• Application
• Required Documentation for Undergraduate Film Applicants
• Required Documentation for Graduate Film Applicants
• Interview Information
• International Applicants
• Notification of Decision
• Other Requirements
• Final Steps

We are first and foremost an arts conservatory program, training our graduates for a professional career in the moving arts fields and industries, whether those are feature films, television, commercials, music videos, non-fiction and industrial films and the merging of any and all of the above media. We are not a trade school. We are a training ground for artists, giving them the freedom to explore their creative visions in a carefully structured environment that attempts to mirror experiences in the professional world.

Our philosophy is built on a foundation of general skills and knowledge, and an equal period of specialization in a specific discipline. We require all of our students to write, direct, produce, shoot, edit and design films in the first and second years of our program, whether they feel artistically inclined and qualified in those areas or not. We require that all of our students pass a comprehensive safety examination, and conduct themselves in a safe manner for themselves and their fellow crew in all production situations, both on our soundstages and on location. We also require all students to pass a comprehensive written exam in the third year of the program to demonstrate their ability to analyze and understand films so they can move to the fourth and final year of the program.

All students must possess the basic capability to see images, hear sounds, and clearly communicate with other students in both class discussions and production exercises. All students must be able to watch and hear required screenings and possess the ability to analyze and discuss them. All students must be able to physically participate in all phases of the video and film production curriculum.

The School of Filmmaking offers a Master of Fine Arts (Film Music Composition only),and a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

• The application for admission must be completed in full.
• Applicant signature is required along with the parent signature if the applicant is under the age of 18 at the time of application.
• Mail the application to the Office of Admissions along with the nonrefundable application fee ($60 for U.S. Citizens/Permanent U.S. Resident/$110 for international applicants)
• Applications received without the application fee or all questions not answered will be returned to applicant.
• Applications and supporting documentation must be received in the Office of Admissions by the stated deadline to insure that there is time to process the application, supporting documents and writing sample.
• All required documentation must be on file in order for the applicant to be considered for an interview.

Application Information in Admissions

• Writing Sample:
  Applicants to the undergraduate program in Filmmaking must submit a typed writing sample (10 pages or less) displaying the applicant’s creative writing skills. The sample may be scenes from a screenplay, a stage play, a short story, or an excerpt from a longer prose fiction piece. No essays or other analytical work.
• Filmmaking applicants must also supply a Statement of Intent no longer than one-page in length and stating why they would like to attend the North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking.
• Resume:
  Applicants must submit a resume detailing artistic experience and educational objectives.
• Recommendation Letters:
  1. Two (2) letters of recommendation are required.
     • One (1) letter is to come from an arts instructor
     • One (1) letter is to come from an academic instructor.
  2. Applicants who are no longer enrolled in college and do not have contact with an academic or arts instructor should have a letter of recommendation from an employer, mentor, instructor, etc.. 
  3. All letters are to be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions to be placed in the applicant’s file. Always list the Office of Admissions as the recipient.
  
  Note: A form is provided for recommendations. All recommendations should be dated and signed by the writer and mailed directly to the Office of Admissions. Materials that do not bear the Office of Admissions as the recipient may be sent to other departments.
  
  
• Transcripts:
  • Official transcripts and courses in which the applicant is enrolled at the time of application are required.
  • All transcripts must bear a validation seal or signature of a school official or registrar.
  • Transcripts sent under separate cover must come in a sealed envelope and should be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions. Always list the Office of Admissions as the recipient.
  • Undergraduate applicants who have been home-schooled must provide proof of graduation from home school along with titles and course descriptions in each year of home-schooling, tests used and evaluation of knowledge that the applicant has completed the equivalent of the University of North Carolina’s Minimum Course Requirements
  • College transfer applicants must supply their official college transcript along with an official list of courses the student is taking at the time of application.
  • A high school transcript or GED is required of all applicants who are applying as a first time freshman or undergraduate transfer.
  • SAT or ACT. Official scores from the testing agency are required of all applicants to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (do not send student copy).

Graduate Program:

• Criteria:
  • Qualified applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree, preferably with a concentration or major in music, although equivalent experience will be considered.
  • Performance and compositional/creative skills must be documented.
• Compositions:
  Applicants must submit 3 scores and cassette tapes or CDs of original composition that represent different music genres.
• Writing Sample:
  Applicants to the graduate Film Music Composition Program must submit a written statement describing their career interests in film music composition and any prior experience in the field (maximum of two pages).
• Resume:
  Applicants to graduate Film Music Composition Program must submit a resume detailing artistic experience and educational objectives.
• Recommendation Letters:
  1. Two (2) letters of recommendation are required.
     • One (1) letter is to come from an arts instructor
     • One (1) letter is to come from an academic instructor.
  2. Applicants who are no longer enrolled in college and do not have contact with an academic or arts instructor should have a letter of recommendation from an employer, mentor, instructor, etc. 
  3. All letters are to be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions to be placed in the applicant’s file. Always list the Office of Admissions as the recipient.
  
