UCLA Screenwriting 2012

[honeybadger]

@i_spit_hot_fire: Don't be too stressed. Your recommender can submit their letter well after you have submitted your app. You will not be penalized. In fact, you can edit your recommenders, add new recommenders, drop recommenders, etc... after submitting your app. Don't sweat something that is outside of your control. Send the reminder to your recommender, and I would seriously find another recommender as a backup--just to be safe. I had more recommenders than I needed, for just such a case, and then selected the recommenders I trusted most. Good luck, and don't be too stressed about this. You did what you could, which is all you can do.

 

[apocalypticus]

Originally posted by i_spit_hot_fire:
Submitted by still waiting on a final recommender. Going to send a reminder email out today along with links to my USC app. I'm assuming it shouldn't be too problematic with the app; still stressful though.

No worries i_spit_hot_fire. Hope you get the recommendation letters. I was in the same situation a few days ago. The suspense is the worry and I have my Columbia and FSU still to go. All in all, I'm having a blast writing.

Cheers

 

[apocalypticus]

Hello all,

I guess whoever wanted to apply might have sent the application off. But to those who are still willing to give it a shot, UCLA has extended the application deadline to Nov. 15. Please check it out below -

http://www.tft.ucla.edu/progra...oduction/admissions/

 

[gesyfomel]

We will see some superb and creative work in Screenwriting in 2012.

 

[honeybadger]

Did anyone take advantage of the extended Nov. 15th deadline?

 

[N_A_Fitz]

Hope everyone had a happy Holiday!

Now we wait for the interviews... Is it the same as last year? (March-ish??)

 

[Seoulless]

Do you mean we hear about Interviews in March or they are granted in March?

 

[honeybadger]

Happy Holidaysto all! As far as the interviews, who knows. They will make the invite calls whenever they choose. No point being anxious about it. From my perspective, just because I got an interview last year doesn't guarantee I will get one this year. Tthe way I see it, I did my part, and what will happen will happen, and it is outside of my conttrol. There is no point in stressing out about things when everything is up to UCLA from this point on. You will hear when you hear. Last year they did the interviews in March and notified us about. The interviews in January, but that doesn't mean it will be the exact same time frame this year. My advice to everyone at this point is to relax. And put it out of your mind.

 

[R3i6nm8n]

As someone that went to UCLA's screenwriting program, good luck to you all. It's a tough but very rewarding process.

 

[Tebowing4Gradskool]

Hi ya'll, I applied to UCLA and NYU Screenwriting program this year and have to agree with the others on this site that this process is very exciting!!!!!!!!(and nerve racking

There where some questions as far as what people submitted in their writing portfolio and
to be honest I sent in a a spec feature and teleplay and a pilot for a television series that I want to produce. I have various things that I could of sent in but I chose the polished and most meaningful work I have. I concerned myself with them learning who I was and where I was coming from as well as my mission in life.

In my personal statement I made it a point to answer the why (I am who I am and what I want to do in life and why UCLA). I think everyone should stick to doing work and writing what they feel they are passionate about. Other than that good luck everyone and I hope to be hearing good things about you!

 

[matthews8590]

Hey guys,

I just got an email from Cheri Smith, the grad advisor, saying I did not get recommended for graduate study.

I'm kind of shocked by this, not only because this came sooner than I though it would but also because I really wanted to go to UCLA, I love screenwriting and I visited the school and and fell in love with it. I can't believe I didn't even make it past the first round.

I guess I'm writing this to see if anyone else got this email, which won't ease the pain but i guess it's nice to know I'm not the only one.

Also, does anyone know if I can still apply to their professional program? How does that work?

 

[alract]

Yep, just got that same email. It did come much quicker than expected. Ha, I'm guessing if someone hasn't heard from them it's probably better news. Anyway, good luck to everyone still waiting!

 

[honeybadger]

@matthews8590 and @alract: I am very sorry to hear that you were both rejected. Don't give up, though! Most people do not get in on their first try (I didn't, and it remains to be seen what my fate is this year), fromm what I understand. Keep writing and reapply next year. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED!

I've been through the rejection before, and I know how dispiriting it can feel.

I know it seems soon, but it was about this time last year that UCLA sent out their rejections and made their interview invitation phone calls. The process goes by rather quickly.

I interviewed last year and was rejected, but I accepted a position in an MFA Fiction program in the city I live, with my mind on reapplying to UCLA this year, which I did.

Fortunately, I haven't received the rejection email yet, but trust me, it doesn't make me feel good to know other people were rejected. And I know that just because I wasn't rejected today doesn't mean I won't be rejected in the future. I was rejected last year, after all.

All we can do is work hard and try again, because this is what we love to do.

I know how emotionally exhausting the application process is, but again--don't give up. Even if I don't get in this year, I will reapply next year and not quit. All we can do is our best and hope that others will recognize that fact.

As for the Professional Program, if you get an interview invitation and don't get into the MFA program, you automatically are accepted into the Professional Program--whether you choose to commit to the acceptance is up to you. As for those that don't get an interview invite, anyone with a Bachelors Degree can apply to the Professional Program. I am the only UCLA 2011 MFA applicant in my Professional Program class. Just go to the Professional Program website and fill out the application.

