UCLA Screenwriting 2012

[honeybadger]

@N_A_Fitz: One last thing--I don't mean to sound all zen or mysterious in my answer to your question. The simple answer is, there are no tricks or secrets that I can tell you about the interview process. It honestly is about you, so prepare like you would for any other interview. Try not to be nervous about it. The UCLA faculty, in my experience, are very warm and kind people. They aren't there to trip you up or make a fool of you. They want you to succeed, because they want the best students possible--and they are genuinely very nice and giving people.

Perhaps someone else can offer better insight into the interview process or how they think you should handle it, should you have earned one. But I've truly offered as much as I can in the matter. I hope I've been helpful.

 

[Nowon]

Last year the interview requests were sent out with the rejection letters. Anything, anyone?

 

[darkew]

I didn't get anything either. No emails whatsoever. Is that good?

 

[N_A_Fitz]

Thanks Honeybadger... It is good to get the scoop from someone who has been through it before.

Are u living in LA now.. or are u taking the Proff. Program from afar??

 

[honeybadger]

Nowon: As for the interview invites and the rejection emails last year--they did go out around the same time. My interview invite was by phone. Who knows how they are handling it this year.

@darkew: I have no idea if no news is good news. The committee might have a different way of handling things this year. You can't really count on anything, as everything is up to the UCLA professors at this point, which is why I constantly harp on suggesting people put the MFA process out of their minds the best they can, as there is nothing for you to do at this point. You never know--they could be doing one round of cuts and then a second round of cuts. I don't know, and neither does anyone else--except for the UCLA MFA committee.

@N_A_Fitz: You are welcome for my insight. Keep in mind that I am speaking from my singular experience and there are others who might tell you something different. I do not know everything, nor do I claim to, or I wouldn't have been ultimately rejected last year (and still might this year). If you want more info on my experience with the Professional Program, I suggest looking on page 2 of this forum, as I posted a lot about the Professional Program.

Hopefully someone else can share their experience with the Professional Program, to add to mine, or the UCLA MFA program, if they have the time.

Good luck to everyone, and hang in there. We will hear something when UCLA is ready to tell us something, for better or worse.

 

[P.F. Murphy]

I got a rejection email about a week or so back. So take that for what it's worth.

 

[i_spit_hot_fire]

Terribly sorry to those who have been rejected already. I know the crap feeling, but hey, we're all screenwriters-- we live with constant rejection.

Now, to hopefully lighten the mood here, I wanted to report that I just received an email from Justin Hillian saying that the department will be in contact within a couple weeks to schedule an interview. It looks like the next stage is starting soon.

Best of luck to everyone.

 

[honeybadger]

@i_spit_hot_fire: I got my interview invitation as well! Good luck! And again, do not give up, those who were rejected this year. I was rejected after an interview last year, and I am grateful to be invited back.

 

[N_A_Fitz]

I got the same email, ISHF. It had a weird designation @ca.rr.com. I thought it was a mean joke at first cause it didn't look like it was direct from UCLA.

Unless someone is pranking us both, it must be the real thing! (like my bad logic there<..lol)

 

[tra thomas]

Hi guys,

I've been trolling this forum for some time, but finally have a reason to post.

Like some of you, I just received an email indicating that I'll be contacted for an interview in New York. Will anyone else be participating in the east coast interview process?

Congrats to all!

 

[graffiti281]

Hi,

I'm from India. I got the same email, saying I will be contacted for an interview via Skype. I'm already terrified, I'm still just finishing my undergrad. Will be done only by April. Is there anything I can start doing now so I can be better prepared?

Congrats to whoever else got the email already!

 

[i_spit_hot_fire]

It looks like Justin is a student, or former student, tasked with administrative tasks. His same email is listed in the directory. ca.rr stands for @California.RoadRunner, the ISP that he uses.

 

[Nowon]

I got an interview invite (via Skype) as well! Happy... but mostly terrified. What kind of questions should we expect?

 

[N_A_Fitz]

It is cool to know we will all be going through this together. I am in Arizona right now, so my interview will be on campus.

Perhaps some of us will be classmates

 

[tra thomas]

Originally posted by N_A_Fitz:
Perhaps some of us will be classmates

I certainly hope so, Fitz. If that turns out to be the case, the first thing I will do is buy honeybadger a beer.

 

[honeybadger]

@tra thomas: I will gladly accept that beer and get the next round, if we wind up being classmates!

Congratulations to all who received an interview invitation. Be proud of it.It isn't easy. At the same time, caution that optimism a bit with practicality.

UCLA invites more interviewees than they have MFA slots to give out. I was invited to interview last year, but was ultimately rejected, as were other people I know.

This is another step in reaching for what you want to achieve, but it is by no means an end or a guarantee.

I don't mean to be. Debbie Downer, but I just want people (including myself) to not count their chickens before they hatch.

Be proud and enjoy the invitationk for sure, but try not to get overexcited, and keep your expectations in check (again, I am reminding myself of this as well).

And as always, don't stress out and let anxiety get the best of you. You've made it this far. Be happy, share the good news, and then relax and be prepared--without overdoing it.

Good luck to all!

 

[graffiti281]

So how many people do they interview each year?

 

[honeybadger]

@graffiti: I have no idea exactly how many people they invite to interview. I just know that it is more people than get into the program. Sorry that I can't tell you more.

 

[PeopleGetReady]

It's been really cool to follow this conversation for the last couple of months, and now I wanted to jump in myself!

I received the interview invite last night. It sounds like I'm in the same boat as our awesome @honeybadger. I applied last year, interviewed, was rejected, and reapplied this year.

This seems like the typical story for UCLA screenwriting. Most of the people they let into each class have either applied multiple times and/or have gone through the PP. So for all who were rejected or are worried about the interview, don't be! So much of screenwriting is about pushing forward in the face of rejection, as we all know.

I'd be happy to answer any questions about the interview. From what I remember hearing last year, they interview around 50 people and select the class from that pool.

Congrats to everyone who got an interview. We're in this together now, guys!

 

[Diehl]

Got the email for an interview. I jumped around the house for a few minutes, got myself under control and now feel like I want to throw up. Anyone else nervous?

I know the chances are still really slim that I'd actually get in, but it's thrilling to even make it this far.

I'm really curious to see who will be interviewing me and when! Crap, what should I wear? Should I bring anything? This will probably be a month or more of me asking myself the same questions over and over again.

Any suggestions from those who've done this whole process before? Congrats to all those who got the email.

Alright, I think I better go throw up now.