Education

I know there’s a post in the archives about film school, and [whether it’s necessary,](http://johnaugust.com/archives/2003/is-film-school-necessary) but I would love to hear any advice you have on actually applying to film school.

How can someone improve their chances for getting accepted to a MFA program in film production/writing? What in your opinion are film schools really looking for in applicants? Any thoughts on what to avoid in an application?

–Oz
Honolulu, HI

This time, I decided I would go right to the source and ask [Howard A. Rodman](http://imdb.com/name/nm0734912/maindetails), who in addition to being a fine writer and all-around good guy, is the chair of the MFA and BFA programs in screen and television writing of the USC Cinema School.

Here’s what he had to say.

**Howard Rodman:** I read many, many applications. [We just this week finished selecting this fall’s incoming class.] Here’s what we’re looking for:

1. Writing. Good writing. Not necessarily in screenplay format. We’re less interested, at this point, in whether you know what we’re here to teach you, than in whether you can put together a sentence. Tell a story. Create a dimensional character. In short: do you have your very own voice? [P.S. – We know the difference between “its” and “it’s,” and we actually care.]

2. Grades, good enough to pass muster with the larger USC admissions apparatus, and good enough to give us the confidence you’ll be able to execute a demanding program. Four point something GPAs and 1600 SATs (or GREs) are truly lovely, but are not in and of themselves guarantors of anything. We’re looking for writers [see #1 above], but we do need to know you can handle the load.

3. Diversity. Folks with life experience. Folks from strange and wonderful places. Folks who’ve had interesting ‘first’ careers before turning to writing. Not just your typical work/study/get ahead/kill types. The New York Times says that a cinema MFA may be the new MBA; but I’m not sure we’d view it that way.

4. A good mix. Not all Hummers, not all Priuses.

I’m a teenager. How young were
you when you knew you wanted to become a writer?

–Ruhalia Knight

I probably knew I wanted to be a writer when I was seven years old. My mom
had a manual typewriter, and I spent the better part of a week trying to type
a story about a boy who lived on Mars. I only made it about 12 lines. The story
kept changing because I often hit the wrong keys, and would have to stop and
think about what words I could make with the letter I had mis-typed.

It wasn’t until college that I started to think about writing for movies.
In the era before the internet — and internet-based advice columns — I read
what I could find in bookstores, starting with Steven Soderbergh’s screenplay
for SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE. I remember being fascinated by how simple movie
scripts were. It seemed easy, or at least a lot easier than any other form
of writing.

I was wrong, but I was hooked. I learned everything else about screenwriting
after I moved to Los Angeles in 1992. I was 22.

I have an 11-and-a-half-year old who seems to watch movies
and TV shows more as a writer or director rather than as a viewer. She’ll second-guess
the plot,
for example; and also sometimes think that shots should be made in a certain
way. Do you have any suggestions for such a young aspiring filmmaker?

–Wordwitch

First off, kudos for recognizing her interest. By far the most helpful thing
a parent can do is to encourage their kids to explore what they like, and to
appreciate what they’re able to create. Her talent is like a tiny flame. It’s
your job to keep supplying the kindling she needs to burn, but avoid the temptation
to throw on too much too soon. You risk overwhelming her if she’s not ready
to move on to more sophisticated things.

If she has a favorite TV show, try taping an episode, then transcribing it
together. She’ll probably be fascinated to see what scenes look like when they’re
written down on paper. She may have ideas for her own scenes that are better
than the originals.

Likewise, you might help her find some fan fiction on the internet for her
favorite shows or movies. A lot of fan fiction is terribly written – and some
of it is very X-rated, so you’ll want to pre-screen – but if it inspires her
to write her own, fantastic.

If you happen to have a Mac and a DV video camera, iMovie is a no-brainer.
She can make little movies to her heart’s content, especially if you’re willing
to help when asked.

If she’s more interested in the design side of things, like costumes and sets,
try to get her involved with a children’s playhouse, or even a local community
theater. There are lots of jobs she could probably do, even at her age. Personal
bias, but I don’t think enough kids learn how to hammer or sew these days.

And keep in mind that her school district might have special drama or creative
writing programs. Ask her if she’d like to join one. Just remember: always
support, but never push. At some point, all kids rebel against their parents,
and if they associate you too strongly with the activity that gives them happiness,
there’s a chance they might walk away from it altogether.