University of Texas at Austin 2010

[adambconnors]

How much, if you don't mind me asking? Or is it different depending on your financial need?

 

[brittak]

Speaking of financial stuff, how common are TAships? I applied to Production, and nailing down some TAships my second and third year would go a long way toward making UT affordable. How many students get them? Are they big time commitments? Do students generally do them in their second AND third years (for production, particularly)?

 

[Sapphiar]

Yeah, and what sort of financial aid comes with an RTF fellowship? (That's the one I applied to.)

 

[kjba86]

I'm not a genius or consider myself particularly smart, but they only take 12 students. I'm assuming that the pot is pretty sweet for those who fill a seat. Not full tuition waived, but I'm assuming you'll either be a T.A. or automatically qualify for a scholarship.

My film professor told me when I was researching schools is that most state universities function to support the graduate students. Those are the students that universities try to coddle and support, which makes sense because its showing you're taking a "next step" as an academic in a very small sample size, as opposed to 25,000+ undergrads who, by their tuition, are the ones primarily paying for the school's operation. Undergrads are the primary "customers," whereas the grad students are truly embodying the academic spirit of a school and get rewarded because of it.

 

[SimAlex]

my understanding is that everyone who wants a TAship gets one.

 

[writer82]

Wonder if they have called all the screenwriting candidates yet? Still waiting

 

[adambconnors]

I got the call/e-mail today. Accepted to RTF Screenwriting for Fall. I believe they are sending a big mass of e-mails today, as well.

 

[BKFishmaster]

Congratulations! Any word on the Michener Program?

 

[adambconnors]

I was told Michener would be making their decisions next week.

 

[Sapphiar]

Yay! Officially accepted! It appears that the RTF Fellowship is $5,000 plus in-state rates (that is you're international, which makes a huge difference for me!)

 

[kjba86]

Congrats Sapphiar! Screenwriting or Production? I hope something opens up so I can jump off the wait list and meet you in the fall...

 

[writer82]

kjba86 were you notified of being on a wait list? Screenwriting or production?

 

[kjba86]

Production. Near the beginning of February I was sent an email saying my application was strong and that I'm on an active wait list. I don't know if there's 5 or 55 on the waitlist, so I don't know what my chances are, but I'm taking it as a positive even if everyone accepts their offers and I'm left out! This was one of my top, most-likely-to-attend choices so I'm hoping for the best.

 

[dfp7882]

Congratulations to those accepted! It seems like those who choose to attend the program are really happy with it. I'm bummed that I haven't heard back...here's hoping that I make the waitlist!

 

[Sapphiar]

Thanks kjba86! It was for screenwriting=) So shocked.

 

[writer82]

Well just received the rejection email for RTF Screenwriting. Congrats to all those who got in and wait listed. Mabe I'll see you there next yr

 

[dfp7882]

Hey writer82, were you also born in 1982?
Also rejected for screenwriting, albeit in a very nicely worded email.
At least now I can stop obsessively checking my email this week.

 

[writer82]

dfp7882, yes I am a 82 baby. And I feel the same way, at least I know already!

 

[Allen Ho]

Hello all,

I am a current 2nd year Production student at UT. Someone on this board messaged me with questions that I thought I'd share with you all since this board was extremely helpful to me when I was biting my nails trying to figure out which school to attend.

Here are the questions and my answers:
How do you like UT?
I am from a big city, Los Angeles, so Austin is kind of a really small town. The film community here is GREAT though. Awesome support for local filmmakers, awesome venues for screenings, awesome access for students that you normally would not get in LA or NY. For example, one of the classes here have guests like Elizabeth Avellan, Quentin Tarantino, possibly the Coens, come in to speak to students in a really small classroom. UT's equipment is a little dated, but it's enough to learn what you need. The program itself is very much geared towards independent Directors/Producers. It's very do-it-yourself...which is good and bad depending on the person. I've enjoyed my time here so far, but I can't wait to go back to California and start a career.


I would like to study both writing and directing. Do you find you get ample time to write as well as direct? Will I get the chance to write a feature script while I'm there?
You basically have the option to write everything that you direct here. There is a intro to screenwriting class the first semester that makes you crank out like 5 or 6 short scripts in preparation for your spring semester film. There is opportunities to write your own feature if you take the course for feature writing, but those options only become available to you after your first year...which is highly structured.


How do you find Austin? How's the film community? Do students generally ship off to LA when they graduate, or is there a viable community to work in within Austin?
Like I said earlier, the film community is great out here. A lot of people move to LA cause that's where the industry is, but a lot of people stick around here. Troublemaker Studios is located here and I've known people to work on sets when productions come into town. It will be hard to find a production job anywhere but it definitely seems like it could be easier here. Whereas a film student might get stuck doing PA work in LA, they might have an opportunity to do 2nd unit Assistant Camera or something to that effect here. A lot of the local filmmakers know each other, so it's about becoming part of that circle.

How likely is it that students get TAships? That plays a big role in the affordability, so I want to know whether I can count on them in my second and third years. Do most students TA? Do they do it for two years? Is it a huge time commitment?

So far, you can count on them for your 2nd and 3rd years...but that's as of right now. There have been a lot of budget cuts to the university as a whole and before they would give TAships to people who graduated late or stayed after their third year. They're not doing that anymore, but as of right now, we're still guaranteed up to our third year. And yes, it is a HUGE commitment time. It's nice because teaching is the best way to learn and the paychecks are nice too but it does consume a lot of your time.

Hope this helps.
Ill check back here every so often but no guarantees since March is a crazy production time for everyone since its the middle of the semester.

Good luck with your decisions!

Best,
Allen Ho

 

[Ben]

That's all great info Allen, thank you. Is there anyway we can see any of the films you've shot so far at UT?

ben