Howdy, Fellow Fellows. Glad to see so much interaction at this early stage. My name is Mike McGuire, I'll be in the producing program. I am relocating from five years in NYC around mid August. My wife and I are looking for a place within biking distance of campus so we won't have to have two cars. Thanks to Clark for putting all those housing links up, but if anyone has a personal lead on a 1BR for august, please let me know! Cheers, and I look forward to meeting y'all.

Hey guys. Just wanted to drop in and say hello. I'm a directing fellow-to-be and am really into this whole positivity thing we've got going on. I think the LA Texan did a good job of summing up the best way to find housing around here. looking forward to meeting all of you!

brett

Hey everyone,
Just thought I'd let you all know that I just got the AFI orientation packet/hobby kit in the mail. If anyone was still curious as to what's in it... a couple of maps of the area, some information about important dates, a list of required reading and viewing, and some helpful tips about getting an apartment. That's about it. Did anybody else get there's yet?

-Chris

Hi! Im a little late in the whole introduction thing, so I'll make it short. My name is Valentina Avayu, I'm a directing fellow and Im from Santiago, Chile. Im 21 years old and incredibly exited about the whole AFI experience. I'm completely in for the meeting, I'll be arriving at LA on August 6th, and I really dont know anyone there so Im looking foward for it..
See you all there and have a great summer.. I completely envy you since its winter in Chile and I am certainly not on vacation!

Got my packet yesterday, of course I live a few blocks from campus, so it'll probably take a while for the rest to get to Chile, Nigeria, Sweden, and all of those other places this year's fellows are from. Looking forward to meeting everyone and learning about their experiences making films around the world.

Also. I retired today from my job. YEAH! Graduate school, here I come.

Hey guys. Yeah they brought up my age too at the interview. I'm 22, I really thought I wasn't going to get in because of what they said. Anyone noticing a pattern?

Hah, yeah. Same thing happened to me. I'm 21, Cinematography. Definitely thought my age was gonna keep me out. It seems as a whole we have a very young class. Maybe it's a trend. I remember reading that the average age of Fellows was 29 though. Anybody else hear that?

I wouldn't worry about the age thing (I'm 22 myself), it just means that we will probably get ID'd more at the bars

The main thing is that we are in.

Ryan

What up peeps. My name is Sam and I have been accepted as a cinematography fellow. I am a youngin too. I did not realize that there was so many of us. Although my age was not a point of contention in the interview. I have a friend who just finished his first year at AFI and said that it is not you age that matters at all but rather how you hold yourself, but that is sort of a all around life rule I guess too. If any of you sub 25ers want to get togetehr and have our own young AFI get together I am down.

I'm starting to feel old...
Don't worry Ryan, I'll buy you the beer if you have trouble.

Tal Lazar, Cinematography, 28

Yeah, it is looking up to be a young crowd among the cinematography fellows this year ain't it? I'm in cinematography myself, and I'm glad I'm somewhat in the middle range. I'll be 24 in September.

Wow, I'm overwhelmed at the prospect of meeting all of you...by the way, I'm Theresa...Production Design Fellow...from Canada (a.k.a. the cold country to the north of the US, ha, ha).
I can't wait to meet everyone!
Hey, LATexan, I will be flying in to LA in early July and would appreciate any tips you may have on finding a place near school (that allows cats). We should touch base before I arrive and maybe you could help me out a little and show me around. I've only been to the school once so I don't know that area too well yet.
Talk to y'all soon!
-Theresa. (T)

Hey everyone here's a shoutout from Boston! My name's Jose and I'm coming in the screenwriting program. I tried and tried to e-mail everyone but with no success with hotmail, yahoo, or gmail! :'-( I finally signed on here (sorry computers really aren't my thing). I must say I'm feeling intimidated on how on the ball all the Westies are (networking and talking parties w/celebs already) you're making all us Easties look bad! ;-)
Anyhoo, I added the e-mail more or less under my bio. so I won't bore you again with it here. You can see some of my work and pics here: http://www.myspace.com/146725072
I can't wait to meet everyone and I certainly hope I can make the party so I can show you Westies one or two things you can learn at the college capital of the world!!! :-)))

