Comments on: How to get into film school

By: Anne Armitage

Anne Armitage — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:58:06 +0000

Joe:

Worked at MIT for twelve years...a long time ago. Ran admin for ISP, ran student office in now-defunct Course XX, did a ton of Dramashop and Boston showbiz before there was a Boston film industry. Have a theatre MFA in directing.

Did student advising at the 'Tute forever, read both freshman and graduate admission folders. So:

1)Your grades and scores are tremendous. Is MIT still on a 5.0 scale? Are you about 4.6? Just apply!!!! If you get denied, you may not know why, but you will have given it a shot.

2) Go to the Alumni Office (?maybe still Building 13?). There's a huge directory of MIT grads, and somewhere the database is broken down by field. Find anyone you can in any area of the business. Current contact info often listed. Career services may and may not help--but check the recruiting companies--it ain't all Intel and biotechs and financials--they know who has been in in the last few years, may be able to give you contact info for a few companies/ed institutions. Part of their mandate used to be pre-med and pre-professional advising. Find out who the go-to person is. They travel a lot to industries, some schools. Not a huge source, but sometimes gold.

3) The Media Lab used to have a lot of CGI/FX/amimation types hanging around, often students doing UROPs. Don't know where they all went, but some are in the business. Find the faculty guru, get an appointment, have a heart-to-heart: may have some contacts. Ditto students.

4) Take a course at BU's Screenwriting program; see if it can be used to fit a HASS requirement next semester. Pick their brains.

5) Check out NEFilm.com and Beanywood sites.

6) Get a Miramax contact to give you some pointers.

7) AFI screenwriting deadline was December 1; a couple of disciplines are still taking apps. AFI recruited in Boston in October, was at MIT in 6-120 around 10/19. Not well publicized, very small audience. However, rep was Danielle McVickers. Call or email her; get the current scoop. (Go to AFI Conservatory site).

Good luck--are the felafel trucks still at 77 Mass Ave?:):)???

Anne

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:36:54 +0000

Hi, I’m a junior at MIT and a double major in Biophysics and engineering. I have a 3.8 (4.0 in Bio/3.75 in Engineering) and I got a 1560 on the GRE’s and a 174 on the LSAT’s (was thinking about Law school, but not anymore). I worked last summer as an intern at Miramax and have shot a few short films on Super 16mm and have written 2 screenplays. What do I need to do to get into AFI or UCLA in the screenwriting program?

By: KAREN

KAREN — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:26:35 +0000

I AM MOTHER OF SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. DIRECTOR WANNABE. HE HAS STRUGGLED WITH SOME SMALL LEARNING DISABILITIES. HE IS THE HARDEST WORKER. HAS MADE MUSIC VIDEOS FOR SCHOOL. GREAT. WANTS TO DIRECT FILM. WHERE IS BEST PLACE TO GO FOR A HS SENIOR FROM PA WITH LIMITED RESOURCES (INCLUDING PARENTS). LOOKNG FOR ADVICE AND ANY HELP AVAILABLE TO POINT US IN BEST DIRECTION. THANKS

By: prudhvi

prudhvi — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:40:59 +0000

respected sir im looking forward to apply for a film school.the reason why im intrested towards this field is due to the enthusiasm and determination in me to become a successful actor.i hav got an excellent personallity.i need some guidence from your side.can you please help me out to fullfill all my ambitions and dreams.will it be wise for me to enter into films through modelling as i hav got good personality.i requst you to tell me what is the total fees i need to pay and what are the qualifications needed in this to entert into this film institute.can u please tell me which institute is best to join so that i get film or any add offers and i can excel in this particular field.u also tell me how much time i need to spend daily in this training aS im trying only as part time because im completing my btech and other cources.im presently a btech student.im wishing responce from ur side very soon. your sincearly, p.prudhvi

By: Cristian

Cristian — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 07:15:33 +0000

i’m a mass comm major, public relations actually, and i recently have started to like film as a career, and i’m curious. i’ve been many places around the world, seen many things, experienced things that most people haven’t, and i want to be able to share all that with people, i know i would have a lot to offer, but i just dont know what would be the best first move for me(if go to film school, or try something independent) not sure who to talk to about it. if anybody has any feedback on this it would be great, It something i want to do, is just that big first step that i’m trying to figure out.

By: Jacquelin

Jacquelin — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 01:41:01 +0000

I have been volunteering at the college’s undergrad film school I want to attend. I am able to learn and network with fellow filmmakers. I felt that if it didn’t help me to be accepted, which it may or may not, it has still helped me in building a resume as well as my own filmmaking knowledge. I was recommended to do so by a professor who graduated from the program. I enjoy working with the other students a lot and they are always teaching me something new.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 08:04:30 +0000

i love movies so much it makes me want to throw up. im horrible at spelling and grammer it would make a normal person want to laugh and point. i say all of us who have something to give in this insane industry come together and make one hell of a sweet film.

By: les

les — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:05:35 +0000

I went to film school, Its really great to be around people that have common interest. But, there are attitudes and ego’s ever present. Kiss ass students kissing the ass’s of the staff, just to have a great position on the set,,, save the 40-80,000 your going to spend on scgool and go make your own movie.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 09:12:57 +0000

I have a few questions. I’m attending UNR where there is no film program. At first my plan was to get all of my general ed out of the way, and apply for a BA in film then apply for an MFA program. I was curious how this process would work out. Is it more beneficial to go about it this way or to just jump straight into a film program? The problem is I feel like I’m wasting my time at UNR, and that I should just leave and go somewhere that offers what I’m looking for. I have been having major lack of motivation, and my grades are being severely affected by it. I know I’m screwing up, but I want to know how I can turn it around. What are my options? What would be the most beneficial process for someone in my situation to go through? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 20 May 2006 00:59:30 +0000

Hey i’m Alex I’m gonna be a sophmore in HS. I live in the land of no-opportunity kansas city. Its not that bad but id like to get out in the open. I wanna be a film director basically but i like writing and editing as well. I dont have all the equipment and cool software but my mom says the famous words “use what you have”. I partly agree with her because if you can do good with the little you have you can go beyond with what you dont. My only equipment is a Sony Digital8 and Screenblast software and an emachines computer..i guess the cables(usb,power..etc) Anyways I’m planning on going to NYU or USC. I mean look at the people that came out of that place. I make short “films”.not really beacuse…my actors are my bros and cousins and they are about the worst actors ever but i also blame myself a little for no script. I’ve also “helped” out at my theatre department…cutting out gels for the lights(they’d not let me be a lights operator…since i have to be master electrician & to do that u have to take a class which i enrolled for next year…that i didnt kno about my frosh yr )…anyways this coming up this skool yr i’m gonna try to be an assistant director for 1 of the shows….Anyways back to my needin help………I need help on what to be doing right now to get into undergrad. film school… because apparently i’m not doing enough.

1 more question. Do you have to do undergrad to go to grad(at NYU or USC) ?

Thanks 4 reading my long plead.

e-mail me with suggestions at ozzaroni@yahoo.com

SiGnInG oFf…..BiG Al

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 07:13:52 +0000

I am a freshman at the University of Chicago studying English. My first completed play is being given a reading at school now. My dream is to write for film/theatre. My grades, at this point, are very good, and my script has gotten positive feedbacks from nearly all its readers. I am a network playwright at the Chicago Dramatists guild, and took a class there last quarter. What else should I be doing if I hope to go to grad school for film/theatre writing? And, assuming my writing continues to improve and my grades hold up at one of the most rigorous institutions in the country, do I stand a good shot at a Yale/UCLA/NYU/Northwestern-type grad program?