Screenwriting MFA writing samples?

[shanrina]

So I've decided that next year I'm going to expand things a bit and apply to some screenwriting MFA programs. I'm looking at programs now, and a lot of them seem to have specific writing prompts they want applicants to submit. This is going to take a long time because some of them have a lot of different things they want, and I'd like to get

Comments

[ext_303080]

As a recent MFA applicant to 4 programs (haven't heard from any yet), I think it depends on the school and the department's requirements. For some MFA Screenwriting programs, while a strong writing sample is of utmost importance, it doesn't have to be a scriptwriting sample. Like, for USC, the only actual required script scenes are for the creative challenges. The other 15 page creative writing requirement does not have to be a script. For UCLA, the creative material you submit could be anything: a screenplay, a teleplay or a collection of poems, essays or short stories. NYU seems to want TV, feature or stage play scripts depending on the concentration you apply for. I didn't apply to UCLA, USC or NYU, but it's just what I've read up on. From my personal experience, talking with film school friends and hearsay, MFA programs just want to see if you can write, so depending on what the program asks for, I would just say submit your best work. A script sample (short or feature) was required for Chapman's MFA program, for example. I submitted my 21 page short film script because I felt it was my best work. Again, it really does depend on the program/department and sometimes they do change requirements from year to year.

For my writing samples to MFA programs, the main writing sample I submitted was the 21 page short film script I mentioned above. I also submitted a sitcom pilot I wrote to one or two of the programs. Your writing sample really depends on the type of MFA Screenwriting program you are applying to and also whatever you feel is your strongest piece of writing.

Hope this helps! GOOD LUCK!

[shanrina]

Thanks! I just had this vision of myself trying to write ten or fifteen different mini-scripts and essays for different schools, which kinda made my head start to spin. I already have some prose samples that would require fairly little work, but I don't really have anything ready to go for the script prompts that some programs seem to want, and those are going to take a bit of time.