How to Become Into Moving picture School: Interview with Incoming NYU Tisch Student Arabella Sharkey

New York University Tisch School of the Arts

New York University Tisch Schoolhouse of the Arts

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

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

Why did you decide to study film in university?

I've always liked creating fine art, so when I entered IB (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) I chose Theatre, Motion-picture show, and English language equally my higher level subjects. I felt that my strength is in telling stories, not just memorizing things. While researching options, I decided if I was really passionate most it and worked hard, filmmaking would be something worth pursuing.

How would y'all compare IB Film with IB Theatre?

At that place's an chemical element of an audition and something you lot can requite them in both. But in IB Motion picture, it's more most the story that you lot're trying to shape and tell, so you become to control the story. In IB Theatre, it's more than most the performance.

What made you choose NYU Tisch?

What helped me make up one's mind was inquiry, and talking to y'all (Jeremy from Babel Film Workshop, who graduated from Tisch). Since NYU is directly in the city, it will inspire me as an creative person and assist me stay grounded on existent-world issues. It as well requires more independence and will be practiced for artistry.

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

A more specific reason is that the Tisch curriculum allows the states to explore different aspects of filmmaking. Some picture show schools tie you downward really speedily to just one surface area, but Tisch allows y'all to explore and become more well rounded.

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

University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts

University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts

What nigh the flick school at USC (University of Southern California)?

I too considered USC since they as well have a really good film schoolhouse. It's closer to Hollywood, so it may be meliorate for jobs and internships. Just then I thought what's more important is the philosophy of the university I'm going to. I felt that at NYU I'd be more able to be artistic and discover my voice as an creative person.

What was the application procedure like as an early bidder?

In the summertime after inferior year, I looked into the application procedure, and by the stop of summertime worked on the written supplements. For the portfolio requirement, I decided to submit a moving picture I made for class in junior year instead of making a new film. For this film, I served as the director, screenwriter, editor, sound designer, and too acted in it. It was made over 4 months.

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

You can cull to submit some photos or a film, simply I think that submitting a film is the best option. It's a 5-minute film that captures your skills as a filmmaker. What's nearly important isn't technique, but your ability to tell a story. The best thing would be picking an idea that's meaningful to y'all as a person, and not a generic story. It helps them see you as a person.

I as well learned at NYU'southward freshman bidder seminars that even if you've never made a moving-picture show earlier, you lot still have the same adventure of getting admitted. They're looking for storytelling ability, non filmmaking techniques, which y'all learn afterward.

Arabella'due south awarding flick "The Girl Who Could Not See Faces" has won multiple awards at the Shanghai Student Moving picture Festival and Qingdao International Youth Film Festival.

Tell us well-nigh the moment you learned near your acceptance.

I was super excited. It was an online schoolhouse morning, and I checked my electronic mail before logging into Zoom. NYU had notified u.s.a. earlier and so I knew this would be the conclusion email. Just it took ten minutes simply to log in due to the two-factor hallmark. But once I did, I opened a PDF and the beginning line was "Congratulations on getting admitted." I was really happy, and recorded the feel. I was just screaming. I might have been late to math class that morn.

My family unit establish out first since we were in the same house. Elio (Kaczmarek) from my school also got in. We had film form that twenty-four hour period, and were able to come across each other online.

Arabella Sharkey

Arabella Sharkey

What are yous nigh looking frontwards to in picture schoolhouse?

I'one thousand virtually looking forward to the new environment, new people, and new working conditions which would challenge me. Considering of Covid, we might non become to be on campus, which is kinda scary because I wanted to meet everyone, and it'd be difficult to go out and make a film. Simply that's something I'm notwithstanding excited for--how nosotros're gonna work around these barriers and still create while online. I'yard sure we'll find a way.

Practice you have any tips for side by side year's applicants?

Start early on. It could exist research or writing the supplements, but make sure you lot don't cramp the time. In terms of writing supplements, they want to know y'all equally a person, then endeavour to testify your individuality every bit an creative person. That can exist done through finding out why you desire to do moving-picture show. Liking films is the baseline. But digging deep down into a personal aspect and stating why you lot want to create art is expert.

Lastly, the application procedure tin can exist stressful and create lots of cocky incertitude. Even though I did lots of work, prep, and research, I was really doubting myself, and was scared that I wasn't good enough. Just it's of import to stay confident, and know that even if your application isn't perfect, it'due south still okay. We're all students and are yet learning.

Brand the application into something enjoyable, since the process itself is creative. If y'all get in fun, you will start to relish it and not see information technology as a task.

Bonus: See Arabella'due south film that she created for Babel Film Workshop's Moving picture Stylo initiative here.