No offense taken FLFilmFan, in fact your last comment was really helpful, thanks.

I'm not looking for every single thing necessary to get accepted, that is a very loosely based phrase and every college looks for different things. What I'm asking is what are one or two key qualities that are most influential at a majority of these educational institutes. In your experience, how does a portfolio compare to a good gpa, or a great interview weigh against a lot of experience.

I feel happy for everybody who got in and sorry for everybody who was rejected.

I forgot to ask, was the admission process for such film schools as UCLA, Chapman and AFI very hard (I didn't mention USC, because from what I have read it's one of the most hard schools to apply)? In terms of difficuly, I mean what do they really seek for in applicants (achievements connected with filmmaking, business achievements based on different internships or excellent portfolio packed with many projects)?

USC's admissions process was actually easy. They don't do interviews or ask for reels. You fill out the application, set up an optional interview, and wait.

UCLA, AFI and Chapman I feel had the same process. Fill out the application. Get called for an interview, or not. Do interview, or not. Get in, or get rejected. It varies on what they ask you to submit. UCLA and Chapman had straight foward personal statments. AFI had a 5 page, narrative statement. Chapman asked for a lot of other things like favorite film, transitional moment, etc. I wouldn't say one is harder than the next, just longer.

quote:

Originally posted by redpokiepenguin:
USC's admissions process was actually easy. They don't do interviews or ask for reels. You fill out the application, set up an optional interview, and wait.

UCLA, AFI and Chapman I feel had the same process. Fill out the application. Get called for an interview, or not. Do interview, or not. Get in, or get rejected. It varies on what they ask you to submit. UCLA and Chapman had straight foward personal statments. AFI had a 5 page, narrative statement. Chapman asked for a lot of other things like favorite film, transitional moment, etc. I wouldn't say one is harder than the next, just longer.

Well, even though the whole process sounds easy, it's actually difficult to pass. I mean, yeah, USC doesn't require so much from producers, but still it's very hard to get in, because there is a ot of competition and you need to make the best out of your application. Right?

UCLA, Chapman and AFI are a bit easier to get, but still there is no guarantee that they will accept you.

So my only question was what they're looking for in an applicant? Numerous awards from film festivals or business experience based on internships and other similar stuff?

I wouldn't necessarily say that UCLA is easier to get in than USC. USC accepts 25 while UCLA accepts 15.

well yea i meant the process was 'easier.'

in terms of what they look for i can answer for usc because they essentially told me when i went to see them. They look for the entrepreneurship spirit as reflected in the things you do. They also look for a creative, forward thinker who has the ability to succeed in the business of filmmaking. Just let them know you want it, and that you want to produce NOT direct.

quote:

Originally posted by redpokiepenguin:
well yea i meant the process was 'easier.'

in terms of what they look for i can answer for usc because they essentially told me when i went to see them. They look for the entrepreneurship spirit as reflected in the things you do. They also look for a creative, forward thinker who has the ability to succeed in the business of filmmaking. Just let them know you want it, and that you want to produce NOT direct.

Thanks!

this was my thought process going into it, and i was successful:
a producer gets stuff done. getting into film school to be a producer is something that needs to be done. in a weird way, the schools are looking to admit the people who do the best job of making themselves admitable--and i don't mean that in the extremely obvious way it seems. getting in is a game, and you have to prove that you're the best player.
if you're starting to think about this early enough, there are ways to make yourself the best. i knew i wanted to go to ucla or usc, so during my summers in undergraduate i got internships with famous, involved alumni from each program. for usc, i literally took the list of stark mentors and went through studiosystem, calling their companies one by one in an order based on how involved with the program they still are and how much i like their previous work. when it came down to application time, i had two reccs i used for each program that generally spoke about me, and then my third which was specific to each. it turned out (as i found out in the interviews when they were looking through my resume) that the people who choose to be involved with the film school community generally do so across the board--even though my usc alum rec was from usc, for instance, that person also works closely with ucla; i could have used that rec there, too. so if you don't have two summers to use, one will certainly be sufficient.
also, do something to distinguish yourself from the pack. something you'll notice at these internships is that a bunch of kids will be applying with the same recommenders, so that won't be enough on its own. prove that you've had a long, dedicated desire to be a producer--NOT a screenwriter or director--and prove that you're good at it. make a film and do something interesting with it from a producer's prospective: if somehow you can demonstrate that you're good at upping production value, for instance, i'm sure that would be good.
sorry if i'm rambling--it's early on a saturday. but i hope this helps. if there's anything else i can say i'll post it, or if you have any more questions drop a line here and i'm sure this crack squad of student producers will be glad to flex their narcissistic success muscles.

I just posted this in 'Chapman News'. But I wanted to keep my Producer peeps updated!

Hey guys I just got a letter from Chapman saying I was placed on the waitlist for the Film & Television producing program. I don't know what to feel. Happy? It kinda sucks because I really wanted to get in and now I feel like I'm just an 'alternate'. Like I'm the dude that didn't get drafted but got a free agent contract instead... don't mind the analogy I just watched two days of NFL draft coverage this past weekend.

I'm sure you guys get it.

(shakes head)

Anyway, what are the chances of getting in off of the waitlist? Anyone been in that situation? All I know is that if I do happen to get in off the list I'm showing up even more determined to do well.

btw, I don't want to come across bitter because I'm actually happy. Waitlist is better than a 'NO' that's for sure lol

-Alex

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