UCLA MFA Directing/Production Fall 2022

Has anyone started working on their treatment yet? I read it from another thread that dialogues is out of the question (help writing film treatment MFA UCLA, NYU, etc) but what if my characters are talking to each other. Can I paraphrased the dialogue instead of writing it out (e.g. can I write character A asked character B to buy grocery instead of B: "Can you buy some milk please")
 
Has anyone started working on their treatment yet? I read it from another thread that dialogues is out of the question (help writing film treatment MFA UCLA, NYU, etc) but what if my characters are talking to each other. Can I paraphrased the dialogue instead of writing it out (e.g. can I write character A asked character B to buy grocery instead of B: "Can you buy some milk please")
Hey, in my opinion, I wouldn't even do that, to be on the safe side. If Character A is George and Character B is Alex, I would write:
George looks to Alex and asks him to buy milk.
That should suffice, and you'd run no risk of going outside the treatment format.
Only my two cents. :)
 

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Yeah I'm honestly confused about UCLAs whole situation. Are they doing admissions for this year, or are they skipping like they did last year? It feels super last minute regardless.
As far as I know they're doing admissions this year. We're going to try to reach out to them for an article but who knows if they will.
 
I've finally received a reply from them after almost two weeks🙄
Screenshot_20210927-113156.png
 
The program homepage has been updated! They will be taking in new applicants for next year. Requirements are still the same!
Thanks for letting us know!

Online and Mailed Application Deadline: November 1, 2021​

Please complete all of the following steps:

Step 1: Online

  • Complete the UCLA Graduate Division Online Application.
    • MUST be paid and completed online by November 1, 2021.
    • Indicate MFA, Film and Television, Production/Directing as the program.
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    • Only test scores taken by December 31, 2021 will be accepted.
    • The GRE UCLA Code is 4837 and the Department Code is 2409.
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Can I submit a treatment of a film that has already been made? Will UCLA asks me to submit my short film during the later application process?
 
Can I submit a treatment of a film that has already been made? Will UCLA asks me to submit my short film during the later application process?
I would think the intent is to have you submit a treatment for something that hasn't been made as that is what a treatment is. It's also always good to get your creative chops going.
 
Does anyone know if it is okay to write a treatment not set in LA but somewhere else or even abroad? It said on the top of the document "How to Write a Treatment" that we are supposed to write a treatment for a short film that "might be produced during graduate residence at UCLA."
(Btw I emailed them but haven't got any reply yet...)
 
As long as it can be "produced during graduate residence at UCLA." by making UCLA seem like somewhere else I would think. That would still be following their guidelines.
 
Hey, in my opinion, I wouldn't even do that, to be on the safe side. If Character A is George and Character B is Alex, I would write:
George looks to Alex and asks him to buy milk.
That should suffice, and you'd run no risk of going outside the treatment format.
Only my two cents. :)
Hi. How about voice over? Do you think we can write voice over to explain some essesntial background?
 
Hi. How about voice over? Do you think we can write voice over to explain some essesntial background?
No. That's not what you do in a treatment. Do not use any script terminology in a treatment. That defeats the purpose of a treatment.
A treatment is written like a novel. If you want to explain essential background, you need to do that through the story. Give a reason for this exposition to happen, through visuals, character action, character conversations, what have you. But you need to describe everything in prose. Do not use voiceover.
Online there exists James Cameron's original treatment for Terminator. I suggest you reference that.
 
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