Applying to Film School: University of Texas at Austin (UT)

(NOTE: These requirements are based on my application for Fall 2006. They may have changed.)

Program: Radio, Television, and Film: Film Production (Graduate: MFA)

Website: http://rtf.utexas.edu/
Application Deadline: December 1st

Components (for Fall 2006):

• Online University of Texas Graduate School General Application
• Transcript (All Undergraduate Schools)
• GRE
• RTF Online Department Application
• RTF Application Checklist
• Recommendations (Up to 4)
• Statement of Purpose
• Resume
• Academic Writing Sample
• Visual Sample (a video reel is preferred)

My Application:

The striking difference between UT’s application as compared to USC and UCLA is the emphasis UT places on what you have already done. They prefer people with experience. So they require a visual sample. Although, they will accept photographs, it seems that they strongly prefer a video sample. They also require a resume. The statement of purpose is pretty standard. The only odd requirement is the academic writing sample. I’m not sure what that’s about, but I guess they want to make sure that you will be able to survive the graduate media criticism classes. I just turned in an undergraduate paper without changing a word.

All in all, the UT application was one of the easiest to complete. Both the grad school app and the department app’s were online. I didn’t have to do any silly essays. Most of the components were standard professional materials: a video sample, a statement of purpose, a resume. It was nice to be treated like a professional and not have to write a bunch of throw away essays.

In March I received a phone call from the head of the production department. He basically asked me why I would want to go to UT. That was the extent of any interview. A week later, I received an acceptance email.

My Take:

As I said before, choosing between UCLA and UT was the hardest decision of this whole application process. The other schools either eliminated me (NYU) or easily fell off the list (USC, Columbia, Boston).

So here are some of the things that crossed my mind:

Things I like about both schools:

• They’re both universities. I wanted a university environment as opposed to a conservatory environment because I like the energy and intellectual climate of universities.
• They’re both public schools. So you get to interact with all kinds of people.
• They’re both huge schools. People often get scared off by huge schools. But in my experience as an undergraduate in an honors program at UT, if you’re in a small, elite program of a huge university you get the best of both worlds. You have the resources of a huge university but you also get the individual attention you want from your program. Also, I find that huge universities are sometimes more efficient because they have to be. They have more information and resources available online. Ironically, it was easier to get answers during the application process from UCLA or UT as compared to smaller schools like NYU and Columbia.
• Both programs are very similar philosphically. They both emphasise the independent writer/director.
• Both schools teach craft. Although the programs are geared towards developing directors, they do teach all the technical aspects as well. Students have come out of both schools and become editors and cinematographers. Some directing programs are weak on the technical side.

Things I like about UCLA:

• Slightly more accomplished professors and a few super stars.
• An immersive 6 days a week production boot camp for the first quarter.
• The opportunity to take advanced classes in craft. UCLA has advanced classes in cinematography, editing, etc…
• Exposure to Los Angeles. I don’t need to build up LA. It’s the film capital of America. Learning the ropes in LA is a big plus.
• Sex appeal. Everyone knows that UCLA is a great school. It’s instant credibility.
• UCLA has an established screenwriting program and a producing program. So you have the potential to meet some future writers and producers.
• The LA actor pool.

Things I like about UT:

• Extremely small program. UT accepts 12 people a year. UCLA is slightly larger with 21.
• More freedom. The emphasis is on your own work. Even before school started, we received an email telling us to come to school with some ideas for our documentaries. For the most part, you learn by working on your own projects instead of exercises. So there are fewer advanced classes in craft (as compared to UCLA), but you can seek out extra training by taking independent study classes with faculty.
• The faculty is extremely accessible. It’s partly the Austin culture and partly the small size of the program.
• Older, more experienced classmates. UT puts much greater emphasis on experience in their application process. So the average incoming age is in the late 20s as opposed to the mid twenties. Everyone comes in with some interesting experience to bring to the table.
• A strong undergraduate program. Although, this means that you are sometimes competing with undergraduates for equipment, it also means that there’s a lot more people that are willing to crew on your films for free. Most of the undergraduates get their experience by working on graduate student films.
• Equipment and facilities. Students will always want more equipment, but my understanding is that UT has better equipment, studio space, and editing space than most of the big name schools (UCLA, Columbia, NYU). Of course, no one can compete with USC when it comes to equipment. I have yet to wait for an editing suite.
• Austin. It’s not LA. So you’re not getting into the Hollywood filmmaking world. But on the flip side, you’re in an environment that’s extremely supportive of local independent filmmaking. It’s simply easier to get your films made here. Finding actors may be more difficult, but equipment, locations, and crew will all be much cheaper. The Austin Film Society rocks.
• Cost. It’s crude to turn school into a cost thing, but you have to. If you’re going to come out of school with 100K in debt, how long will it be before you get to make your own film? Austin is cheaper than LA, and UT is cheaper than UCLA. Teaching assistant jobs make things even more affordable in your second and third years. And since UT has a large undergraduate program in film, everyone gets TA jobs.

So in the end I choose UT. I also had the added factor that I’m a Texas resident. On one hand, I did want to experience something different, but I also have a strong network in Austin and Houston. By staying close by, I can continue to lean on that. And than, there’s always family too.

~ by soham on November 21, 2006.