My friends, I'm writing from the trenches. Jayimiss..et al. I could use your wisdom.

NYU & Columbia are top choices. Each has different requirements for their essay.
Columbia - personal bio, etc. NYU - why us/goals

I know the standing advice is 'go with who you are.' But some consideration should be put into tailoring for each school's expectation - No?

If so, how should I spin the NYU essay? Focus on goals? Experience? Why they da bomb?

The other question. Should I play-up my ecclectic professional production experience: Stunt Coordinator, Actor, multiple below-the-line positions, on top of my personal filmmaking productions, and include it all in my portfolio?

My first-born for enlightenment. P's

Even though they are both asking for different things, I think they are rather similar. I personally would consider my goals a driving force in my bio.

I would read through the program description of both NYU and Columbia and see what they are each looking for in their students, or what they want to instill in their students, etc. I find most schools will sometimes repeat certain key words. If you see any of those and you think it really reflects who you are, stress it. If they list some things they want but you don't have, I would just ignore it, unless it's been a conscious part of your personal attempts at growth.

Thanks Massive Love x 133,

Any thoughts on the second part of that question:

...the 31 Flavors of experience?

The essays should be about your goals. The ones you hope to reach, the ones you've reached already, and why they exist.

I wouldn't put any acting stuff on your reel...they are looking for your skills.

Save it for the resume.

Good luck.

Thanks JAHimess,

You got good sense and soul.

So no professional skill that doesn't demonstrate a concrete technique?

Should I leave out scenes I fight and stunt coordinated - which included directing the actors and placing the camera? That included the likes of Michael Madsen and Mike Kelly?

Your thoughts?

Above all, you need to be SINCERE with your letter. I think they can smell when people write what they think the film school wants to hear.

I mean, they get so many applications, they will all start to sound the same.

In the essay you should discuss why film school? why now? What do you want to accomplish?

I wouldn't bother too much about listing professional accomplishments in the field, unless you've won awards or something. They are more interested in interesting people, with interesting backgrounds and experiences from which to draw upon.

duder, you're the dude - thanks dude!

lol, I like your style Sojouner.

Anyway, regarding the the listing of your production experience, I have no idea personally. I'm applying myself, and from what I've read everyone here has done something a little different, and a lot of them with success. I would say that if certain parts of your production experience are important to how you got to where you are now, than you should include it in your essays. If not, just list it on your resume or CV. I listed all sorts of random stuff on my CV because I wanted to stress the versatility of my background in entertainment, even if not all of it is directly related to movie making. For me, versatility and adaptability were a big part of my pitch, for you it may be different. Good luck! =)

Danke Massive Love...

Anyone care to answer the following:

I've got two so-so shorts, a solid music video and a decent live-to-tape TV news mag series I created and produced in university in 1998.

My recent stills, taken while living in Turkey, reflect my mature visual style.

What's more favorable for a candidate (beyond solid essay and writing samples): the film-video or stills? Any recommendations on a multi-media tour of my stills portfolio embedded along with my shorts, video, TV series?

How Long should the Personal Statement be?