  
  Note: A form is provided for recommendations. All recommendations should be dated and signed by the writer and mailed directly to the Office of Admissions. Materials that do not bear the Office of Admissions as the recipient may be sent to other departments.
  
• Transcripts:
  • Graduate applicants must supply an official transcript.
  • If currently enrolled in college, the applicant must supply a list of the courses in progress.

• Applicants must write the date and city in which they desire to interview on the application.
• Only applicants who have a complete application (see requirements section) will be considered for an interview.
• Applicants who are granted an interview will receive written confirmation of the interview date, time and location. This information will be mailed to the applicant from the Office of Admissions after the application has been processed.
• Please allow ten working days for processing.
• Interviews will not be scheduled by phone.
• Applicants are encouraged to submit their application and all required document by the application deadline to secure the interview date they desire and allow time for travel arrangements. The longer you wait the less likely you are to be granted the interview date you desire.
• The North Carolina School of the Arts reserves the right to cancel and reschedule auditions, or make other arrangements with the applicant. If weather prohibits an audition from being held the cancellation notice will be placed on www.ncarts.edu.
• Applicants who cannot make arrangements to interview may request special consideration for a special interview date and time. Contact the Office of Admissions for further information on how to make these arrangements.

Day of Interview:

• Applicants must report to the interview location at the time for which they are scheduled.
• Interview times are assigned once all applicants have checked in.
• Applicants should understand that the interview with the faculty/staff is an important element in the admission process for the School of Filmmaking.
• The on-site writing exercise and in-depth interview are key elements in a student’s acceptance into the School of Filmmaking.
• The North Carolina School of the Arts reserves the right to cancel and reschedule interviews or make other arrangements with candidates should a minimum number of applicants fail to request a specific site three weeks prior to the scheduled interview date or if weather prohibits travel. For this reason it is strongly recommended that applicants submit their completed application and materials three or more weeks in advance.

Off Campus Interviews: The School of Filmmaking may decide at a later date to conduct off-campus interviews.  If off-campus interviews are to be conducted, the dates will be posted on www.ncarts.edu no later than November 1, 2007.  Do not delay sending in your application materials pending this decision.

In addition to the required documentation listed for the undergraduate pr graduate programs, international applicants must provide the following information:

• International applicants must complete the International Questions on the application.
• International Applicants must complete the North Carolina School of the Arts Safety Questions.
• International applicants must follow all of the program guidelines as outlined and submit all required documentation as stated.
• An official TOEFL score is required for undergraduate applicants for whom English is not the primary language.
• For information on TOEFL scores please go to the following web link: www.ncarts.edu/iss/esl.htm.
• An official SLEP score is required for high school applicant for whom English is not the primary language.
• For information on SLEP scores please go to the following web link: http://www.ncarts.edu/iss/esl.htm.
• Official transcripts from each school attended that bears a seal or registrar’s signature and a notarized English translation of each transcript.
• Transcript must include the courses in which the applicant is enrolled at the time if application.
• Verification of sufficient funds to cover the first year of enrollment or affidavit of support from a bank or sponsor is required.
• A North Carolina School of the Arts Financial Statement Form must be completed by the applicant. The link for the form is: www.ncarts.edu/admissions/guidelines.
• Applicant is to provide a copy of their current passport, visa and/or I-20.

• Decisions concerning admission are made only after all candidates have interviewed.
• The Admissions Review Committee (the Office of Admissions, Undergraduate Academic Programs and Student Life) will review applicant files that are recommended for acceptance and make the final admission decision.
• All required materials must be on file for the applicant to be reviewed by the Admissions Review Committee. No incomplete files will be reviewed.

• If submitting an online application, print, sign and mail to the Office of Admissions immediately after submitting the application the Application Agreement Statement.
• Complete and sign the Provision of Social Security Number form provided with the application.
• Complete the top section of the Mandatory Information Form, sign and give the form to your guidance counselor or college advisor. If currently not enrolled in school, the form may be given to an employer, mentor, instructor, etc.
• Signatures of family members or legal guardians will not be accepted. Form is required of ALL APPLICANTS.

• For your records keep copies of the application and all materials mailed to the Office of Admissions. Items can get lost in the mail.
• Always address materials to the following mailing address:
  Office of Admissions
  North Carolina School of the Arts
  1533 S. Main St.
  Winston-Salem, NC 27127
  
• Materials mailed to the North Carolina School of the Arts only may be distributed to other departments and delay processing of your application.