School of Film/Video Program Requirements

Fall 2009

Portfolio Guidelines

Because of time constraints in reviewing large quantities of tapes and films from many applicants, we ask you to send only your best work. The suggested total time of the film or tape material (no matter how many pieces) is 10 minutes. Five minutes of quality material is better than 30 minutes of mediocre work. Please note, however, that we prefer to receive complete works rather than excerpts. If you submit a DVD, please make sure it plays properly from a menu. Label everything you submit with your name, the date completed, duration and/or dimensions, and medium. Please do not send the only copy of your creative work. Stretched-canvas, framed or three-dimensional works cannot be accepted; please document them in slides. Be sure to review the additional portfolio guidelines below for the program to which you are applying.

Please include a completed Portfolio Information Form with each mailed portfolio package. Address your portfolio to the Office of Admissions at CalArts using the attached printable Portfolio Mailing Label. Do not send your portfolio directly to the School of Film/Video. Doing so will cause a delay in the review of your work.

Video/DVD/film submissions

Label your video (and/or 16mm film) with the number of pieces on the cassette, the title and running time of each piece, and a word or phrase designating your responsibility in the production of each piece (e.g., camera, writer, etc.). Enclose a separate sheet of paper with the same information as above. List your priority for viewing.

The Portfolio Room is equipped with the following viewing methods: 16mm film, VHS video (NTSC/U.S. and non-U.S. standards), DVD and Mini-DV. We discourage CD-ROMs because they often fail to play. If you choose to submit your portfolio as a CD-ROM, it must be formatted to play on a Macintosh system. If you submit a DVD, please send a back-up copy, preferably on NTSC (U.S. standard) VHS. Please cue tapes. All films should be head out.

Slide Submissions

Send slides in a round pre-loaded Kodak carousel slide tray. Universal Ektagraphic or Transvue 80 Chargeur is preferred, and can be found for purchase on the Internet if not available locally. Mark directly on the front of each slide your name and the slide number. Do not use adhesive labels. Once slides are oriented correctly in the carousel (image should be upside down and backwards), indicate the top right of each slide with an arrow or dot. The dot will be visible near the outer rim of the carousel. Be sure to preview your carousel before sending it. Slides in slide sheets will not be reviewed.

Program in Film and Video
(BFA, MFA)

The clearest evidence of talent is a film or videotape. You may supplement your films and/or videos with creative work in other fields, particularly visual material such as artwork, photography, drawings and design, especially if you believe it will help the faculty to understand the kind of filmmaker you are. The Program in Film and Video prefers DVDs over CD-ROMs. We discourage CD-ROMs because they often fail to play. Technical difficulties will be considered as incomplete presentations.

For the review committee, visual work and the required written materials described below have priority in your portfolio. However, if you choose to submit creative writings such as a script, a short story or a poem, please be aware that such materials lengthens the time required for reviewing your portfolio. Please send only one copy of your creative writings in your portfolio. Short pieces are preferred.

In addition to the artist’s statement required of all applicants, you must submit the following written items:

• Comments: Brief comments on films, books, plays, television shows, etc., that you feel have influenced your thoughts as a filmmaker/video artist. It is important to say why and how these works have influenced you. Avoid writing plot summaries.

• Project plans: Regardless of the work you have done to date or the practical skills you have developed so far, outline an example of a project you have in mind. Describe primarily the type or idea of the project—not the technical aspects of how you would arrange to have it made. Keep in mind that such a plan is meant to give the faculty an idea of the type of filmmaking that interests you, not an idea of a project you will necessarily produce at CalArts.

• Include a brief one- or two-sentence synopsis of the work submitted.

• Send four copies of all written materials, including your artist’s statement with your portfolio. One copy of your artist’s statement must also accompany your application. be sure to collate and clearly label all your materials with your name and include them with your portfolio. Type all written material.

• Optional: Short résumé and/or list of special skills.

Program in Experimental Animation
(BFA, MFA)

The Program in Experimental Animation promotes and supports animation as a fine art. In making admissions decisions, the program’s faculty considers animation and other visual materials such as flip books, paintings, drawings, storyboards and photographs that suggest motion or animation. The faculty recommends submitting portfolios that contain examples of unique, personal, expressive art. Submit animated film or video work if at all possible. If you do not have a film or video work to send, it is especially important to submit visual artworks that indicate your creative potential. Personal creative visual work (preferably not class assignments) that you believe represents your own interests will be very helpful to the review committee in making a decision on your application.

