of the online application system's questionnaire, including the information about the recommender and the confidential questions about the applicant. The recommender should not upload a letter. Uploaded letters will not be read."