Quiet on the set!!!

After I received my acceptance letter I called to set up my meet and greet with Leah Koppels as soon as possible. I was a little too excited. The meeting was set for Wednesday the 30th of April at 2 PM. After a mental battle as to what to wear (It's film school so no suit and tie but I want to be taken seriously so not shorts and flip flops...) I opted for freshly polished shell tops, jeans, and a long sleeve all-black Ben Sherman button-up. With my Timbuk2 black shoulder bag I felt like I was ready to take on the world or at the very least deliver messages on my bike.

Walking in to SFSDF I was hit with a barrage of "Quiet on the set!!" It started down at the far end of the building and it was relayed down the hall. It was both surreal and comical at the same time. The current class was filming one of their projects and it was interesting to feel the electricity in the air. I'm shown to a seat and in just a few minutes Leah greets me. We move to her office and the paperwork begins. 

We talk tuition. It's a one year intensive program. Class is five days a week with outside classroom work expected. The grand total is right at thirty thousand. They allow a payment program where you break it up into twelve payments or you can apply for a Sallie Mae (damn you dirty whore and your high rates Miss Mae!!) loan. I think we are going to go the payment plan route. In addition to tuition you will also have to spend roughly one thousand dollars on the following: videotape, grip & gaffer tools, craft services, and other materials. 

Grips "move things around, place props, build scaffolds and other rigging for cameras or lights." A gaffer is the senior electrician on set. Craft services is buffet style drinks and snacks for your crew. I was actually happy with this. The day you are directing you are required to feed your cast and crew. Right on!

There are ten people in my program and we will be writing and directing five films. When we aren't working on our own project we will be crew on another students project. Along with student films,  we will also crew on professional films. SFSDF created their own production company, Fog City Films, and they have already completed two films. Whatever films that are in production we will work on and be credited in the film.

While we were working on our paperwork Leah filled out all of her forms in purple ink which I thought was hilarious and moderately cool. You would never see the admissions staff at IU fill out paperwork in purple ink. I like it. We obviously discussed more but it all leaned towards the mundane-everyday aspect of school. I won't bore you. Well, I won't bore you more than I already have.

Can I have the envelope please?

Dear Robert, 

Congratulations! You been accepted for admission into SFSDF's Digital Filmmaking FALL 2008 Program. We have you scheduled for the NIGHT program starting September 15, 2008. This one year intensive program is designed for students with a passion for learning the craft of digital filmmaking and planning to pursue a career in the movie industry. 

Please schedule an appointment with Leah Kopels, Admissions Representative, as soon as possible to register for class and complete the enrollment process, which holds your seat. T0 set up an appointment please call xxx-xxx-xxxx.

On behalf of the entire faculty and staff at SFSDF, I extend a warm welcome and best wishes for your success. This promises to be a wonderful program and we look forward to all the exciting and wildly creative movies you will be making.

Sincerely, 

Leah Kopels

Admissions Representative

Ground Control to Major Tom.

Still no word back re: my application. I went on-line and found an etiquette website that stated it was appropriate to call after waiting 10 days. I called the admissions department, left my name and number, and haven't heard anything back. Don't know if that is good or bad. 

So it begins.

I've applied to film school. One film school. All my apples in one basket. I sent off my application today to the San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking. (www.sfdigifilm.com) I've dabbled with screenplays for years but never completed one. Knowing my behavior and general lack of drive I probably never will unless there is some outside pressure weighing on me. Thus film school. I weighed the options of taking my admission money and buying a digital camera package and making my own films on the weekend vs. taking the money and going to school. The reasons why I choose school are: a. I'm lazy, b. I need structure at times, c. I don't know the first thing about filming, editing, recording, sound, etc. This isn't the route that Sam Raimi or Tarantino went but this is the best way for me. 

My application package contained the following:

-Completed application. (downloaded from their website)

-Profile. (see below)

-Letter of Recommendation. (My friend Jamie wrote this. She was also one of my past co-workers)

-$45 fee.

-College transcripts. (IUPUI)

This is a copy of my profile:

   Growing up in the Midwest, one didn't go to film school. Especially if you came from three generations of plumbers as I did. It just wasn't practical or realistic, or so I thought. Knowing what I know now, I would have gone straight into film from High School. Instead I started working in a local Emergency Room and then sort of fell into nursing. Got my degree, got a career, and eight years later here I am. I always knew that I didn't want to spend the rest of my life in that field. It's not as if I'm disappointed or ashamed with my choices Because I learnt many life lessons, skills, and gained perspective and a certain level of maturity from my time spent in the hospital. Plus, I met my wife in Nursing School and I would never complain about that. It's just that I'm not passionate about my job. What I am passionate about is film.

   As far back as I can remember I've been watching movies. It all started with Star Wars which is still my favorite to this day. I love the magic, the escapism of cinema. Obviously, growing up in Indiana, I was only exposed to American studio films, but as I got older I broadened my scope. Today I watch any and every movie I can get a hold of: Foreign, Documentaries, Animated, Art House, Summer Blockbusters, Romance, Drama, Martial Arts, Westerns, etc. It really is a piece of me and I am ready to make it a bigger part of my life. For years I've toyed around with screenplays and ideas for movies but without any direction they've just stayed in my desk. With each passing year I've become more involved in bringing those stories to fruition, but I don't have the tools. 

   This brings me to SFSDF. I saw an ad for your school in a local paper and then attended one of the weekend Open Houses. While I was there I found out about your Pizza & Knowledge nights. After attending two of them, I knew I was more than ready to make this change in my life and that I wanted SFSDF to help facilitate that change. I want to be involved in the business of film making. Period. I'm old enough to know what that entails and the uncertainty involved with it. I not only welcome the challenge but look forward to it. I am excited about exploring the creative side of my personality. I am excited about working side-by-side with other creative individuals who share the same love of film as I do. I am also excited about the business aspect of film. I know that it is a business and a tough one to get into at that and I look forward to that challenge as well.

   I can honestly say that I would make an excellent addition to your program and I hope this profile conveyed how much I am looking forward to attending your school. A forward thinking digital film school that is in step with the constantly changing world of cinema. A school that will help me realize my potential and achieve my goals. Come September 15th, I can't think of anywhere else I would rather be than in class at the San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking.

Nothing left to do but wait...