Jose,
What part of Boston are you from? I'm North Shore (Beverly). Good to know that there will be someone else interested the sox/pats games if I get out there.
Gotta say I'm getting worried about the whole housing situation. I'm still figuring out what I'm gonna be doing since I just got accepted last week, and I don't wanna show up in August with nowhere to live. What are rents like out there for 1br's and are people looking for roommates?
Also, I didn't think I was going to be the only younger "fellow" (still getting used to that term) but I'm surprised at how many have already popped up. Regardless, I think age is going to go out the window pretty quickly and everyone will be relying on one another to get through the program and be successful. Good to meet all of you!

Hey All, sorry I haven't checked in in a while. Between posting on Yahoo, here and via e-mail, I'm getting exhausted. We should find a consensus as to how we should now communicate...

Anyway, I digress.

Theresa - Absolutely! I'd be happy to get together and help you with the re-adjustment process.

As for housing, I've already posted the following on Yahoo and via e-mail -

Just signed my lease and mentioned to the manager that there were a whole bunch of AFI students migrating to LA this summer. Turns out there is a single, with parking in my building available mid-July. I told her not to even bother listing it as I was sure someone from our group would be interested. I haven't seen it, but would be happy to send pics as soon as I get a chance.


P.S. In case you didn't get the other e-mail, but I rented a two bedroom (turns out it was less than any one bedrooms I could find) and could use the extra money to fix the place up. I'm not looking for a long term roommate, but anyone coming late June / July is welcome to rent the spare room until you find a proper place. Who knows, if it works, maybe I'll change my mind about the whole roommate thing.

As it stands - 650.00 plus split utilities, no parking. The place needs some work and might be willing to negotiate on the rent in trade for help with the painting and laying tile. Let me know!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LATexan,

Below are other threads that I or other AFI Fellows have contributed to. Thought they might be useful.

AFI Interview
http://forums.studentfilms.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8661022734/m/4681048344

West Coast Grad Students Unite
http://forums.studentfilms.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8661022734/m/8201062854

Moving to LA for Grad School
http://forums.studentfilms.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8661022734/m/5901094354

AFI Questions
http://forums.studentfilms.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8661022734/m/4941076844

Accepted? Rejected?
http://forums.studentfilms.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8661022734/m/6831063744

Who are you people?!?!?!
http://forums.studentfilms.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8661022734/m/7151009944

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LATexan,

Hey all!

I'm planning my big move from Philadelphia in a few weeks. I graduated Temple U in Philly several years ago. I have been shooting and started a production company in the meantime.

Oh yeah, and I'll be getting married between school years next June!

So you'll all have to be nice to my new wife as she moves to LA to join us

Would love to see reels/trailers of everyone's work. It's always inspiring and motivating.

You can see my reel at www.BenjiBakshi.com

Yo Steve,
I live in Roxbury. Funny I went out to Beverly during my second summer in Boston two days a week cause I was taking a directing and acting class with Peter Berkrot. How about we get together for a beer or something sometime this week?

Hello AFI'ers,

Yeah, it looks like this year's class is very young! I'm 26, and I thought I was going to be one of the younger ones...turns out i'm an oldie!

Anyhow, I've received some email replies in regards to organizing an intimate get together. I was thinking about early August, to make sure most people can make it. How does Saturday, August 11th sound?

I was thinking about a nice pot luck BBQ by one of the beaches. Anyone got alternate suggestions/ideas/requests?

Let me know, and I'll start compiling a list of stuff each person could bring!

Best,
Nadine Truong
Directing Fellow and daydreamer

I'm bummed that I'll miss Nadine's BBQ. I dont move out there until the 16th. But have fun!

-Amanda
Producing Fellow