1) Apply to Point Park admissions for academic acceptance (Apply online if you have not already submitted an application) and:
2) Submit a portfolio to the Department of Cinema & Digital Arts for artistic acceptance.
In order to be artistically accepted into the cinema production, screenwriting or digital arts program, applicants must submit a portfolio of creative work to the cinema department.
Portfolio Requirements
Your portfolio should include the following:
A. Personal Statement
Your personal statement should:
- Include your professional and artistic goals
- Provide an impression of who you are as a person
- Discuss the types of films you are interested in making while at Point Park
- Be no longer than two pages, double-spaced
B. Creative Resume
Your creative resume should include any work that reflects your creative ability. Work can include but is not limited to:
- Film, video, music
- Photography, acting, singing
- Creative writing, essays, film scripts
- Painting, digital art
Listed work should include: a brief description of the work, year completed and your role in its creation.
C. Creative Work Sample
Cinema production, screenwriting or digital arts applicants should provide:
- One sample work from your creative resume that best demonstrates your creative ability
- Do not submit original material. Sample work will not be returned.
- Video or animation or visual effects submissions should be less than 10 minutes in length. In addition, please do NOT send video files by email. Please upload to YouTube/Vimeo or similar service and include the link in your email or hard copy portfolio.
- Writing samples can be a film script, essay, play or short story
- Script/play submissions are to be the first 10 pages only
- Electronic submissions or links to posted online work are preferred
Submission Process
Once you have created your portfolio, you can send it to us in one of two ways:
A. Electronically to: portfoliosubmissions@pointpark.edu (this is the preferred method of submission)
- All materials should be submitted in Word or PDF format
- File size should not exceed 10MB
- If you would like to include video work in your portfolio, please upload to YouTube, Vimeo or similar service and include the link in your email. Please do not send video files by email — they are too large, and we won't receive them.
B. By mail to: Cinema & Digital Arts Portfolio Review
ATTN: Bonnie Sampson
Point Park University
Conservatory of Performing Arts
201 Wood St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Once we receive your portfolio, you will be contacted by the University to schedule a portfolio interview by phone or in person with a cinema department faculty member. Or you may schedule an interview during one of our upcoming open houses (see below).
The interviews are fairly relaxed, and offer you a chance to ask questions about the program and for the interviewer to ask questions of you and your creative interests and work. After the interview, it usually takes one to two weeks to hear back regarding a decision on admission to your selected program.
Open House Portfolio Interviews
If you are planning to attend an undergraduate open house session at Point Park University, you can schedule a portfolio interview during your time on campus. To do so, RSPV to an open house and then email Bonnie Sampson at bsampson@pointpark.edu to arrange an interview time.
Open house dates:
- Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011
- Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011
- Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011
- Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012
Portfolio Review Timeline for 2011-2012
Students are encouraged to submit materials on or before the dates below in order to coincide with the department’s review of portfolio applications:
- Nov. 30, 2011
- Jan. 30, 2012
- March 15, 2012
- May 1, 2012
While the University has rolling admissions, please note the majority of our scholarship money is awarded by the end of February. The earlier the submission, the greater the possibility of receiving a departmental award.