film school consulting
for USC, NYU Tisch, UCLA TFT, Chapman, and Other Top Programs
Getting into film school isn’t easy. But Sam has helped many, many students achieve their goal.
Get direct guidance on your portfolio, creative sample, essays, resume, and school-specific application strategy from a USC film school MFA graduate, former Vice President of the Harvard Lampoon, and professional script consultant.
Whether you’re applying to USC SCA, NYU Tisch, UCLA TFT, Chapman Dodge, AFI, Emerson, or another top film program, Sam can help you shape an application that clearly shows your voice, talent, and fit.
Targeted hourly support starts at $100/hour for essays, portfolios, and school-specific strategy. Larger packages are available for students seeking full application guidance.
WHAT YOU GET
Film school admissions are very different from traditional college admissions. At schools like USC, NYU, UCLA, and Chapman, the portfolio, creative sample, and artistic voice matter just as much—or even more than—grades and test scores.
Students work directly with Sam throughout the process and receive individualized guidance tailored to their goals, strengths, and target schools. Depending on the student's needs, support may include:
Application and admissions strategy
School selection and positioning
Portfolio development and creative feedback
Screenplay, film, and artistic submission review
Personal statement and supplemental essay coaching
Interview preparation and mock interviews
Timeline planning and accountability
Activity list and extracurricular positioning
Transfer and graduate school admissions guidance
Final application review before submission
WHY CHOOSE SMJ MEDIA?
Many admissions consultants can help polish an essay. Very few can help develop a screenplay, shape a visual portfolio, prepare a creative resume, or identify the artistic narrative that ties an entire application together.
Sam's background in professional storytelling and film development allows him to work with students not simply as applicants, but as emerging artists.
For more than 12 years, Sam has worked with students applying to colleges, graduate programs, film schools, and other highly selective programs. His students have been admitted to schools including Harvard, Dartmouth, Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, Virginia, UNC, Cornell, Vanderbilt, Carnegie Mellon, Michigan, USC, NYU, Chapman, and many others.
A graduate of USC's Peter Stark Producing Program and former Vice President of the Harvard Lampoon, Sam has worked professionally as a script consultant for Amazon Studios and as a writer and producer in film and television. This experience allows him to provide unusually practical feedback on the storytelling, artistic, and portfolio components of film school applications.
Because the practice is intentionally selective, students receive direct, individualized attention throughout the process rather than being handed off to junior staff members or generic editing services.
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your goals, portfolio, and admissions strategy.