USC Film Production for Fall 2011

[Mirpanda]

@Anomen - If I am indeed accepted, I will almost certainly attend, granted the financial end comes together by August. I had plans to apply to NYU- Tisch Asia and Chapman, and I had my recommenders submit letters to those schools, but my heart was so set on USC that I didn't even get past inputting my basic info and ended up applying to USC only. I figured if I didn't get in, I'd try again for Spring, then again for Fall 2012... basically bug the hell out of them until they got tired of me and let me in. ;-)

I have very little experience in filmmaking. I'm a writer. My BA was in History and English. But I've always loved film and secretly longed to make movies and now I'm finally taking the plunge.

 

[Mirpanda]

Hey CS - congrats on the Spring acceptance!

 

[kam]

Hey,

Didn't have a phone interview, but can log into Intent to Enroll, and my status is 'you will receive notification of your decision soon by mail.' Really hoping this is good news!

 

[xenophilius]

I'd rather not post my own stuff - I don't believe in the over-sharing of personal work.

As far as what I wrote, etc., I didn't look at anybody else's application, and I think it's probably not a good idea for you to, either. Don't model your own essays after somebody else's, because that's deeply insincere, and probably pretty obvious to anybody reading it. You're much more likely to get in if you talk with honesty about your aesthetic sensibilities, personal tastes, etc. I hardly talked about movies or film school in my stuff - I mentioned them, of course, but I also talked about poetry, young adult novels, television, etc., because those things have meant as much to me personally as movies have.

Don't think at all about what's the "right" thing to write. Just be honest about yourself as a person and artist. Let them judge you on the basis of your own ideas, not anyone else's, and if that's not enough for them, then **** 'em, and go somewhere or do something else.

Also, story is king. I bet you that's going to be a unifying factor behind nearly all of the application materials they get. Tell a good story, and you've got a good shot.

Anyway, this comment is going to look stupid when my letter comes in the mail and it says I've been rejected. It ain't over 'til it's over, and we'll see how it shakes out.

 

[Procallout]

Originally posted by Mirpanda:
@Procallout - PM away! I bet you're itching to read my PS after what I said about it in the Stark thread. ;-) And thank you so much for the congrats!

I may post links to my materials... couldn't hurt anything, right? I'll think about it.

Hahah yes. I had just checked out the Stark thread this morning. You post regarding the above was fantastic! I'll hit you up in a couple mins.

 

[Aglick]

@xenophilius Thats kind of absurd that you don't believe in "over-sharing" personal work if your trying to go into film. This art is all about exposing yourself as well as learning from others. And point well taken regarding not emulating others material, but it doesn't mean you can't learn from them. Besides that, I think we all have a genuine interest in reading good stories and watching good films. If your material was accepted by USC, than I'm sure its worth my time to learn from and study. Just trying to grow a little and there's no better way to do that then by learning from people who have accomplished things that I want to accomplish.

 

[Procallout]

Originally posted by M Dawg:
Mine is still "Your file is currently in the first stage of our evaluation process." Is that what yours read before it changed? Is that what everyone else's reads? I thought it was supposed to change to "forward to faculty" then to "decision made."

It sounds like you go in for sure, so congrats!

M Dawg!
Did you ever end up getting another email, or a call from USC after they mistakenly sent you that email? When I read those posts I totally felt for you.

Also, just want you to know. I watched your reel, and the MINUTE I saw the first clip of those two guys in the house I KNEW what film that was from! Harold and Burns right?!

 

[xenophilius]

@Aglick:

The best art is personal, I think, or at least mine is, so I take care to make sure that it remains personal. I'll share my stuff appropriately - in my applications, in classes, with friends or colleagues, or at public showings. But the minute you over-share, it becomes less about what you're trying to say, and more about getting artistic validation from others, which has always struck me as signifying a lack of confidence.

Again, the best advice I can give anyone as an artist is to look within yourself, and not at other people, because art should be about what you want to say, and not anybody else. You're right to want to learn from how other people go about telling their stories, but I don't think you should ever look at somebody else's stuff and think "what have they got that I don't?" Because the minute you start to operate from that viewpoint, you've started subjugating your own ideas to other people's.

Anyway, I'm not trying to condemn you. Sharing your stuff on here is totally fine, and not necessarily indicative of anything. I used to share my writing all the time on the internet. There's nothing wrong with it, I've just changed my mind on the matter. You asked for advice, and this is the advice I have - and it's worked for me. You can call it absurd if you want, I don't mind. You don't have to follow it. Everyone has their own path.

@wonderpony - your movie is awesome dude, those guys are great, whoever they are.

 

[kwokts]

HI everyone! The email I got is different from everyone.

" I am pleased to inform you that you are academically eligible for admission to the Fall 2011 semester as a graduate student majoring in Cinematic Arts Film and Television Production leading toward a Master of Fine Arts; however, your application is not yet complete."

then it ask me to proof finical certification stuff...blah blah blah...and i log in to the one Mirpanda mention and it stays the same...

 

[HI FILM]

Hi kwokts, Did you get that e-mail today?

 

[Tommy]

My roommate texted me (I'm at work) and told me I have a big USC envelope waiting at home. So it looks like letters are being sent out.

I'm hoping they aren't cruel and sent a rejection in a big package.

Good luck everyone else. It looks like the speculation is slowly turning into concrete information.

 

[jamesc]

Congrats to all those officially wait-listed!!! That's very exciting news! I hope all of you are celebrating in style!

@Tommy - An oversized rejection letter would indeed be incredibly cruel, but all signs point to your official acceptance! I know that they made a concentrated effort this year to get decisions out earlier to everyone and it looks like they're a week ahead of last year's schedule. Congrats again! And you have the entire weekend to celebrate!


Unfortunately, it looks like USC just isn't going to be in my film career path, but what can you do? It's always a blow to the ego to be rejected, but luckily the ego can be rebuilt quickly. Now I've just got to work harder on film so one day I can hopefully pull a Spielberg and become an honorary USC student after getting a building named after me .

 

[wonderpony]

@xeno and aglick

Thanks guys! Those guys are really funny people. One of them was a series regular on a show on ABC last summer, "The Gates." The other two aren't real actors. All three are great friends. I'd written the script already and one day we all felt like filming something, so we shot it kinda improv/Curb style. It turned out to be a lot more than we expected. So, since people thought it was funny I used it on my application.

Thanks again!

 

[Mirpanda]

Well it's official! I received my acceptance letter via email and a hard copy is on its way! I am just floored. I thought I didn't have a chance. :-D

 

[FilmClassicGirl]

Congrats, Mirpanda!!!

 

[jamesc]

Originally posted by Mirpanda:
Well it's official! I received my acceptance letter via email and a hard copy is on its way! I am just floored. I thought I didn't have a chance. :-D

A hearty, hearty congrats Mirpanda!!

 

[Mirpanda]

Thanks so much, Jamesc and FilmclassicGirl!

 

[Rooza]

Hey, just got my acceptance letter via email today, the hard copy is on its way! The wait has been atrocious! Found this forum after mind-numbing searches related to this program -- anyone interested in networking for Fall 2011? I'm from Seattle. I have some friends in LA, but would love to meet some people from the program beforehand!

WHEW!

 

[saintman]

Congrats to everyone who has been selected so far!

Did any of you got accepted without receiving a call?

Thanks

 

[Rooza]

I did not receive a call -- but I got into the non-Starky production track. From what I gather, only those admitted to Stark get the phone calls?