UCLA Interview

[Icarus Ascending]

This is Icarus Ascending reporting from Cloud 9. Just got an e-mail inviting me for a UCLA interview in the city. Anyone else heard???

--IA

 

[dharmagirl]

I have a screenwriting interview Sat 3/22 with Hal Ackerman in NYC. But it sounded like they were doing East Coast first, so maybe they haven't notified the West Coast yet?

 

[ediebeale]

thanks rockstar. hmph. this may be a little revealing but, does anyone know what to expect in the interview??

 

[redpokiepenguin]

oh dear didn't hear a thing. Bad news?

 

[santoki]

All successful directing candidates have already been notified for interviews. Screenwriting applicants were notified earlier. If you didn't get an invite, I'd say it's bad news.

 

[Sunayana Nadkarni]

santoki,
do u mean the MFA (SCreenwrting) or BFA (SCreenwriting) applicants hve been notified. i hve applied to UCLA for an MFA screenwrtng, hvent heard frm them yet. had applied to fsu, was called for an interview, went quiet well.

 

[santoki]

Sunayana,

Yes, I was referring to the MFA applicants (since this is the graduate school forum). Directing candidates were notified last week regarding interviews...pretty much in one evening by email. (Someone on the forum called UCLA the following day and was told that ALL finalists for the directing program had been notified.)

If you go back through this thread, you'll notice that UCLA began notifying their screenwriting applicants in late February, earlier than the directors. I'm assuming they're pretty much done notifying screenwriting applicants too, especially since they interview around 40 potential screenwriters as opposed to about 60 directors.

Good luck with your schools!

 

[KelMo]

Hey Santoki,

How do you know they did the screenwriting interviews earlier? It definitely sounds like they've notified east coasters, but there doesn't seem to be anyone on this forum from the west coast with an interview...

You could be totally right, I'm just curious what your reasoning is. (I know some schools stagger... I had my AFI interview a few weeks before some people were even notified.)

Any west coasters had an interview/been notified (or know of someone who has)?

Here's to optimism!

 

[Philro]

Hi all,

I received the email for Production/Directing on the 5th and I've really just been full of emotions ever since.

First I told my wife and we sat quietly and talked for awhile, then I called my Mom and Dad back home in Washington- I let all friends know etc. It was a proud moment.

But then it started to feel really heavy, and then I asked myself: Is it pivotal? Is it not? We're just a bunch of people in love with telling stories and making pretty pictures set to music. Right? We're just a bunch of weirdos who see the world for its stories, idiosyncrasies, and beauty- what's the big deal? Why the riggamarolle? The clout?

Honestly, the reason I got into it in the first place was for the glam of it back in high school. But that wears out fast, and what's made me stay in it, for the last six years, is the music of it, the stories and conflicts, the great ideas etc.

And this thing, though awesome, in some ways puts me back into the glam-mode. The reality of it, I mean UCLA, it's one of the best film schools in the country. Man, it's a big deal. If I get in, I might, in a moment of weakness, walk around like I'm a big deal. But I'm not: I'm a weirdo.

I see myself in a room with a couple of cool and collected film people while I'm totally nervous and blowing the opportunity to work with other great artists and make friends and create. Then what do I do?

I don't want it to effect me so much if I don't get in, but I'd also like to give myself a fair shot. So after ALL THAT exposition, and you should know I'm not the best verbal communicator:

What's it like? For those of you who've already scheduled and had your UCLA interviews? Any sort of info would be helpful. I sincerely hope to meet some of you there. And I'll work your projects...if you work on mine.

Thank you very much,

Phil

 

[santoki]

Hi KelMo,

I don't think any of the UCLA interviews have begun. I think they start this week (at least for the directors). I do know that screenwriters were "notified" about their interviews earlier than the directors...just go through this thread and you'll see.

In my previous post, I said I "assumed" that the screewriting notifications were all done. In that post I also gave my reasoning. Basically, the directors were notified in one day so it is possible that was the case with screenwriters (especially since UCLA interviews less screenwriting applicants, hence there are less people to notify). Also, it's been over two weeks since screenwriters were initially notified. Most schools seem to get all their interview calls (for both coasts) done by this point. So all this is why I think notifications are pretty much done. Sorry if this is bad news. You should call the school to find out for sure though.

Good luck with all your schools!

 

[placebo]

KelMo,

I'm in your same boat - MFA Screenwriting applicant on the west coast - and haven't heard anything, either. So I share your optimism.

It does seem plausible, given that the only folks to report (on this board, anyway) having received interview notices are exclusive to the East Coast, that the process is staggered by location.

 

[rola1981]

Placebo and Kelmo,

I'm also in the same boat as you guys. I'm on pins and needles. I have friends that are currently in the UCLA MFA screenwriting program, and have other friends that have already graduated from the UCLA MFA screenwriting program. I was told that the department interviews all the east coast applicants first. Once they finish doing that, then they move onto the West Coast people. Also, unlike directing and producing not everyone interviews. One of my best friends got into the program without an interview. I'm not sure there are any real set parameters. In fact I wouldn't start to worry until the beginning of April. If you still haven't heard anything by the second week, then you might assume you didn't get in. I was informed recently that the average applicant takes 3 tries before he or she is admitted into the UCLA MFA program in screenwriting. If you keep applying you'll everntually get in. Also consider taking the UCLA professional program in screenwriting too. Most of the professors teaching in the MFA program teach in the UCLA professional program too. It's a great way to get to know the system and the faculty before you enter the MFA program. I've been told by being in the professional program it increases your chances of admittance. It doesn't guarantee anything but every extra bit helps. Hang in there. Good luck to you both.

 

[KelMo]

Santoki -- I reread your post and you definitely have some good points.

Placebo & Rola - Well, at least we can all suffer through the wait together! It's really interesting that one of your friends got in w/o an interview, Rola! Didn't know they did that sort of thing.

Best of luck to all!

 

[Russell Blanchard]

does anyone know anything about UCLA producing interviews?? I have heard nothing , and I know of no one who has, Rockstar, how did they go when you got in???? hmmm, wondering about UCLA interviews.......and when they may take place!

 

[rockstar]

Russell, I was in the same boat as you last year - no one else I know or on this board applied to the UCLA producing program.

Interviews start this week and go into early April. But I'm pretty sure that they've notified all interviewees since we only interview 30 people.

The actual interview was more like a conversation than an interview but I was fully aware that it was an interview since I was so nervous

 

[Russell Blanchard]

ahh, I see, thanks for the info Rockstar, still holding out hope on Peter Stark then, hope to see you in L.A. one day, R

 

[wendja85]

dharmagirl and any others interviewing with Hal Ackerman,

I went to UCLA film for undergrad and Hal is SUCH a sweet and down to earth guy. You should have a pretty comfortable interview. Plus he's extremely well regarded in the screenwriting game. Good luck!

 

[cabezon]

Reading rockstars post didn't make me feel too good about my status but I'm maintaining a positive attitude nonetheless.

I'm still holding out for that call/email from UCLA.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

i've given up on ucla, i haven't heard a thing and i'm going to assume the worst. Time to start working on that contingency plan.

 

[dharmagirl]

Wendja, that is so great to hear about Hal. I can't wait to meet him!

Does anyone else know who they are interviewing with?

 

[rockstar]

I don't want you guys to rule out getting an interview request since I don't have official official word that all the invitations have been sent out. But to the best of my knowledge they have. Hang in there because you really never know.

You can also email Ben Harris to ask if all the invites have been sent out.