UCLA 2010

[Oquendo]

Oquendo- I got an application ID number... but that's it. I hope we'll be getting some kind of conformation soon, that would be nice. Have you ever gotten a tour of the school?

Yeah, I took a tour in November. It was smaller than expected and UCLA is definitely living off their reputation of Coppola, Payne, and possibly Morrison, since they name-dropped profusely during the tour. Also, the facility seemed much older than USC's and Chapman's(which is very impressive). I'm not too worried about technological advancements, though, since technology is nothing w/o creativity.

And I love the atmosphere of UCLA(Westwood is so beautiful), the diversity, and specifically with the film department, their Theater/TV/Film classes work together cohesively. The classes are extremely small, which makes the school seem much more intimate, and almost every week a director/producer will screen and talk about their film.

Not to mention, they are literally 5 minutes away from studios for networking and internships(which I'm told, are guaranteed). They also have an extensive library of 35mm prints of classic films that I would check out religiously

>I hear a lot of nice things about California, I'm itching to leave the east coast

Lol. The weather and atmosphere is really nice here. People are very laid-back and beach is close by. But I've been to New York and really enjoyed my stay there as well.

Btw, what college in New York are you from? I had a friend in New York who lived in Yonkers and a family friend who was from Buffalo. I think my friend goes to some SUNY school.

And are you applying to NYU?

 

[bornfromcelluloid]

Ughhhh, every time I hear about it I want to just be there like crazyyyy. The program sounds sooooo amazing. I'd really like to work with a small group of other students and be in a community that actually appreciates filmmaking.

I'm currently going to a SUNY school a couple of hours from Buffalo. I'm not applying to NYU because I want to be in a small program... my advisor says the undergrad program is huge.

New York is nice, but when you've been trapped here for your whole life it starts to feel restricting. I've only ever been to the city once and I'm ready for a complete change!

Sounds like you love where you live, I'm so jealous you're already there


and, Neville26, it's nice to see you've held your head high, you're givin me strengthh

 

[Neville26]

So you're applying to undergrad programs Christah? Is that right?

 

[bornfromcelluloid]

Yes, the undergrad program. I'm so ready to go right now, I hope I don't have to wait two more years for grad school

Did you say that you're reapplying for the fall?

 

[Cptn. Amurikuh]

sup guys, been creeping on this for a while so i thought id jump in. applied as a transfer for ucla film pro. & usc critical studies, and hit up all the same schools as u oquendo including santa cruz, got into sf state too! i live in the burbs of sf, and state has a legit program.

i was freaking out too about checking my supplemental materials for ucla cuz the usc one arrived verified on the usps website, but ucla's doesn't? i heard they don't scan em in so thats it doesnt show up, how kind.

anyone have any dates for when ucla usually starts to notify people??? Best of luck! lets make this ****in happen!

 

[Oquendo]

>i was freaking out too about checking my supplemental materials for ucla cuz the usc one arrived verified on the usps website, but ucla's doesn't?

Holy sh1t! I feel a lot better now because that's exactly what happened to me on my supplemental stuff. It didn't show up on the USPS site for UCLA. Fortunately, I paid extra for the confirmation receipt, but I couldn't really tell if it was Erica Flener's initials, or someone else's...Don't worry, you're not alone in this.

>anyone have any dates for when ucla usually starts to notify people??? Best of luck! lets make this ****in happen!

I heard anywhere from Early March to Early April.

>SF STATE

Any elaborations on their program?

Good luck to you too.

 

[Cptn. Amurikuh]

>>>SF STATE

Any elaborations on their program?>>>

-My freshman year at jc, two guys were in my film making class from sf state and had nothing but praise for the program.

they enrolled in jc to grab some extra classes on days they wouldnt have to commute, but from what i've heard the facutly is very knowledgable and you're provided a lot of opportunities to really work a ton with a lot of other kids and access to equipment was a definite. sf has a pretty big independent/art film scene and is not industry oriented, but they said ur still plugged in after you graduate, lots of opportunities to show your work. Probably gonna have to head back down to la after grad. tho if ur goin for hollywood babylon.

That said, after truding through all these schools for the past year or so, i would still take UCSB and berkeley film studies over sf state.

