Hi! I’m applying next year in the fall for the class of 2023 for film and television. I’m planning on filming my portfolio piece over the summer, and I was wondering what the department specifically looks for. I’m planning on doing a story of just two girls falling in love with each other over the summer, and I’m planning on making it visually stunning and pleasing to the eye with a good story. Please let me know if this is “too much” or “cheesy”. I’m trying to get all the help I can get! Thanks!
They’re looking for something with character development and a clear beginning, middle, and end. Also, if you have something genuine to say about the world from a perspective that’s unique, it may set you apart in the mind of an admissions committee watching hundreds of films by high school students who often come from similar sociology-economic backgrounds.
When I was in Tisch, the best films I made were considered by my classmates as somewhat “controversial,” which the professors liked, although there’s a fine line between being “controversial” by being offensive to a group of people and presenting new ideas that go against the status quo.
Anyway, at the end of the day, if the other parts of your application are strong, if you don’t make a great film, it shouldn’t hurt you that much. I honestly just submitted a few excerpts of stuff that I’d shot before the night before the application was due.
Good luck!