Film Portfolio Requirements

GUIDELINES for Portfolio Review for Entrance to the Film-Video Major

Students are only admitted into the film major starting in the fall semester each year, and students admitted should expect a four-semester sequence of film courses over the next two years. To be considered for entry to the film major, students must have earned fourth semester standing (43.5 credits completed and/or in progress) AND have completed at least one full-time semester (12-plus credits) at Penn State.

Students must submit a portfolio consisting of the following items:
1) An informational cover sheet (name, email, term standing).
2) A current Penn State transcript.
3) The creative writing exercise (see item #3).
4) A sample of creative work (see item #4).
5) A written statement contextualizing the creative work submitted.

Item #1: Cover sheet
Download and print the cover sheet and checklist.

Item #2: Transcripts
Transcripts may be obtained from eLion.  It does not need to be an official transcript.

Item #3: A Creative writing exercise (250-300 words, 12-point Courier font).
Some of the most significant shifts, or turning points, in our lives initially come to us in the form of seemingly small moments; moments when, as a result of a particular experience, we come to a sudden realization that changes the way we see the world, and other people in it, from then on.  These moments of realization, of course, have also frequently provided the rich starting points for some of our most distinguished novels, poems, short stories and films.  Write a third-person narrative inspired by a significant moment from your life, evoking the nature of this key moment and the experiences that gave birth to it.

Item #4: Creative work submitted must take ONE of the following forms:
-- A video or film, no more than 5 minutes in length, over which the applicant had primary creative control.  Work must be submitted in one of the three following formats: mini-DV, VHS or DVD.  Work submitted on tape must be cued to head of a new, clean tape.
-- A screenplay, presented in proper screenplay format, no more than seven pages in length, authored by the applicant.

Item # 5: A written statement (double-spaced, 12-point Courier font) that contextualizes the work consisting of the following elements:
1. A list of the following factual information:
-- Title
-- Format and length (i.e., film, video, or script)
-- When and where made (i.e, date, place, course # if applicable, etc.)
-- Applicant’s role (i.e., director, author, etc.)
-- Other crew members or collaborators and their roles
-- If applicable, teacher, supervisor, or mentor involved with supervision of your project
-- Name, title or position of above
-- Address, phone and email of above

2. A description of the ideas you hoped to present through the piece, and a discussion of how you used images, sound, and editing techniques to convey your concepts (100 words)

3. Your assessment of the aesthetic and technical strengths and weaknesses of the piece. (100 words)

DEADLINE for Portfolio admission to the film-video major
Students must submit their application between 8:30 a.m. on the first day of finals week of SPRING semester and 4:30 p.m. on Friday of the same week. Please note that there is ONE deadline for all students wishing to submit a portfolio.  Any portfolios received after the Friday of finals week will not be reviewed.

All students planning to apply to the major for admission as a junior the following fall will submit a portfolio containing items #1 through #5 as outlined previously.

All components of the portfolio application should be submitted in a manila envelope clearly labeled with the student’s name.  Students should download and print a copy of the portfolio checklist, and include the check list in the envelope.

Portfolios should be mailed or hand-delivered between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to:

Film-Video Portfolio Review Committee
College of Communications
204 Carnegie Building
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802

Students will receive email notification confirming the receipt of their portfolio application.

The faculty will review all portfolios after the close of the spring semester, reporting their decisions to the applicants via email on or about June 1.

The faculty will evaluate the portfolios according to the following:
-- Evidence of potential for creative growth in film and video.
-- Ability to express original ideas and artistic vision in written form.
-- Commitment to creative expression.
-- Demonstrated positive personal engagement with the collaborative learning process.

Please note: In order to assure integrity, fairness, and impartiality in the admission process, students submitting a portfolio application to the film-video major are expected to assemble the portfolio without outside assistance from film-video faculty. It is an integral part of the self-presentation process for students to make their own decisions in selecting the creative work sample that they feel best represents their own creative abilities and interests, and to compose the creative writing exercise independently. Film-video faculty therefore cannot, and will not, review or comment on any portfolio materials outside of the official review process.

Scheduling film courses as a film-video major:
The junior core courses of Comm 337, 346 and 347 are controlled for students entering the major in the fall semester.  Students will not be able to schedule the junior core film-video courses until after the portfolio review decisions have been made in May.  Comm 242 is a prerequisite for these courses. It is highly recommended that students at all Penn State campuses complete Comm 242 no later than their fourth (4th) semester (spring semester of their sophomore year.)  It is each student’s responsibility to contact an academic advisor or campus representative to ensure timely completion of Comm 242. 

You should schedule other Fall classes that you need (besides those required for the Film-Video major) on your first date to schedule based on the number of credits you will have earned after completing the Spring semester.  It is also recommended that you schedule Fall courses for an alternate major during your regular spring scheduling period.  If you are accepted into the F/V major, the advising center will assist you in adding the core junior-level Film-Video courses to your Fall schedule.
(Revised 4/16/09)