UCLA MFA Screenwriting 2020

[mjweerts]

We talked about that at my interview, too, but I'm the total opposite. I love the collaborative part of it and thrive in the writers room environment. I've written features before but didn't much care for the isolation aspect of it, so I'm totally working toward the television track.

If we could somehow combine our brains Dr. Frankenstein style, we would become the greatest writer of all time.

Congrats on the great interview!

 

[Alfie]

My interview is on Tuesday around noon. if anyone is around and interested, I’d be happy to meet for tea after my interview or later down the week before or after the Friday interviews. Just let me know!

 

[ConODon]

My interview is on Tuesday around noon. if anyone is around and interested, I’d be happy to meet for tea after my interview or later down the week before or after the Friday interviews. Just let me know!

Good luck today, and to everyone interviewing in person this week! Let us know how it goes. Fingers crossed for you.

 

[Alfie]

So my interview was pretty tough (not casual, I was sweating) but I think it was specific to my particular resume. They had a lot of questions about my prior education, financing my MFA should I be admitted and Trump. I’m not sure what to make of it but I didn’t leave feeling excited.

 

[itcomesatnight]

So my interview was pretty tough (not casual, I was sweating) but I think it was specific to my particular resume. They had a lot of questions about my prior education, financing my MFA should I be admitted and Trump. I’m not sure what to make of it but I didn’t leave feeling excited.

Congrats on making it this far! They asked you about Trump? Huh? That's strange.

 

[Alfie]

Congrats on making it this far! They asked you about Trump? Huh? That's strange.

Just more so about the travel ban on Nigeria and how Trump’s making it hard for immigrants!

 

[itcomesatnight]

Just more so about the travel ban on Nigeria and how Trump’s making it hard for immigrants!

Gotcha. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Shade]

Just out of curiosity... have all of you who've been interviewing submitted a film script? Just wondering if Neil took the reins during the interview if you submitted a pilot

 

[Alfie]

Just out of curiosity... have all of you who've been interviewing submitted a film script? Just wondering if Neil took the reins during the interview if you submitted a pilot

For me they took equal reins and I submitted a feature.

 

[ConODon]

Did anyone ever find out if they sent out a second batch of interview invites? Seems like it's gotten so quiet around here. I was told we'd find out sometime around the end of the month, which isn't far away, but maybe there are more going out? I didn't ask anything about how many spots were open at my interview, so I really have no idea how many people were interviewed and how many will ultimately get approved. It's an exciting time, that's for sure.

 

[Shade]

Did anyone ever find out if they sent out a second batch of interview invites? Seems like it's gotten so quiet around here. I was told we'd find out sometime around the end of the month, which isn't far away, but maybe there are more going out? I didn't ask anything about how many spots were open at my interview, so I really have no idea how many people were interviewed and how many will ultimately get approved. It's an exciting time, that's for sure.

Not a clue. Based on someone who recently made it into the MFA, each year they interview over 100 people over the course of a month. This year it seems like only 50 interviews went out, and on such short notice. More might come out, maybe not. I think if you submitted a pilot as your sample for the application, I don't think they've interviewed anyone out of those yet? Everyone who's been interviewing (seems like, Idk) submitted a film script? I'd say, keep an eye out this week and the next one, but after that, the chances are slim.

 

[ConODon]

Just out of curiosity... have all of you who've been interviewing submitted a film script? Just wondering if Neil took the reins during the interview if you submitted a pilot

I submitted a film script but I've moved on to television. It was about 60% Neil because they knew that's where I was aiming. I've done television for the past three years, and my manager only reps my tv stuff, but I've done features in the past. I just like the collaboration and writer-centric aspects of tv as opposed to film. imo, film is a director's medium; tv is a writer's medium.

 

[Shade]

I submitted a film script but I've moved on to television. It was about 60% Neil because they knew that's where I was aiming. I've done television for the past three years, and my manager only reps my tv stuff, but I've done features in the past. I just like the collaboration and writer-centric aspects of tv as opposed to film. imo, film is a director's medium; tv is a writer's medium.

Same, ditto on everything. I submitted a pilot though, so hoping for some more interviews!

 

[ConODon]

I think if you submitted a pilot as your sample for the application, I don't think they've interviewed anyone out of those yet? Everyone who's been interviewing (seems like, Idk) submitted a film script? I'd say, keep an eye out this week and the next one, but after that, the chances are slim.

Oh, that makes sense perhaps. I submitted a feature, but my resume is mainly tv. It didn't sound like they were dividing the interviews into genre, just because they emphasized the fact that you don't have to commit to a track until midway through your second quarter.

 

[princessjasmine]

Going through past years on the application tracker it seems that most interview notifications happen within a couple days. I have sort of moved on past it, solely because I don’t think there’s ever been a gap this big between notifications. I hope I’m wrong but historically speaking more probably went out and we probably don’t know about it.

 

[Shade]

Going through past years on the application tracker it seems that most interview notifications happen within a couple days. I have sort of moved on past it, solely because I don’t think there’s ever been a gap this big between notifications. I hope I’m wrong but historically speaking more probably went out and we probably don’t know about it.

Any other year I'd say you're right, but last year when you got a notification, you could see the number of slots too and they were over a 100, and pick a date between early February and late February. Seems weird this year they're only interviewing 50 people and in only two weeks, as opposed to 100 in 4 weeks. But I could be wrong!

 

[ConODon]

Any other year I'd say you're right, but last year when you got a notification, you could see the number of slots too and they were over a 100, and pick a date between early February and late February. Seems weird this year they're only interviewing 50 people and in only two weeks, as opposed to 100 in 4 weeks. But I could be wrong!

Wonder if that has something to do with the reorganization. I know they're big on small class size, so maybe they narrowed the field down more heavily before the interview portion and so had less invitations go out as a whole. Oh, the mysteries of life!

 

[princessjasmine]

Any other year I'd say you're right, but last year when you got a notification, you could see the number of slots too and they were over a 100, and pick a date between early February and late February. Seems weird this year they're only interviewing 50 people and in only two weeks, as opposed to 100 in 4 weeks. But I could be wrong!

Oh, I didn’t know that. This is my first year applying to UCLA, so I have no idea how it works besides the dates notifications go out being really close together.

 

[Shade]

Wonder if that has something to do with the reorganization. I know they're big on small class size, so maybe they narrowed the field down more heavily before the interview portion and so had less invitations go out as a whole. Oh, the mysteries of life!

This could also be! According to my friend they strive to admit 25 students or so per year, but if they really like you in the interview, 30-40 might make it in. There's not a pre-established number-the only requisite is to have gone through the interview process

 

[frankiew]

Just out of curiosity... have all of you who've been interviewing submitted a film script? Just wondering if Neil took the reins during the interview if you submitted a pilot

I am interviewing and submitted a pilot + show bible!