International College Counselors

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Our Team
    • Brochure
    • Scholarship Essay Contest
    • Why ICC?
  • Services
    • College Counseling
    • Graduate School
    • International Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Learning Differences
    • K-12 Placement Services
    • SSAT Flex Testing
    • A La Carte Services
    • Corporate Benefits
    • Giving Back
  • Contact Us
  • Results
  • News & Events
    • In The News
    • Press Releases
    • Awards & Recognitions
    • Upcoming Free Webinars and Seminars
  • Essays
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Locations
    • Florida Locations
    • Connecticut Location
    • New York City Locations
    • North Carolina Location
  • Resources
    • New Book: To University and Beyond
    • Overall Admission Rates

6 Ways to Prepare for Applying to a Film School or Film Major

October 21, 2019 by Cheree Liebowitz

International College Counselors’ new Director of College Advising, Sam Johnson, has worked with students on applications to NYU Tisch, USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and UCLA (among many, many other film programs).  He knows there are an unusual number of moving parts to a film school application, and that it can be daunting for sure! Taking into account both his work with film applicants and his own background as a USC MFA alum and an award-winning screenwriter, shares with us “6 Ways to Prepare for Applying to a Film School or Film Major:”
 
  1. Walk the walk, friend 
    It is easy to say you want to be a filmmaker. Watch: “I want to be a filmmaker.” There, it’s literally that easy. What’s not easy is producing a body of actual work. If you are a filmmaker, even an aspiring filmmaker, you should be making films! Every weekend, over your summer, with friends, with enemies, however you can get it done. But this is NOT about creating a portfolio. (More on that later.) It’s about learning technical and storytelling skills and finding your own voice. Even if some of the movies turn out “bad,” you will learn something! It’s not like you will be forced to screen your movies for anyone. Speaking of which…

  2. Screen your movies for people
    Yes, even the bad ones. Allow people to critique your films and give yourself the opportunity to see others’ work. This will give you new ideas and help you figure out if there is a better/easier/cheaper way you could be making the kinds of films you want to make. You may also meet a collaborator!

  3. Attend a summer film program 
    While, yes, you can and should “learn by doing,” that can sometimes be a daunting task. Oftentimes students will want a guide before they jump right into making their own films. Luckily, there are several summer filmmaking opportunities for high school students-whether you want to direct, write or produce. Or even if you don’t know exactly what you want to do yet. Here a just a few, NYU being perhaps the most prestigious.
    – NYU

    – New York Film Academy
    – USC
    – UCLA

  4. Prepare an “Artist’s Statement”
    If you’re a rising senior, this one’s for you. Not every school will ask for this, but it’s still good to have because it will answer a question that ALL school applications will ask: Why do you want to apply to your major? If that major is film, you will want to have a clear, compelling answer to:
    a. Why are you interested in film in the first place? To entertain? To change people’s minds? To change the world?
    b. What are your greatest achievements so far? If you won a festival and are an expert on RED camera cinematography, that’s awesome. If not, don’t worry about it! Plenty of great films have been made on iPhones, and what schools really care about most is your storytelling chops.
    c. What kind of films do you want to make? This will connect part a with part b. Maybe you have only ever shot a film in your backyard, but you want to make $200M superhero movies, that is a pretty good reason to say you need to go to film school.

  5. Prepare your portfolio 
    Boy, it’s a good thing you made all those movies with your friends/enemies over your weekends/summers! Cause now you need to bring together a killer “5-minute reel” from them. I know that sounds really short, but think of it this way: the people viewing your films will have to watch hours and hours (and hours) of student films even with this short running time. They may even want to re-watch certain films a second time. If they had to watch 30-minute portfolios-well, they just wouldn’t.
    Choose the films that show your passion, your unique voice and your storytelling talent-not just the ones with the best production value. You can be taught ways to increase production value; passion, not so much… If you have one really killer film (or a killer 5-minute section from a 4-hour masterpiece) just use that. It will give the impression that all your work is that good. If, on the other hand, you just can’t decide what’s your best piece, cut together 2-3 clips from your greatest hits. (Don’t go below ~30 seconds for any one film or else the viewer won’t really be able to get a sense of the film.)
    Can’t decide what your best films are because you spent your blood, sweat and tears on each one and consider them all your babies? See: “# 2, Screen your movies for people.” Which of your films do others like?

  6. Write your creative resume
    A creative resume is much like a regular resume, just more focused. It should include only film or other creative activities (painting, photography, architecture, web design…).  Be sure to include your role(s), the equipment used so they know your amazing technical skills, any special circumstances involved, and if it won any sweet awards! Here’s some formatting help for each bullet point:
“My Excellent Movie”; surreal dramedy; 7 minutes, 18 seconds  2019
  • Director/Writer/Photographer/Editor
  • Filmed on BlackMagic Pocket Cinema 4K; edited on Adobe Premiere
  • Awarded Best Surreal Dramedy at Surreal Dramedy Awards, 2019
  • Filmed on location in a raft in the middle of the Ocean/Raised $10,000 for charity/etc…
Well, that’s about all-to begin with. Good luck and may the force be with you.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: International College Counselors blog Tagged With: applying to film school, cinema college advisor, cinema major, college advisor cinema, college advisor film, film college advisor, film major, film major in college, film majors, film school, film school application, film school college advisor

Sign up for free college admissions advice!