In my opinion the Professional Program is completely worth it. It might be the best writing course I've ever taken, period. It is taught by UCLA screenwriting professors, many who are currently teaching or who have taught in the MFA program. In fact, I know someone who is doing the on-campus Professional Program class, and he actually has Hal Ackerman, the co-chair of the screenwriting department, as his instructor. I can't recommend the Professional Program enough--especially because you don't necessarily have to move to LA for it. They offer the class over Skype as well--it meets once a week for 3 hours, you watch your lectures online at your convenience, and it runs on the same quarter system that UCLA's regular classes use--and the best thing about it is that you will have 2 completed screenplays that you will get plenty of excellent feedback on by the time you complete the course. Trust me, you WILL be a better writer after taking the Professional Program.

Anyway, I hope some of what I've written helps.

Good luck to everyone else who didn't get rejected today, and again--I am sincerely sorry for those of you who were rejected today. I know it's not a good feeling, because I've been through it.

 

[FilmClassicGirl]

I was also rejected, guys. Like honeybadger, I was rejected last year, as well (good luck to you this year honeybadger!)It's much easier for me to grasp this year, for sure. The journey continues though...Keep your heads up, guys!

Also, honeybadger, I thought about doing the Professional Program last year, but wasn't sure about it. I'm assuming you did the on-campus program. How were the living arrangements? Did they provide any housing for you guys or were you on your own? That was one of my main concerns.

 

[honeybadger]

@FilmClassicGirl: I am actually doing the Professional Program via Skype and chose not to move to LA to do it. I got into an MFA creative writing program in the city I did my undergrad in, and I didn't want to move for a creative writing program. I will move for a screenwriting MFA program.

I do know a couple of people who did the Professional Program on campus, though, and you are on your own as far as finding a place to live. The good news is that housing in LA is much cheaper than it used to be (I visit there a couple of times a year and have done so for nearly a decade), and if you want to move to LA and do the Professional Program at the UCLA campus, I would suggest looking for a place in Westwood.

If you are concerned that you will not be getting the same quality of instruction via the Skype Professional Program, I can tell you that the quality is just as good. I honestly don't realize that I am talking on Skype, because the conversations are so involved, and you do all of the same work with the same instructors. If anything, the Skype program has some advantages, because you don't have to pack up and move, you can do the program in your own home--which is advantageous if you get sick or need to travel, because all you need is an internet connection, and you don't need to miss class. By the way, they don't use the video component in the Skype classes--they only use the audio portion, so if you are sick, or something, you don't have to worry about how you look. I highly recommend doing the Professional Program. It is a high quality program that will help you grow as a screenwriter, and there are a number of people who only do the Professional Program without doing the MFA program that get work in Hollywood. If you are considering doing it, do it. You will not regret it. It's the next best thing to the MFA program, which is nothing to shrug your shoulders at. You get a chance to learn from many of the same UCLA instructors that teach in the MFA program.

I hope my lengthy blathering helps, FilmClassicGirl, or anyone else who might be considering the Professional Program. If you got rejected this year for the MFA program, you will be doing yourself a tremendous favor if you want to reapply to the MFA program next year. Again, I was (and very well could be again--just because I didn't get a rejection email yesterday, I am not kidding myself, I know I can be rejected again at anytime) in the same position as everyone else who was rejected--I was rejected last year, even though I got an interview. The Professional Program has not only made me a better screenwriter, but a better writer in general.

 

[alract]

Honeybadger and FilmClassicGirl thanks for the encouragement! I will definitely look into the professional program. Good luck to both of you!

 

[FilmClassicGirl]

Thanks for that really informative response, honeybadger! It's good to know they don't use the video component on Skype. So I could be in pajamas, and no one would know haha. Niiicccee

I think I might look into the Professional Program if I don't hear good news from the others schools I applied to.

Good luck to you, as well, alract!! (and matthews8590)

 

[matthews8590]

thanks for everyone's feedback, especially honeybadger and their kind words of encouragement. It is discouraging though. I am going follow a similar plan to filmclassicgirl's--Hopefully I hear good news from the other schools I applied to and if not I will look into applying to the professional program. Big thanks again to honeybadger and whoever else informed about the prof program, it's good to know that option is a legitimate option worth pursuing since I might apply again next year and ultimately I want to achieve my goal of studying screenwriting this fall.

Thanks again guys. Good luck to all of you as well.

 

[N_A_Fitz]

I am sorry to hear that the bad news has already started flowing from UCLA... Anyone hear anything good yet?

I guess for now we are in the "No News is Good News" Phase?

@Honeybadger>>
For those who are fortunate enough to make it to the interview process, What is it like? Any preparations or advice you could offer?

 

[honeybadger]

@N_A_Fitz: I would hope that "No News is Good News," but one never knows in this process. I know it's difficult not to be anxious, but the best thing to do is try and keep busy with other things and don't think about the MFA process. It will unfold how it will unfold, when it unfolds. You worked hard on your app; you did what you could do, and now things are in the hands of UCLA.

As for your question, regarding the interview. I would say the same thing that I advised with the Statements of Purpose--be yourself and represent yourself in the best way possible. Try not to stress about it or over-think it. The reason I say this is because the interview, like the SOP is about you, so the questions will be about you, and there is nothing I can say that will be useful about you. You know you better than anyone. On top of this, there are multiple professors that conduct the interviews, and each one of them handles the interviews in their own way. The only other piece of advice I can give is to make sure you get a good night's sleep the night before the interview and relax. If you do get an interview, you deserved it and earned it, and don't forget that fact You deserve to be there. Try and relax the best you can about it, like everything else regarding this process.