What You Need In Your Portfolio To Get Into Film School
Applying to film school? You might be wondering how to position your portfolio to increase your chances of getting in. While every school has its unique application requirements, your portfolio will generally remain the same.
The key to creating a portfolio that stands out is diversifying the content. You want to show film schools that you can succeed in the industry no matter what it throws at you. In the real world, you don’t always get to pick and choose what you’re filming.
University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts only accepts roughly 3% of applicants into the program. So, we took a look at their application requirements to give you a list of what the most prestigious schools expect from their film school applicants. If you create your portfolio around the best, you’ll be prepared for any other application.
Writing Samples
It’s not all about the final production. Your portfolio should showcase the beginning stages of your film too. A great film tells a story, and a great writer can convey that without visuals. Your portfolio should include a variety of writing samples like:
A scene with dialogue between characters
A description of a short film without dialogue
A description of a concept for a feature film or documentary
Video Samples
Select a video project in which you played a major creative role. Many film schools only ask you to submit one video sample for consideration, so make sure it represents your filmmaking style and goals. The best video samples showcase multiple aspects of storytelling, like dialogue, visuals, character development, etc.
Your Portfolio
Most film school applications will require you to submit the above writing and video samples, as well as your portfolio. Your portfolio will look very similar to a resume. Here’s how USC suggests you format it:
July 2018, My Journey, digital video, 10 minutes. Position: writer/director. A documentary that follows a homeless veteran on his journey to getting off of the streets. Created for senior-year multimedia term project, San Clemente High School, San Clemente, California.
March 2018, Galaxies, short film. Position: writer/director. A short film based on Chapter 2 of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams. San Clemente High School, San Clemente, California.
Your goal with your portfolio is to showcase your interest in art and show as much diversity as possible. Include anything creative you’ve done that you’re proud of and you feel represents your artistic abilities and vision. Talk about how you’re interested in multiple genres and kinds of film, like comedies, documentaries, and science fiction.
A Few More Notes
Here are a few final words of wisdom to make sure your portfolio stands out from the crowd:
Don’t include any inappropriate artwork.
Whenever possible, opt for video submissions over photos.
Show as much diversity as possible.
Don’t worry too much about awards.
We hope this list gives you a better idea of how to prep your portfolio. Good luck with your applications!