Subscribe

Recent Acceptances

M.I.T.
Yale University
Stanford University
Brown University
Caltech
Harvard College
Princeton University
Harvard Business School
University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School
Washington University St. Louis
Cornell University
Columbia University
Dartmouth College
Northwestern University
The Cooper Union
Johns Hopkins University
University of Florida
New York University
University of Michigan
University of Chicago
Brandeis University
University of Texas @ Austin
NYU Dental School
USC Dental School
Duke University
University of Virginia
Barnard College
Amherst College
UNC Chapel Hill
Wesleyan University
Rice University
McGill University
Olin College of Engineering
Tufts University
Emory University
Carnegie Mellon University
George Washington University
University of Notre Dame
Georgia Institute of Technology
Boston University
USC
U.C.L.A.
Vanderbilt University
Syracuse University
UC Berkeley
Rensselaer Polytechnic
University of Maryland
New College of Florida
Loyola Marymount University
American University
Harvey Mudd College
Middlebury College
Boston College
Babson University
Georgetown University
Colgate University
Bard College
Ohio State University
Indiana University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Tulane University
University of Miami
Purdue University
Oxford College @ Emory
Wisconsin @ Madison
Northeastern University
Lehigh University
Goucher College
Pennslyvania State University
Muhlenberg College
University of Connecticut
Loyola University Chicago
University of Colorado Boulder
Colorado State University
University of Alabama
Louisiana State University
Drexel University
Embry-Riddle University
University of Arizona
Florida State University
University of Central Florida
S.U.N.Y @ Binghamton
S.U.N.Y @ Stony Brook
S.U.N.Y @ Albany
S.U.N.Y @ Geneseo
S.U.N.Y. @ Oneonta
S.U.N.Y. @ Oswego
S.U.N.Y @ Purchase
Art Institute of Chicago
University of Illinois
Pratt Institute
Ringling College Art & Design
George Mason University
University of Vermont
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Parsons New School of Design
Emerson College
Auburn University
Michigan State University
UC Santa Cruz
UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara
Elon University
St. John's University
UMass Amherst
UMass Dartmouth
UMass Lowell
UMass Boston
Suffolk University
Bentley University
Lynn University
Arizona State University
University of North Florida
Florida Atlantic University
Florida International University
Florida Gulf Coast University
University of South Florida
Nova Southeastern University
University of Tampa
Hofstra University
Pace University
University of New England
Western New England College
Bowling Green State University
Rollins College
Eugene Lang College
Baruch College
Hunter College
Santa Fe College
Fordham University
UNC Greensboro
University of Hartford
Lasell College
Shimer College
Hillsdale College
College of Charleston
Bryant University
Clark University
James Madison University
Curry College
Southern Methodist University
Florida Institute of Technology
LIM College
University of British Columbia
College of the Holy Cross
University of Pittsburgh
Purchase College
University of Minnesota
Virginia Commonwealth University
Columbia College
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
St. Leo University
Stetson University
Canisius College
LIM College
Case Western Reserve
San Diego State University
Marymount Manhattan College

Blog Categories

  • College Admissions
  • College Applications
  • College Essays
  • College Planning
  • College Visits and Information Sessions
  • Extracurricular & Summer Activities
  • FAQ
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships
  • Giving Back
  • Graduate School
  • In the News
  • International College Counselors blog
  • International Students
  • Other
  • Special Students – Athletes, LD, Art Majors
  • Standardized Tests – SAT/ACT/AP Courses/PSAT
  • Summer Opportunities
  • Tips for High School Freshman and Sophomores
  • Tips for High School Juniors
  • Tips for High School Seniors
  • Transfer Students
  • Uncategorized

Blog Archives

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

International College Counselors

3107 Stirling Road, Suite 208
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 USA
(954) 414-9986
(800) 452-9090

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Books By Our Staff:

To University and Beyond: Launch Your Career in High Gear by Mandee Heller Adler and David Teten. From Public School To The Ivy League by Mandee Heller Adler International Admissions by Mandee Heller Adler and Aimee Heller

Navigation

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Contact Us
  • Results
  • News & Events
  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

  • Top Tips for the Common Application
  • Tips to Start the School Year Right
  • Game On: How to be Recruited as a Student-Athlete
  • The Power of Early Decision and Early Action Applications
  • ICC Welcomes Three Educational Experts

Copyright © 2022 · Enterprise Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

en English
en Englishes Spanishzh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchfr Frenchit Italiande Germanpt Portugueseru Russianar Arabic