CSSSA FILM REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS – 2025
The CSSSA Film Department welcomes applicants from wide ranging and diverse backgrounds. If you have never made a film before, or if this is your 10th film, all are welcome to apply. Applicants to the Film Program must submit a completed application, provide the contact information for two teacher recommenders, and upload the following required assignments below, A through D.
Assignments
A. Written Response: Answer the following prompts in however short or long you need. Each prompt should be labeled clearly on the page, followed by your response. Save your written responses on one document.
- Describe the role you want filmmaking to play in your life – as well as your beliefs on what filmmakers have to offer to society.
- Describe a film or television show that has inspired you. Why is this work important to you? Avoid writing only about the surface-level elements and, instead, dive deep into the analysis. What excites you or incites you?
- Discuss a filmmaker or artist whom you find inspiring and share what is compelling to you about their work.
B. Submit one film that you have CREATED, with a maximum running time of ten minutes (max file size 5120 MB). Music Videos, School/Club group projects, and PSA’s will NOT be accepted! You may submit a previously completed project or create a new one for this application. Submissions may be shot on anything from your smartphone to an ARRI ALEXA LF— It is not the tool that makes the artist. You may be the director, editor, writer, cinematographer, producer, or any combination of these roles– but your role must be clearly stated in your submission.
C. In addition to the film, write a statement that includes the following items:
- A description of your project — two sentences maximum.
- A short statement that describes your creative process.
- What was your budget, what equipment was used, and what resources were at your disposal?
- What role did you have on the project? (e.g., writer, director, producer, cinematographer, or editor.)
For Returning Students:
If you attended CSSSA in a previous summer session, you must submit original work completed after your CSSSA experience which reflects your growth as a film artist.
D. RETURNING STUDENTS ONLY: Submit a brief statement of your specific learning objectives and reasons for wanting to return to the school.
For All Students:
Save your assignments with your first initial and last name followed by the appropriate letter for each of the submissions. For example, John Smith would save his film work as follows:
jsmith_A
jsmith_B
jsmith_C
jsmith_D