I firmly believe you will definately get out of the program what you bring to it, either studies or production, and i dont see a big difference between the majors...not at all.

I went down to ucsb for halloween(nuts!) and stayed with some friends and saw the new huge center they built, unreal. very nice. michael douglas donated a huge bit to that sucker and sb has an extensive film community with sb international film festival each year plus all the stars liver their. I've heard they have great networking opportunities and it looks like with that new facility opening with our entering year,u could say wed be in the money.

i scrolled through some of there classes and they have got some great industry oriented ones like anatomy of hollywood and how to write feedback for scripts, definately a place im thinking about. the school is honestly a hundred yards from the beach...and the women

Berkeley has got great film studies too, definately theory oriented classes with no industry ones tho and only a single production and screenwriting class.

Even though, it's still Berkeley! Great artsy community and they have this awesome film and art center at cal, Pacific Film Archive, which shows tons of films daily and is open to the public. i've botten a ticket just to sit in on the classes and you can listen to the prof. explain the film before you watch, cuz thats where they have the screenings, very fun.

Plus you'd learn so much there, and berkeley is still an unreal name to drop, if you're into playing "lets see whos is bigger". But the learning youd acquire there would definately be unmatched, and that is what you can invest into your storytelling.

Definately a great community to be involved with if your into the arts. Oquendo i saw a little while back u have a 4.0? i'd feel pretty confidant about berk. I've got a 3.74 and am definately hopin it can pull through, it really is a great place.

 

[Oquendo]

I firmly believe you will definately get out of the program what you bring to it, either studies or production, and i dont see a big difference between the majors...not at all.

Really? It's funny because UCLA, CHAPMAN, and USC reps told me that in film studies courses, you don't get too much of a "hands-on" approach; therefore, when you are working on sets upon graduation, you will be inexperienced.

But then again, maybe they were just saying that to boost themselves over other schools. I get what you are saying and I kinda agree. You get what you put in!

>Oquendo i saw a little while back u have a 4.0? i'd feel pretty confidant about berk. I've got a 3.74 and am definately hopin it can pull through, it really is a great place.

Yeah. There's a sick self-congratulatory masturbation side of me that wants me to go to Berkeley just so I could "say" in social interactions that, "I went to Beeerrrkeley...." I mean...come on, it's BERKELEY!

I just got accepted to Long Beach - CSU, although not the film program itself in which they interview as well.

I'm just so damn antsy because I'm paranoid UCLA didn't get my application or they didn't 'like' my application or they liked it, and called a wrong number or email!!! The list of neuroticism goes on...

 

[bornfromcelluloid]

Haha, I'm nervous about the application too. It's weird thinking that at any point in time a group of people could be sitting around judging you.

Do you guys like the critical aspects as much as the production? What'd you put down for "area of interest" on the Questionnaire?

Do you know if finding a job in LA now is as difficult as some people make it out to be?

 

[Cptn. Amurikuh]

christah,
I like critical and production aspects both respectively, I would definately say I have learned the most about films though in my critical classes. It definately helps me to understand what makes a great film a great film, and the social/cultural statements attached to each one. I definately like a film that can generate that level of discourse.

On area of interest I checked Documentary, and even called ucla to ask em what that meant, i knew they don't have an entire documentary specific program, but the response i got was "it doesn't hold a lot of weight, and is only a slight indication of the area of focus you may be looking to narrow in on by senior year", the response implied that it didn't really mean too much, no worries there.

I don't know if finding a job is too hard, but then again i can't say I'm working there! My film making teacher told me that even going to programs like UCLA & USC, don't mean jack if you can't create! She insisted that all the opportunities you'll get are gonna come straight from your reel. People wanna see what your capabilities and creativeness a lot more than just where you went to school.

Her comments gave me a lot of relief in some ways and even more stress. Top notch schools aside, i think all of us have a good idea of a dynamic film and what makes them great, but these schools would be an insane opportunity to associate with like minded individuals and really hone that learning. But still she said all your work and opportunities are really gonna from your real, i see how ucla basically gets u in the door and puts it all there for you, but at the end of the day its still you and your films.

My friends brother graduated from the program and BU, moved to la, and like a year later, he works on the tonight show w/ conan o'brien. His friend got hired there first as a researcher for the show, finding photos and pop culture references to use on the show, then he got hired. they both ran the tv station at BU, so i don't know if they provided a reel for their posistions or not? i should ask. but i guess knowing the right people helps too! TV is a whole different ball game i hear though, not trying to go down that route, a wee bit too commercial. no pun intended.

It looks like grad students have already heard back? I bet undergrad notifications will be first two weeks of march...we're getting there...

What are some of your guys's favorite films? I really did these experimentals by Arthur Lipsett, way cool.http://search.nfb.ca/search?q=lipse...proxyreload=1&hl=en&lr=lang_en&site=beta_onfb
wut chu guys think?

I'll throw some other nams out there bruce conner, maya deren, ken anger, jay rosenblatt
I did rosenblatt's smell of burning ants for my critical review.

All those guys are experimental, but there the founding fathers in a lot of ways.

 

[bornfromcelluloid]

The lucky Grad students... their applications were due back in November though. I hope we get responses back in the first couple weeks of March. Do you think we'll be notified via email? That's what it looks like from the other posts...

I am going to have a heart attack every time I open my email when it comes to be March.

Experimental films are fantastic. I've watched some Maya Deren. Arthur Lipsett looks like he'd be very interesting to study. The one that sticks with me the most is Michael Snow's "Wavelength." I also really enjoy Norman McLaren's animations.

I'd have to say that one of my favorite films has to be "Le Gai Savoir." I'm going to have to watch that one again soon, it really changed the way that I approach my own films


I'm glad you're into the experimental. They are definitely a great inspiration.

I put "Production" down on my supplemental. I hate how generic that sounds, I really wish it hadn't been on the application!

This program really interests me with the fact that we'd be working closely with a small number of students who must be equally as passionate about what they're doing. There's definitely an immense amount to learn there.

What kind of films do you want to make? Do you do a lot of documentary Cptn. Amurikuh?

 

[Oquendo]

Hey Christah - it's notified by mail? I thought it was either an email or a phone call...for something as important as this, the mail system is not the most stable, lol...

Anyways, you guys are experimental/doc enthusiasts? Any of you guys like or Kenneth Anger? For narrative, how about Gus Van Sant or David Lynch?

As for me, I'm a huge a narrative film enthusiast.

At the top of my head right now, my favorite movies include:

The Third Man
Wild Strawberries
Rear Window/Vertigo
Taxi Driver
Chinatown
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Elephant
Cache`
2001

Although lists are pointless because they keep changing...

Omg...March is around the corner.

 

[Cptn. Amurikuh]

christah, no doc.s yet, but hopefully i'll take away a great one from school!

Oquendo, Anger is great, Kustom Kar Kommandoes is great, along with Scorpio Rising, i ride a motorcycle and love the whole mythology/iconography in that film, its classic.

David Lynch is amazing too. I just saw eraserhead no too long ago, what a trip that is, i love wierd senses of humor! Mulholland Drive is also a great mind f*ck. I heard i need to see Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet, are they nuts too?

Oquendo i definately dig your list too. Good& the bad, and 2001 both brought my appreciation for film to the next level, blew my mind when i saw 'em.

Did u guys see Shutter Island at all? Oquendo what'd you think? I'm one of those people that was a little confused at first by it, and for me i think it missed entirely that whole Scorcese touch. I thought it had none of the cool artsy angles, cuts, and camera movements that hallmarks almost all of his work. Maybe it lacked cuz he didn't write it? Saw Double Indemnity for the first time the day after Shutter Island, my appreciation for film noir was restored

 

[Oquendo]

I find Invocation of My Demon Brother quite ahead of its time, plus Jaggar's music accompanied.

>I heard i need to see Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet, are they nuts too?

They are. Also check out Lost Highway and Inland Empire which are part of the Mulholland "trilogy." I actually did a video essay on him:

http://vimeo.com/7340683

Do you also like Michael Haneke?

>Did u guys see Shutter Island at all?

Oh man..don't get me started. I'm a self admitted Scorsese fanboy; hence, my avatar. But I too, felt this was the only Scorsese film that felt quite generic in its unfoldings. The ending was too...predictable? I have to see it again because the film is about lot more than just what happens...

