Hey guys,

I thought I would go ahead and start a new forum for all accepted AFI Fellows so that we can stay in touch until school begins August 21st.

Since I live in Los Angeles, I will be more than happy to answer any questions regarding the area, good places to eat, apartment hunting, etc...

I think it would also be a good idea to list which dicipline you will be as well. Just some thoughts. Please feel free to add.

Best,

Bandar - Future Directing Fellow

I have a friend who got into AFI directing fall 08. He is chinese, and his wife got into Art Center MFA cinema.

Mr graduated from Beijing Film Academy
Mrs graduated from Central Academy of Drama

%@#!^$%&(*!!! ... I've actually typed up this reply two times already. However, for certain reasons unknown my computer at work (effin' stupid old virus-infected Dell) keeps crashing on me.

Ahem. So, yes. Bandar. I'm very happy that you started this thread. I'd like to point out that last year's AFI Fellows thread pretty much hit the ground running with an invite to all newly-appointed Fellows to a meet-up-and-celebrate-hardcore barbeque, like a week or two before classes began. I'd like to propose that we turn that into a tradition. We should all meet up in one way or another (a barbeque again, or whatever else the majority decides) a week or two before we all dive into the hard work.

I've been commenting on and off here on studentfilms for a while now, but I don't remember if I ever typed up my real name. My name is Stephanie Ma, and I'm to be a first-year Cinematography Fellow this fall term.

I look forward to meeting my fellow Fellows! (heh, that one was definitely used before)

See you all soon.

--Steph

Hey guys
meeting up before classes begin sounds like a great idea Steph. I'd be into that. Not sure when I'll be getting into town. I'm coming from Toronto.

Bandar, apartment advice would be handy. I did check out Los Feliz a little while I was in town for the interview. Beautiful area, close to AFI, expensive, I'm sure.
What kind of rent are you paying Bandar, if you don't mind me asking?

Cheers

Colin Akoon - Cinematography Fellow
www.colinakoon.com

Great to meet you Stephanie! (hehe)

I agree with you and think that we should all get together before classes begin for one (or more) big party to kick things off to a good start.

It'll definetly help getting to know the fellow fellows (totally stole your line) before classes begin so we can get better aquainted with each others work, etc...

- Bandar

Hey Idolon,

Right now I'm living in North Hollywood in a huge apartment complex with a pool / jacuzzi, etc... and I'm paying $1800 a month for a 1 bedroom plus utilities (sharing it with my girlfriend, so we both pay $900 a piece).

I plan on moving to the Los Feliz area to be closer to AFI, and am looking to get a one bedroom place in the $1100 - $1400 range (again, splitting that with my girlfriend).

I strongly encourage you to find a roommate (maybe another AFI Fellow???). It'll allow you to find a really nice place in Los Feliz and not cost you an arm and a leg.

Best,

Bandar

thanks Bandar
that's about what I expected to pay for rent in Los Feliz.
If you do find any good rental buildings in Los Feliz would you mind passing on a contact number and/or website link to the rental office?

cheers

Colin Akoon -Cinematography Fellow
www.colinakoon.com

Hey everyone,

Congratulations! I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you! I think its a great idea that we meet up before the program begins. I've lived in LA for most of my life so feel free to ask me any questions, as well. Until next time!

-Mark Lucaj
Directing Fellow

Hey Mark,

Do you have a link to your work?

Best,

Bandar

not currently...but it won't be long before we all get to share.

Hey,

Congratulations to everyone who got accepted, especially the directors, who had to wait the longest to hear from AFI it seems.

A get-together sounds great. I'll definitely be there.

Bandar, would you recommend finding a place in North Hollywood (which is supposed to be cheaper, I hear) or is it too much of a hassle to get to AFI and back (with the traffic and all)? Would it also make sense to look for a place now or can I wait until I arrive in late July, early August?

Again, congratulations to everyone. Can't wait to meet all of you.


Best,

Arndt Peemoeller - Future Editing Fellow
(Germany)

Arndt,

It'd be about a 15-20minute commute to AFI from North Hollywood, due to the traffic. I would recommend the Los Feliz, Silver Lake area if you are planning on going to AFI.

It's fairly easy to get an apartment once you get to LA, but I would give yourself a few weeks (maybe two or three).

Best,

Bandar

My management company is fantastic, and the building I live in is literally five minutes from the AFI campus in Hollywood Hills...they're really cool about students living here, but they're really nice apartments.

We have a two bed/two bath, with fancy decor I don't care about like recessed lighting and crown moldings, every appliance including microwave and dishwasher(lots here don't come with refrigerators), and a kickin' view of the city from the apartment AND the rooftop patio, and underground, gated parking.

My roommate and I each pay $912.50/month, which includes DSL and water.



ba-management.com

Waitlister (future fellow Fellow?) here.

This is where I live:

http://www.cpmusa.com/Franklin.htm

It's a craptastic website, but a great building that's 2 blocks from the AFI campus. I have a two bedroom (one of the few in the building, unfortunately) and it's $1680/month (split with my roommate, of course). Studios and one bedrooms are $1000 - $1400 or so. I have a bunch of friends who live in a few block radius and they all pay around $800-$900 each (all in two bedrooms, though my building is the coolest!)

You don't have to look early (actually, I'd discourage it as everyone here operates pretty last minute). Just give yourself a week or two to find a place you like.

Good resources:
losangeles.craigslist.org
www.westsiderentals.com (though it's expensive! split a membership with someone).

I also just walked around the neighborhood and knocked on doors/wrote down phone numbers when I was looking to move to the neighborhood.

Thanks Bandar, Jayimess and KelMo,

Those places look great. I will definitely hold on to those websites. If anyone has any other management companies in mind, let me know. Come August, I should have plenty of places to ring up.

Did you guys have problems finding a roommate or was it all pre-planned months before?


Best,

Arndt

I'm loving the way this forum is growing! People who didn't really post before are now talking!

I got an e-mail today asking me for a photo and 100 word biography of myself. Anybody else get that? It's due before you send in your deposit.

yes I got the same email a few weeks ago.
Everyone of us has to write a 100 word bio and provide a photo. this goes into a booklet that contains all of our bios and photos. AFI wants us to get to know one another very quickly. I guess its good we are already starting this process now.
Here's a link to last years biographies booklet. I found it while snooping on the internet.
http://www.afintranet.org/images/medialibrary/First_Year_bios_2007_08.pdf
I do think its great how international this experience is going to be. So far I think we have one German, Two Parisians, Someone from Beijing and myself a Canadian. Bandar, your originally from Jordan?

Hey fellows,

I'll be in the directing program. I'm really excited about meeting all of you guys, and think that a get together before the start of the program would be a great idea. Hope it will happen; I wish I could help with the organization, but I'm just a little foreigner going to L-A with no clue of how it is over there... So I'm gonna have to leave it up to the Californians. :-)
By the way thanks for all the info you've been giving out about housing, I'll make sure to keep all of your advice in mind when I get there. And just like Idolon, I'm not sure when I'm going there yet, but it'll probably be late July if not early August.

CONGRATS again,

And see you soon,

Zoé,
directing fellow (Belgian, but coming from Paris)

Bundar,

I will also in the south of france in may for Cannes as my film will be playing at the short film corner.
I'l be there quickly from the 15th to the 19th. It will be short but intense. What days are you going to be there? It could be nice to meet up over there.

Best,
Zoé

Hey Zoe,

I haven't yet booked my ticket, but I'm planning for the 14th to the 20th.

We should definetly meet up!

Best,

Bandar