BYU Film Major: Two Strikes, You're Out!

Today is a historic day for me. And here's why. I just received this wonderful email:

April 24, 2008

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your recent application for admission
as a major or minor to the Media Arts program at Brigham Young University.

We regret to inform you that you have not been accepted into the Media Arts program. Competition for the limited number of student openings is keen. Such decisions are reached after thorough and thoughtful review of the applications while considering the availability of faculty and resources.

You may apply to the program twice. The next application period is Fall 2008. The faculty generally recommends that if you choose to reapply, your new application should reflect serious consideration of the elements of the application, including five creative projects, ten most significant books and films, the film analyses, creative sample and your commentary on the creative sample. The deadline for Fall applications is Nov 10, 2008.

We appreciate your interest in the Media Arts program and wish you success in obtaining your personal and academic goals.

Sincerely,

Theatre & Media Arts Department

This marks my second rejection to BYU's Film Major. I'd go for another rejection but unfortunately two strikes and you're out. No questions asked. And don't expect any feedback because they they refuse to offer it. So where did I go wrong? I guess I'll never know. Maybe one of the faculty has something against me? Maybe there's no logic to it whatsoever? Maybe they draw names out of a hat... that would actually make a lot of sense. Whatever the case, I feel they've made a mistake. It all could have been avoided had they let ME draw from the hat.

So is this the end of the road for all my film aspirations? Of course not! First of all, I don't need a degree to make films. And second of all, I rather enjoy the drama this adds to my normal life.

Low Budget Filmmaking

I just got interviewed today by Carolyn Haynie from the Daily Universe (BYU newspaper) for an article titled "How to make a low budget film". It was a pleasant talk. She wanted to know the process -geared toward students.

Personally, I've never made a low-budget film; lots of "no-budgets" but nothing with any sort of funding. However, I recently have started working with Christian Vuissa on his upcoming mormon film called "Father In Israel" currently in pre-production. So that will get me some first-hand experience in Low-Budget filmmaking!

Anyways, back to the interview: Like I said, my knowledge on the subject was very limited. Heck, even my application to Film Major was rejected! (I've applied once more... cross your fingers!). Luckily, she didn't mind too much about my lack of in-depth knowledge and/or my minimal credibility as Film Major reject.

Fortunately, I was able to get something out of the interview. As I was talking about Film-Festivals (such as the LDS Film Festival), something CLICKED. (Okay this is really rough...) Film festivals are like Single's Wards: You're on the prowl! That is, at a film festival, there's a mutual attraction between filmmakers and studios/distributors. You don't bring your film to a festival just to entertain the audience, you bring it to attract the studios and distributors. They're are searching for their next success. And you (and your film) are trying to look your best.

UPDATE: The film is now titled "One Good Man". "Father in Israel" was the working title.