Cinematic Arts Online Audition Requirements

San Diego SCPA’s Cinematic Arts Program is open to both new and experienced filmmakers. Students who do have filmmaking experience should be prepared to submit a film reel of their work as well as the completion of the audition prompt.

Students with no experience will be considered solely from this prompt.

 

​

Audition Preparation:

A great film or video production requires a great deal of planning and creativity to make the filming and editing process efficient and successful. Please include the following in your prepared portfolio; 1) Statement of Purpose, 2) a film script/screenwriting example, 3) a log-line based on your film script ,4) and a storyboard based also on your submitted film script. These will be shared with the audition panel.

​

What To Submit for Your Audition:

     1. Statement of Purpose  (Essay of Interest and Intention in Cinematic Arts)

     2. Your narrative 3-5 page script. (Film Screenplay)

     3. A 1-2 sentence summary of your film (Log-line)

     4. Your set of drawings (much like a comic book is drawn) that functions as the first visual representation

          of each of the shots within a scene of the film (The Storyboard)

     5. On-Demand Writing (This will be done during your audition submission.)

* You may also bring a film reel, but this is not required. Students who do have filmmaking experience should be prepared to submit a video reel of their work as well as the completion of the audition prompt. Students with no experience will be considered solely from the statement of purpose, film script, log-line and storyboard.

​

Required Document Descriptions

Statement of Purpose:

The student will share why you hope to study film at SDSCPA? What level of focus and dedication are you willing to commit to learning the art of film production and the visual storytelling process? Share any experiences you have previously had with filmmaking or video production including specific areas of interest (Directing, Sound, Camera, etc...), and what you have to offer the SDSCPA Cinematic Arts Program that we should consider.

​

Original Script/Screenwriting Example (2-3 pages):

The student will write an original 2-3 page film screenplay using appropriate screenplay format. This narrative screenplay should begin with a strong establishing location and quickly introduce the main character and their desire(s). Every scene and sometimes every shot should reveal new information about the character and story. After reading the script, the producer (panelist) should be able to visualize what is going to be filmed and how it will be cut together in post production. Script must be LESS than 5 pages. Students accepted into the SDSCPA Cinematic Arts program will eventually produce the script, a 2-3 page script is ideal).

​

​

​

Logline:
The student will provide a log-line for your film screenplay. This should be a one to two sentence summary of your film/screenplay submission that hooks the reader in and describes the central conflict of the story.

​

​

​

​

The Storyboard:

The student will produce a set of storyboards for at least one (1) page of your original script.

 The storyboard is a set of drawings (much like a comic book is drawn) that functions as the first visual representation of each shot and scene of the film. It includes key action and locations that were described in the script. Below each frame of the storyboard should be a brief description of the action being represented in each shot.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

On-Demand Writing:

Students will submit a written response to the photo at the bottom of the Cinematic Arts Online Submission Form. (500 words max).

​

Short Film or  Film Reel (optional):

Students who have experience in filmmaking or video production can produce the film script they wrote or submit a reel (video compilation of portions of their work). For the Short Film option there should be a clear identifiable beginning, middle and end to the story arch. The reel option should show the best portions of multiple projects and not include entire projects or shows. Reels represent the best moments of different projects edited together. Given the capability, each individual clip should have a title naming the project and what the student’s role was in the production. For example: Family Trip to England, Camera operator and Editor. Your video file submission should be available in one of the following formats: Codec: h.264 with a MP4 or .MOV wrapper and should not exceed 3 minutes.

Note: All uploaded video files should be encoded as h.264 video with a .mp4 or .mov wrapper - YouTube or Vimeo links are encouraged.

​

Areas of assessment will include:

Presentation of Statement of Purpose, Original Script, Logline and Storyboards.

(Optional) Presentation of Completed film or Video Reel.

​

​

BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR AUDITION APPLICATION

Please upload your Cinematic portfolio pieces to a Google Drive or DropBox Folder.  Ensure the settings on your portfolio folder are set so that Anyone with the Link can view the contents.

​

​

​

​

Please click here to return to the application page: