Narrative Statement

Here's the essay I wrote to get into the Master's Program at the New York film Academy. I still haven't gotten anwer yet, but i'm hoping and praying to get in!

Narrative Statement

As far as I remember, I have always been interested in story telling. When I was a child I always loved watching movies. In my imagination I could go to all those fantastic places that movies can take you. I began to grow up and my interest for story telling grew, too. I began writing short stories in my notebooks while I was in Elementary school. When I was in Junior High School I wanted to write a movie screenplay and send it to a Film Company so they would make a movie out of it. I was so naive. I never wrote.
It wasn’t until High School when I started writing again. I took a piece of paper and did a brain storm of ideas I could use to write a book. I had so many ideas in a matter of minutes that I had enough material for several books . I finished my first novel when I was 16 years old. A novel of fiction and fantasy that was my escape from everyday life problems. I finished my second novel when I was 17 years old and my third one when I was 19. It started as a hobby but then it became a necessity. I can not go long without writing .
I knew that making movies was expensive and something I could not do at that time, but writing stories was something free that just required my time and imagination. However, inside me, was the desire to take all of my stories to the big screen. That desire and actual need, has only gotten stronger. I’m hoping to transform the characters who now live only in my imagination, into moving images.
I believe every human is born with a “gift”. Some are born with an impressive ability to play soccer, others are excellent swimmers or have an angelic voice. If somebody asked me what mine is, I would say that it is my imagination. I can make a story out of almost anything. I like this gift and I wouldn’t change it for another.
I finished high school when I was 17. Now it was time to decide what I wanted to study. “Film making” I decided. I love to write stories But I love even more when those stories are told with film images and can even more make you feel a part of the story as If you were living it. I love movies that make you forget that they are films; that make you experience and empathize with what the character is feeling; virtually become part of the story. These great films make you forget about reality for 90 or 100 minutes. Even after having seen them, they live on in your mind and keep you thinking about what you have seen and felt. They open your heart and mind and when they are really good they set fire to your ideas and inspire passion in their audience. I can continue to see, hear and feel moments that were powerful in these films, for hours, days, sometimes years after I have seen them.
I was told to study something else first and then my dad would pay for film school. If that was the price I had to pay to study what I really wanted to do, what I love to do, then It was something I was willing to do.
That’s one of the main reasons I want to attend the New York Film Academy. I don’t want to use another 4-5 years of my life studying filmmaking when there’s this hands-on master who will give me the knowledge I need to have, to be able to direct/write quality films.
Back in 2005 I attended the 4 weeks film making workshop in Orlando, Florida and I simply loved it. It convinced me even more, that film is what I want to do for the rest of my life. And the New York Film Academy is where I want to learn the basics to do it. I fell in love with the whole process.
I admire many film makers, but particularly Steven Spielberg. He has proved that he is not only a successful commercial director, but that he can also make very profound movies. He is one of my favorite directors. But perhaps, even more than he, I admire the Hispanic and Latin film makers like Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo del Toro because no matter what their citizenship, they have proved that Mexicans, too, can create great films and become world reknowned in this most fascinating of mediums. I would like to be like them. They inspire me.
I would love to make movies that touch people in the same way that some movies have touched me. I have many ideas that would make perfect screenplays. It is not that Hollywood screenplays are bad, but I believe that they could be better. I feel that they can still make a lot of money and at the same time make movies with depth as well as entertainment value. I see my self in the future writing and directing quality films and becoming a recognized film maker.
The reason I chose the Master in Film Arts program is that I know it is more challenging than the other programs you offer and that is what I need. I need to challenge my self. I need to breathe, eat and dream of film-making. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to become a successful and accomplished filmmaker. I hope you give me this opportunity. With your help and the knowledge and experience that I can gain through your program, I want and need to make magic onscreen; to inspire, move and entertain others with my dreams.