Directors Guild Final Essays

1. Appli= cant Essay: (a) My reason for wanting to become an AD Trainee.

I have had extensive exposure to film from a very early age due to my godfather who manages two independent movie theatres. Working at these theatres and at MTV has brought me into contact with the business side of the industry and into an artistic and social world that I thoroughly relate to. Through these experiences I have discovered that my calling in life is to the motion picture industry, and the Assistant Direct= ors Training Program represents the perfect apprenticeship opportunity for the career of my dreams.

(b) My s= hort and long-term goals in the entertainment industry.

The big picture for me is using art to inspire so= cial change, and I myself am inspired by the people who facilitate this process.= I particularly admire the Producer’s ability to recognize potential in artists and to bring their vision to= the world as a tangible experience. I aspire towards this career because it combines my passions for business and art in a challenging and creative environment, and the ADTP is where I want to start.

(c) How I have confronted and overc= ome adversity;

Growing up as a socially active, middle class mul= atto on both the east and west coasts has given me a great deal of exposure to t= he diverse elements of American society. In my life, I have confronted, overcome, and bridged the racial, cultural, and economic divide with such success that I = feel that I can move comfortably in and between most all social environments. At Princeton I have worked very hard to pay my way through school while mainta= ining good grades in a rigorous academic program. I have overcome many such obsta= cles because I’m highly motivated to follow my passions and achieve my goa= ls.

(d) Experiences that illustrate that I have the potential to be a successful AD= .

My persistent commitment to and passion for film = and television is underscored by my professional experience, through which I ha= ve begun to develop the administrative, managerial and interpersonal skills th= at I will need as an Assistant Director. As an event producer and nightclub mana= ger, I have been responsible for the timely organizing, scheduling, preparing, moving, and paying of staff and performers at clubs and events. Working as = a PA for MTV Networks, The Golf Channel, The YES Network, and Pro Video, I have assisted with set operations, videography, and editing. During my internshi= p as the second assistant to the General Manager of MTV U, I maintained a positi= ve and energetic attitude while working at the bottom of the management hierar= chy under constant pressure of deadlines. I performed administrative duties including account management, scheduling, travel arrangements, writing correspondence, and call screening, while balancing work on other projects including research and reports for the Creative Director. As an assistant, I had to anticipate tasks before they were assigned to me and solve problems = on my own when my supervisors could not be disturbed. I also served as a liais= on between management and interns, communicating needs and suggestions and wor= king as a team player on intern research projects. As an all American Decathlete= , I have demonstrated my ability to work long hours with sustained physical activity. As both a student and a DJ, I am accustomed to a constantly chang= ing schedule in which I have had to manage time efficiently and acclimate to irregular sleeping hours. Acting as an extra in films and commercials, work= ing in the movie theatre business, studying film at Princeton, and producing my= own video projects has given me valuable exposure to the history, business, art, and production of film. I believe that the level of consistency, dedication, and professionalism I have demonstrated in my personal, academic, and work = life illustrates that I have the potential to be a successful Assistant Director= .

2. Perso= nal Achievement:
As a self supporting coll= ege student, one of my greatest achievements has been paying tuition while maintaining good grades. As a freshman I founded Prospect11 Entertainment, a multifaceted entertainment business that caters to the entertainment needs = of the Princeton University social scene. First, I created a business plan, he= ld an investor presentation, and secured a low interest loan from the Princeton Investment Group. After buying the equipment I needed, I advertised around campus to recruit staff and talent, held interviews, and hired five fellow undergraduates whom I personally trained in DJ-ing, sound engineering, and videography. I proved myself a capable business leader, running a successful entertainment company that has become everyone’s first choice in a to= wn full of competitors, and raising enough profits to pay off both my student = and business loans. Balancing school and business given me a great deal of prid= e and has taught me to recognize life’s challenges as opportunities to succeed.

&nb= sp;

3. Organizational Experience:

Between studying for finals, working on my senior thesis, and visiting with family during the holidays, I spent this past New Year’s Eve producing an event called the Ivy New Year’s Ball at the luxurious Princeton Club of New York. The goal of the event was to bring together students and alumni from = all the Ivy League schools to network and socialize together. My work on this project began in October with negotiations between several New York clubs, bars, and hotels. Ultimately I struck a deal with the Princeton Club of New York, which offered me a discounted rate ($15,000) to rent out their two ballrooms with four full open bars, gourmet hors d'oeuvres, and several oth= er accommodations, based on the free advertising I would generate for them wit= hin the Princeton community. Already well beyond my personal budget and availab= le time, I found investors to back the project as well as a co-producer to hel= p me organize the event. Working closely together, we hired two DJs, four bartenders, six waiters, six bouncer/security guards, a photographer, a celebrity guest, and three friends to run the tickets desk. I worked out contracts, negotiated with the catering union, designed a floor plan of the club, built a web site with online payment features, purchased advertising = from several online companies, hired promoters, and ordered and distributed flye= rs. By the date of the event, my website had been visited over 50,000 times and= the entire Ivy League was ringing with a buzz about The Ivy New Year’s Ball. The event sold out, and its wild success led me to a new business venture called The Ivy List, a web service devoted to connecting Ivy League students and alums through the New York ni= ght life scene. Through my experience with this and other projects, I have demonstrated my abilities as an organizer, a problem-solver, and a team pla= yer.

&nb= sp;

4. Hobbi= es and Interests outside of film/television.
Aside from film, my other great passion is music. I spent five years perfor= ming as a singer and guitarist in a band and have done a considerable amount of music writing and producing. My most successful hobby has been DJ-ing, thro= ugh which I have landed my own commercial radio show, secured DJ residency at a nightclub, and founded my own DJ business. In addition to using the turntab= le to mold and shape sound, I have also converged = my film/theater side with my music/performance side through the art of video DJ-ing. My taste in both music and film spans many generations and cultures which I bridge using the powerful audiovisual capabilities of a computer, seamlessly blending various musical genres and film clips before a live audience. In my own small way, I entertain, teach, and bridge the gap betwe= en generations and cultures.

&nb= sp;

5. Fitne= ss and Stress:
As a high school track athlete I set school records in the 400-meter re= lay, the long jump, and the Decathlon. The decathlon is a two-day, ten event competition designed to ascertain track and fields best all-around athlete.= As a Decathlete, I took gold at the California state meet and placed fifth in = the Junior Olympic National Championships. Just finishing a decathlon requires = an extraordinary amount of focus, endurance, and fitness. Achieving this level= of success meant working out year round, including during the summertime when I also labored under the hot sun in my family’s construction business. = This experience was essential to preparing me for the rigors of life as a working college student, where I have learned to thrive under pressure and continue= to maintain a high level of fitness. As a DJ and event producer, many of my busiest work weekends follow immediately after my paper and examination deadlines. During weekends when many students relax and go out to celebrate= the completion of their academic work, I have managed as many as five gigs in a single day, undergone 24-hour stretches of work, and hauled heavy and bulky equipment in the midst of frigid East Coast winters. I want to apply my dedicated work ethic and multitasking ability in the Directors Guild Produc= er Training Program, where I believe I will both gain a great deal of knowledge and be a valuable contributor.