Submit brief comments on films, books, art, etc., that you feel have influenced your thoughts and work as an artist. It is important to say why and how these works have influenced you. Avoid writing plot summaries. Please also submit project plans. Keep in mind that such a plan is meant to give faculty an idea of the type of filmmaking that interests you, not an idea of a project you will necessarily produce at CalArts. Send seven collated, labeled copies of all written materials.

Please submit an inventory list of items in your portfolio.

In addition:

• Transfer any motion picture films or DVDs to NTSC (U.S.-standard) video.

• Do not submit static art or video art as interactive portfolio presentations. However, you may submit work originally designed as interactive art.

• Do not submit work that requires connection to the Internet.

• Please send six collated, labeled copies of all written materials.

Program in Character Animation
(BFA only)

Students are accepted into this program only at the BFA1 (first-year undergraduate) level because of the highly sequential nature of the studies.

Submit a portfolio of at least 20 drawings from life. At least 80 percent of your application portfolio should be drawings of people and animals from real life—these drawings ought to range from one-minute gestures to longer poses. Landscapes (both interior and exterior), animal, marine and floral studies, both linear and color, are also welcomed. Do not clean up the drawings by erasing the construction lines. These under-drawing/construction lines are especially helpful to the faculty in understanding how you approach life drawing.

Caricatures, cartoons, sketchbooks, flip books, animated films and fine art should be submitted as supplements to the required observational drawings.

Original work is preferred, not photocopies or photos of your work. Do not send traced pictures or copies of work by others. You may include slides of artwork, such as large drawings, paintings, sculptures, etc., that will not fit into a flat portfolio. Original drawings must be sent in a flat portfolio arrangement. Do not send drawings in poster or mailing tubes.

Film Directing Program
(MFA only)

The Film Directing Program is interested in your sense of storytelling and will consider both students in the beginning stages of filmmaking as well as more experienced directors. Please understand that we are not concerned with your technical skills. We would rather see a piece on a DVD with low production values that tells a strong story well than an expensive 16mm production that does not. Submit a portfolio containing a VHS, DVD or Mini-DV including the following three items:

• A film or video of dramatic narrative work or an excerpt from a piece you have directed. Please limit the piece to seven minutes; if your work is longer than this, excerpt the section you would most like us to see.

• Your telling of a true story based on a personal experience particularly important to you. Choose an experience that involved heightened emotion such as (although not exclusive to) terror, elation, joy, shame or passion. Please do not “perform” the emotions of the event. Emphasis is on the content of the story. Simply videotape yourself telling your story. Do not script the work, but be aware that the tape will not be reviewed past two minutes. Think carefully about your story before you tell it.

• Your memorized performance of a short dramatic monologue one or two minutes in length from a published play. The Film Directing Program does not attempt to train actors. Rather, the emphasis of this requirement is on the clear understanding of text analysis delivered in a truthful manner.

The following is optional:

• A short personal video documentary approximately three minutes long. The piece should reflect elements of your personal history and interests outside of film or theater, as well as your artistic pursuits. It can include visual materials such as still photography, drawings or designs you have made. Use as many of your creative skills as possible in the making of this work (for example, music you created, writing, etc.) The review committee should have a strong indication of your point of view on artistic and personal topics from the video essay.

In addition to a visual portfolio, applicants to the Film Directing Program must submit four copies of the following written materials:

• A résumé of your training, performance, and/or production experience. Also include a brief job history of work outside film, video or theater.

• Samples of original written work such as a play, story or screenplay no longer than 10 pages total.

• A list of four books, including author’s names, that you have enjoyed in the past year, with a few lines about what you admired about the work.

• A list of three to five films or plays you admire with brief comments indicating how they have influenced your thoughts as a director.

• An outline or brief paragraph describing a project (or projects) you have in mind. This is intended to give the faculty an indication of the type of filmmaking in which you are interested. It is not necessarily work you will produce at CalArts.

• A very short list of interests outside theater, film or video.

In a single page, describe your long-term and short-term goals, both professionally and personally.