Hello,

Calling all current AFI students: I'm wondering if I can pick your brains about this upcoming interview.

I've applied for Screenwriting and interview in NYC at the end of the month. I'm wondering what type of questions they ask!

Warm regards,

CL

Yeah, I'm interested in what all will be asked too. I'm also interviewing for the screenwriting program.

There are no set questions they ask. Each interview is different, based on the individual person.

I am interviewing for directing next week. The one thing that I have learned from past applicants is to be yourself. Don't try to impress anyone.

From my screenwriting interview last year, I can tell you the following things...

They will take your picture.

Be relaxed...it's just a conversation.

Be prepared to discuss a project you want to work on in the fall.

Don't mention any films you like unless you are prepared to discuss them thoroughly.

They'll ask you where else you applied...be prepared to explain why you applied to those schools and AFI, and be able to differentiate.

If I remember anything else, I'll let you know.

Good luck, everyone.

i guess that's the paradox of it all, it's hard to relax without knowing what will happen T_T, can anyone answer some of these questions?

-how long is the interview generally?

-are we expected to talk or do they lead with the questions like a job interview?

-is it one on one interview or a panel?

-also those who are being interviewed in nyc, ,did you guys get any details on the location yet?

thnx~

I was told the interviews are at the Westin Hotel in Times square.

As for the other questions, I'm not sure. I think it will be more than one person though.

They ask you questions, then at the end they will ask you if you have any questions for them.

Last year I interviewed with the dean of the school...his name escapes me now, and Gill Dennis.

The interview was about a half an hour long, I believe. They were running over an hour late, but I believe they scheduled us on the :15 and the :45.

Don't overthink it. I landed on this site last year because I was unsure of what to wear to my AFI interview, so I googled it. I found the answer to that question but not much else, so I fear I'm telling you all too much...don't want you guys to seem all rehearsed and stuff.

Good luck.

thanks a lot jayimess for all the help!!

so...you said you found out what to wear. what do you wear? it's the reason why i found this website too. funny how things come full circle

The Admissions guy I spoke to said every interview lasts around 30 to 40 minutes.

Also, since I suck hardcore on the phone, where I totally meant to say "What should I bring to the interview" I instead embarrassingly said, "What should I WEAR to it"--well, anyway, now I have the answer to that, haha. At my expense and everyone else's convenience! lol. The poor guy was totally like "what the hell" in his head, I can tell. Yep. I think it was the way I said it, though, otherwise now that I think about it there should be nothing in asking that kind of question, right? Right?

His answer didn't imply anything really strict as to what you wear to your interview; just don't wear anything scandalous (if you're a girl, don't go in showing a gratuitous amount of cleavage... etc., etc.). Treat it like any other formal interview.

He also answered my unspoken question: "We'll have all of your application materials here, so you don't have to worry about bringing anything with you."

Ugh, I wish I could sound cooler on the phone. I hate talking to a person and not being able to read their body language and whatnot. It makes me nervous.

haha maseiya i had similar experience as well, i cant stand talking on the phone for the same reasons, i basically didn't say a word, i think the only word i said was "cool", seems like the guy was kinda mad for my rudeness, but at the end i heard a polite chuckle...

it's ok, they're professional film people, they'll see more than the obvious

Peter, I wish I had done the same as you! Better to have little to say than a load of gibberish!

Anyway, I'm done feeling sorry for myself. Time to prepare for the real deal! I've got two weeks and for some reason I wish it were two months. I want time to smooth out all of my character flaws, lol! Ah, I'll need years for that though... decades... a whole lifetime....



Good luck Peter! When is your interview again? If we have any overlapping days in LA, we should meet up.

I wore a traditional black pantsuit with an untraditional shirt under the jacket and some funky jewelry...basically, show that you take this seriously, but you're not going to hide your personality. Everyone I saw there, male and female, was dressed professionally with personality as well.

At my UCLA interview, the dude who went in before me looked like he'd just rolled out of bed, and he had a ketchup stain on his shirt. He told me this was his third time interviewing with them, so he hoped he got in this time. He made fun of my suit.

I don't know if he got in, but I did. Take that however you want...I doubt that wardrobe made or broke either of us, but there's no harm in dressing up, even if your interveiwers are wearing jeans...which they were at both AFI and UCLA.

I commend you all for your investigative skills. Other than the phone calls from schools notifying me about the interviews, I never called anyone. I went in blind.

Good luck you guys!

wow thanks again Jayimess, those details really paint a good picture

hey Maseiya, my interview is on feb 29th, in nyc though ya im extremely nervous as well, it's ok, just a different way of life trying to teach me a lesson, at least thats what i tell myself haha

i dunno if this helps, but i go back to dali lama's commentaries on the book of death, watch like 4 good films a day, and think about my history/roads i've travelled...it seems to help a bit cause it reminds me why i chose film over design

you know what they say, luck comes with repetition and being out there, in the end it's all about being lucky...aieeeeeeeee!!!

btw i lived in williamsburg, va for 8 years before moving to nyc, which part of va are you from?

Peter--maybe we should meet sometime soon anyway, haha. I don't know when's the next time I'll be in NYC, do you have any idea when you might come visit D.C. or something? I'm just wondering because I have this feeling we think alike on a lot of subjects. And I don't honestly know too many people that I'm on the same wavelength with, haha.

I live in Great Falls, VA, which is about half an hour away from D.C.. it's between McLean and Reston, if that means anything to you...

My interview's in early March, but I have yet to receive my confirmation Email about it. :<

Sooo nervous, like it's really bad bad bad.... T_T Oh, that's right... I said earlier I'd stop feeling sorry for myself. So difficult to do something if your mind is bent on doing something else.

... how are you today?

Maseiya,

Which program did you apply to?

Cinematography.

Did you receive an interview yet? I'm interviewing this friday for Directing.

I haven't interviewed yet, no. I'm interviewing the first week of March in LA.

However, I've talked with an AFI cinematography professor, and he also said--"Just be yourself!"

From my talks with AFI Fellows and faculty, it seems like nearly everyone who works/studies at the school is like... really happy. Just generally cheerful people. When I think about that, it makes me less nervous. I like being around happy happy people--but who doesn't?

I've visited the campus a few times (I'm located in North Hollywood and work in Hollywood) and from what I saw that is true. The admissions people are really nice and helpful.

I can't wait for my interview on friday, I'm actually looking forward to it!