>I thought it had none of the cool artsy angles, cuts, and camera movements that hallmarks almost all of his work.

I actually thought it was very stylistic. The framing, editing, and blocking were very reminiscent of the old film noirs of the 1950s as well as some French New Wave in there. Even the accented lighting and canted angles accompanied with music felt like I was watching Hitchcock and Welles duking it out on a street somewhere. Though, I think Mulholland Drive does a better job at *this* kind of thing than Shutter Island. Although still a fantastic first 90 minutes...

 

[bornfromcelluloid]

Lovee the Rear Window/Vertigo and Elephant on your list Oquendo.

Gus Van Sant is God. Those tracking shots win me over like mad. I love films that aren't afraid to go at a slower pace

I haven't seen Shutter Island yet, looks like it's time to check that out. I'll have to stop myself from seeing Avatar for the fiftieth time. My taste in movies is completely erratic.

David Lynch... who I keep trying to avoid... your video essay is great. I particularly like the part on the women. I'm discovering myself as a feminist filmmaker more and more each day

Caché looks great, I need to see that one too. I'm getting nervous just watching the trailer. Has anyone had the chance to check out The White Ribbon?

We've officially got a week until March! This anticipation is going to be a killer

 

[EricaLauren]

The email from Erica said that decisions are sent the end of April. This sucks. We have to wait 2 more months to know. I'm not even counting on it.... it seems near impossible.

 

[bornfromcelluloid]

It'll be hard as hell, but it's not impossible! Probably final decisions will be sent about the end of April. We should be hearing about interviews mid-March though. Apparently they'll be scheduling the those in mid-April.

 

[Oquendo]

Gus Van Sant is God. Those tracking shots win me over like mad. I love films that aren't afraid to go at a slower pace

Wow. I'm impressed a person my age actually enjoys films that have long edits and are slow paced. Seriously, I try to show some of my friends this stuff and they are *bored stiff* by it. I really liked Paranoid Park as well.

I haven't seen Shutter Island yet, looks like it's time to check that out.

I didn't like it as much the first time around, but just saw it again and realized it's a one of those movies you have to see multiple times, as its a really good movie - very interesting film from a composition standpoint.

I'll have to stop myself from seeing Avatar for the fiftieth time. My taste in movies is completely erratic.

Lol. I have very eclectic taste in movies, too. In my top ten for '09 I had Adventureland, Up, and Fantastic Mr. Fox right mixed in with Los Abrazos Rotos, Bronson, and Anti-Christ, lol.

I'm discovering myself as a feminist filmmaker more and more each day

I take it you'll be rooting for Kathryn Bigelow for Best Director? I know I will.

Caché looks great, I need to see that one too. I'm getting nervous just watching the trailer. Has anyone had the chance to check out The White Ribbon?

Yeah, I saw "The White Ribbon" - Beautiful, fascinating, and engrossing movie that'll keep you thinking all through the end. Should be in the Best Picture running IMO, but many people didn't see it nor would many like the "slow pace."

Haneke's stuff tend to always deal with the macabre, the media, and the bourgeoisie. His pacing is slow, but I think you'd enjoy him considering you enjoy all types of movies, lol...

NOTE: The Piano Teacher and The Seventh Continent will "destroy" anyone who dares to see it, lol, I know it destroyed my sister

 

[Cptn. Amurikuh]

U guys ever follow the Oscar shorts at all? I guess they're pretty elusive, but there's this independent theatre over in berk, that always screens the animation/live action nominations for a week, but not the documentaries?

Anyways all the ones from last year were nuts, and im going this week to check em out, hoping I won't be let down.

Damn, I'm finding some good films off these posts! Keep 'em coming!

Lol Oquendo definately feel for you on trying to show this stuff to your friends and them just not digging it, been there, lol. Some people just can't appreciate!

Yeah hopefully we get notified for ucla before april, i can't wait that long, I won't have any fingernails left!

Oquendo, atleast we get the UC heads up on the 30th! Did u apply to UC San Diego at all? Their whole visual arts deparment looks great, and all the artwork looks right up my ally, I've just heard that the school is kind of a bummer...quiet campus/commuter school/ poor social life

 

[Cptn. Amurikuh]

****, nvm, we find out uc's on april 30th not march, fml