How to Get Into Film Schoolhouse: Interview with Incoming NYU Tisch Student Arabella Sharkey

New York University Tisch School of the Arts

New York Academy Tisch School of the Arts

Arabella Sharkey chatting with Jeremy Hung from Babel Film Workshop over Zoom.

Arabella Sharkey chatting with Jeremy Hung from Boom-boom Motion picture Workshop over Zoom.

Why did y'all decide to study pic in university?

I've always liked creating fine art, so when I entered IB (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) I chose Theatre, Film, and English as my higher level subjects. I felt that my forcefulness is in telling stories, non only memorizing things. While researching options, I decided if I was really passionate near it and worked hard, filmmaking would be something worth pursuing.

How would you compare IB Moving picture with IB Theatre?

There'due south an element of an audition and something you can give them in both. Only in IB Motion picture, it'south more about the story that y'all're trying to shape and tell, so y'all become to control the story. In IB Theatre, information technology'south more near the performance.

What made yous choose NYU Tisch?

What helped me decide was inquiry, and talking to you (Jeremy from Babel Film Workshop, who graduated from Tisch). Since NYU is straight in the city, information technology will inspire me as an artist and help me stay grounded on real-world problems. Information technology also requires more than independence and will be expert for artistry.

Because New York is similar to Hong Kong in the sense that it's a large city, I'll exist able to run across people with dissimilar perspectives and stories to tell. I'd like to combine these stories and insights to create something unique and various.

A more specific reason is that the Tisch curriculum allows usa to explore different aspects of filmmaking. Some film schools tie you downwards really chop-chop to merely one area, but Tisch allows you lot to explore and become more than well rounded.

"Make the application into something enjoyable, since the process itself is artistic."
— Arabella Sharkey, Grade 12 (Canadian International Schoolhouse of Hong Kong)

University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts

University of Southern California Schoolhouse of Cinematic Arts

What nearly the film school at USC (University of Southern California)?

I also considered USC since they also have a really good film schoolhouse. It's closer to Hollywood, and so it may be better for jobs and internships. Simply so I thought what'due south more than important is the philosophy of the university I'm going to. I felt that at NYU I'd be more able to exist creative and discover my voice as an artist.

What was the application procedure like as an early applicant?

In the summer later junior twelvemonth, I looked into the application procedure, and past the end of summertime worked on the written supplements. For the portfolio requirement, I decided to submit a film I made for course in junior year instead of making a new film. For this film, I served every bit the manager, screenwriter, editor, sound designer, and likewise acted in it. Information technology was made over 4 months.

What'southward the requirement for the film in the awarding portfolio?

Y'all can choose to submit some photos or a film, but I think that submitting a moving-picture show is the all-time pick. It'south a 5-minute moving-picture show that captures your skills equally a filmmaker. What's most important isn't technique, but your ability to tell a story. The best affair would be picking an thought that's meaningful to you as a person, and not a generic story. It helps them see y'all every bit a person.

I as well learned at NYU'due south freshman bidder seminars that even if you've never fabricated a film before, you nevertheless have the same take a chance of getting admitted. They're looking for storytelling power, not filmmaking techniques, which you learn later.

Arabella's awarding moving-picture show "The Girl Who Could Not Run into Faces" has won multiple awards at the Shanghai Student Motion picture Festival and Qingdao International Youth Film Festival.

Tell us about the moment you lot learned nigh your acceptance.

I was super excited. It was an online school morning, and I checked my email before logging into Zoom. NYU had notified us earlier and so I knew this would be the determination email. Only it took x minutes just to log in due to the 2-cistron authentication. But one time I did, I opened a PDF and the offset line was "Congratulations on getting admitted." I was really happy, and recorded the experience. I was just screaming. I might have been tardily to math class that morning.

My family found out first since nosotros were in the same firm. Elio (Kaczmarek) from my schoolhouse also got in. We had film class that day, and were able to see each other online.

Arabella Sharkey

Arabella Sharkey

What are you most looking forrard to in movie school?

I'k most looking forward to the new environment, new people, and new working weather condition which would challenge me. Because of Covid, nosotros might not get to be on campus, which is kinda scary because I wanted to meet anybody, and it'd be hard to become out and make a movie. But that's something I'chiliad still excited for--how we're gonna piece of work around these barriers and still create while online. I'm sure we'll find a manner.

Do yous take any tips for next year's applicants?

Showtime early. It could be research or writing the supplements, but make sure you don't cramp the time. In terms of writing supplements, they want to know y'all as a person, so try to evidence your individuality every bit an artist. That can be done through finding out why you want to practice film. Liking films is the baseline. But digging deep down into a personal attribute and stating why you want to create art is skilful.

Lastly, the application process tin be stressful and create lots of self uncertainty. Even though I did lots of piece of work, prep, and inquiry, I was actually doubting myself, and was scared that I wasn't skilful enough. Only information technology's important to stay confident, and know that even if your application isn't perfect, it's however okay. We're all students and are still learning.

Brand the application into something enjoyable, since the process itself is creative. If you make it fun, you will beginning to enjoy it and not see it as a task.

Bonus: See Arabella'southward moving picture that she created for Babel Film Workshop's Motion-picture show Stylo initiative hither.