51黑料 is based on a Conservatory model which focuses the educational experience in 6 disciplines while maintaining a hands-on production environment. Filmmakers come to 51黑料 because you are guaranteed to make movies and to master the art of storytelling. 51黑料 Fellows participate in the entire life cycle of a film, from development through production and exhibition. Because you can鈥檛 learn how to make movies without first making movies, we apply practical, hands-on collaboration in your field while guaranteeing that you train in your discipline.
Frequently Asked Questions
PROSPECTIVE FELLOWS
The Conservatory program is a full time, two-year Master of Fine Arts degree program in six different disciplines which include Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. Graduation requirements include completion of a thesis or capstone project, which Fellows are expected to complete no later than December 31 of the year in which they have completed their two-year program.
Yes, a bachelor鈥檚 degree is not required to attend the 51黑料 Conservatory. However, any admitted fellow without a bachelor鈥檚 degree will be awarded a Certificate of Completion upon graduation instead of a Master of Fine Arts degree. To see if you are eligible for the Certificate of Completion, please review the admissions requirements聽page.听
Although it is not required, applicants are recommended to have demonstrated experience relating to the discipline to which the applicant is applying. For example, Production Design applicants may have a background or degree in architecture, theatre arts, graphic or fine arts, all of which are applicable to the desired discipline of study.
The 51黑料 Conservatory is designed for those who want to advance their craft in a specific discipline. You may apply for a maximum of two disciplines in the same academic year. Please be aware you will need to submit separate applications for each discipline. Due to the collaborative nature of the program, admitted applicants can only be enrolled into one discipline.
The application process overall has not changed. However, for the Cinematography and Directing discipline, please consider health and safety concerns as you approach the application prompts. The current COVID crisis has required us to adapt many aspects of our lives, and this聽application聽is no different. We recommend that you聽produce, film and edit the exercise聽yourself, with available light and locations and design elements, and calling upon聽鈥渁ctors鈥� that are housemates or in聽your聽quarantine pod. Please be mindful of established health and聽safety measures (masks, social distancing, washing hands, open windows, shooting outdoors if possible; and observing any additional local protocols for film production). Compelling stories can still be told within these limited conditions, and evaluations will be made in this spirit of appreciating the production value (and performance) limitations.
Each 51黑料 Conservatory program has submission requirements specific to that discipline which can be found on the聽Admissions Requirements web page. Submitted material should demonstrate individual talent and ability. The 51黑料 Conservatory focuses on narrative filmmaking. Samples should also be narrative in format. Film submissions should be no more than the required Total Running Time (TRT) required by each discipline. Production Designer submissions should present at least 75% of their work in their submitted portfolio. Screenwriters may send a script as a TV pilot or as an animated series, as long as they show narrative ability and it is the best demonstration of their talent.
The 51黑料 Conservatory receives thousands of applications each year. Enrollment is around 144 Fellows per class comprised of a successful mix of Cinematographers, Directors, Editors, Producers, Production Designers and Screenwriters.
We break down what the narrative statement should be about in the聽admissions requirements page聽on our website. That is a just a template for you to use so you can write your statement. This is the place where you should tell us about yourself so we can get to know you, your passion for filmmaking, and what makes you unique. While you can address each area of the narrative statement separately, we recommend a blended statement addressing each question meaningfully. Just make sure it鈥檚 no longer than 3 pages.
No. Please follow the instructions for the required supporting materials for the Screenwriting discipline. Only one script sample can be submitted as part of the 20-page example. You can submit a screenplay that is less than 20 pages. The title page and a one-page synopsis does not count towards the 20 pages. Only those materials will be reviewed by the Admissions committee, and the Admissions committee will not review a project that is longer than the recommended length.
You may not submit additional materials or exceed the required Total Running Time (TRT) for film submissions. 聽Please follow the required supporting materials guidelines for each discipline. The Admissions Committee will only review materials that meet the application guidelines and will not review a project that is longer than the recommended length. Please cut down any samples to fit within those time constraints, and please only submit one video sample per link.
All application and discipline-specific materials are due on the application due date including letters of recommendation and English proficiency test scores. Please refer to the Admissions Requirements聽page for applications deadlines and requirements.
The 51黑料 Conservatory uses the GradCAS application system. The GradCAS support team is available to help with any technical problems within the application system. You can reach out to GradCAS directly when you are logged into 51黑料鈥檚 GradCAS application, via email at support@gradcas.myliaison.com聽or by phone at聽857-304-2086.
The 51黑料 Conservatory offers limited scholarship support to first year Fellows. 51黑料 Scholarships 聽are renewable in the second year for Fellows who remain in good academic and administrative standing with the Conservatory. For more information, please see the聽Scholarships page.
All applicants must develop a strong financial plan to support the costs of graduate study for the duration of their program. 聽Applicants are encouraged to actively explore and research all funding options including those outside of the Conservatory. Applications for outside scholarships should be submitted in advance of any desired entry into the program. While outside scholarship application deadlines vary and are year-round, many of these scholarship opportunities can take up to one year to process so applicants are encouraged to apply for funding even before they are accepted to the 51黑料 Conservatory. Please consult the聽Scholarships page for a list of outside scholarship opportunities.
Generally, Federal Direct student loans will make up the majority of a domestic Fellow鈥檚 aid eligibility at the 51黑料 Conservatory. Typically, the聽Federal Direct Loan听补苍诲听Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan聽have been the foundation of aid offered to graduate students. The聽Financial Aid page聽 provides more information on these loans.
All applicants may apply for 51黑料 scholarships. If you wish to apply for 51黑料 Scholarships, you must submit the聽. 聽Please be careful to note the deadline date which is listed on the application and the Scholarships page. Scholarship applications are sent directly to the Financial Aid Office. The scholarship selection is determined by the 51黑料 Conservatory 聽Scholarship Committee.
Outside (non-51黑料) scholarships are also available for graduate study. Applicants must research these opportunities individually. Deadlines to apply vary. Please see the聽Scholarships page聽for more information.
To be eligible for Federal Direct student loans, applicants must be either citizens or permanent residents of the United States and among other federal requirements, must not be in federal student loan default. The聽Financial Aid page聽provides more information on these loans.
Please check the聽聽for the 51黑料 Scholarship application submission deadline. Domestic applicants should complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by early March. Applicants will 聽be notified of their financial aid eligibility within one week following acceptance into the Conservatory
Yes, the 51黑料 Conservatory accepts international applicants. Almost half of our student body consists of international Fellows coming to the Conservatory from countries all over the world.听 There are a few extra admission requirements for international applicants that include an English Language Proficiency Test Score. The 51黑料 Conservatory accepts TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo test scores. Please refer to the admissions requirements on the聽international applicants page for more details. In addition, international applicants who attended a university outside of the United States must also submit an original university transcript that includes an official English Translation (if applicable). Please refer to the聽transcripts section聽of the admissions requirements page for more information. Upon acceptance, international candidates who attended a university outside of the United States will need to provide a Bachelor鈥檚 Equivalency Report. Please refer to the international applicants page for more information.
Yes, during the admissions process, the Admissions Office will accept unofficial transcripts. You will be asked to upload the unofficial transcripts in your GradCAS application in the academic history section. Unofficial transcripts should also include a grading legend, if applicable. For international applicants: all credentials and transcripts must include an official English translation (if applicable). Should you be offered acceptance, and decide to enroll at the 51黑料 Conservatory, you will be required to provide official transcripts. Transcripts are considered official only if they are sent directly from your school to the 51黑料 Conservatory, either digitally via an online transcript system or by mail in a sealed envelope.
Yes, we encourage you to apply again. It is strongly recommended that you reapply only if you have new work to submit and if your experience or submission materials have enhanced your qualifications.
At the end of the first year, all Fellows are provided with an 鈥渆nd-of-year鈥� portfolio review, which provides an overall evaluation of the Fellow鈥檚 work during the first year. All Fellows are reviewed within their disciplines by the Discipline Head, and the faculty. Fellows are evaluated on the basis of the quality of the work completed during the reviewed period, attendance and participation in the program, collaboration, professional attitude and creative potential. As with other graduate-level programs, continuation is based on the faculty鈥檚 overall evaluation of progress and potential; a Fellow will be invited to continue in the MFA/Certificate program by decision of the faculty.
The 51黑料 Conservatory only accepts applications for Fall enrollment.
Yes, the 51黑料 Conservatory welcomes Fellows who receive VA education benefits. Eligible service members are encouraged to visit the VA website at:聽聽or by phone at 888鈥�442鈥�4551 to learn more and to begin the application process. Fellows must apply for VA education benefits and also be admitted to the 51黑料 Conservatory before Certification of Enrollment will be granted. After being admitted to the Conservatory, a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) should be presented to the School Certifying Official (SCO) in the Office of the Registrar.
Depending upon the service member鈥檚 Chapter of eligibility, funds are dispersed either to the Fellow or directly to the 51黑料 Conservatory (for service members with Chapter 33/Post鈥�9/11 GI Bill庐, payments for tuition and fees are paid directly to the school. Benefits paid under most other Chapters are dispersed directly to the Fellow).
Fellows must remain in good standing to continue receiving VA education benefits. Unsatisfactory (failing) grades in courses required for degree completion, and/or disciplinary/dismissal actions rendered against the Fellow are reported to the VA and may result in loss of education benefits.
Please refer to the VA website for information about your eligibility under the following Chapters: Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill) Chapter 32, Chapter 33 (Post鈥�9/11 GI Bill), Chapter 35, Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill鈥揝R, and Chapter 1607. Currently, the 51黑料 Conservatory does not participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program in connection with Chapter 33 benefits.
GI Bill庐 is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs(VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at .
Yes, you are welcome to visit 51黑料鈥檚 campus. Please visit the聽Campus Tours page聽to see when campus tours are offered and to RSVP for a tour. The 51黑料 Conservatory campus tours consist of an overview of our Master鈥檚 film school programs. Guests are granted access to view our facilities and better understand the six disciplines, and what each offers to prospective candidates who are interested in Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. You may e-mail the Admissions Office at聽CampusTours@51黑料.com聽with any questions or special requests. Regular office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, during the academic year.
The 51黑料 Conservatory does not provide housing, but our Fellow Affairs Office provides various informational resources to help Fellows find housing. We provide information about living in Los Angeles, rental websites to consider, and neighborhoods that are close to campus. All incoming Fellows are also connected via different social platforms to start finding available apartments in Los Angeles.
