Hello, I am going to apply to the GKS-G 2022 scholarship for Masters in Film Studies. I would really appreciate it if someone could review my personal statement attached below.
Thank you very much in advance and happy new year.
- Motivations with which you apply for this program
- Family and Education background
- Significant experiences you have had; risks you have taken and achievements you have made, persons or events that have had a significant influence on you
- Extracurricular activities such as club activities, community service activities, or work experiences
- If applicable, describe awards you have received, publications you have made, or skills you have acquired, etc.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
I have been predicting an opportunity that would be the perfect bridge to realize my goal of becoming a well-known film director. The Korean film industry is recognized worldwide; its movies and TV series are frequently blockbusters, competing with European and American productions. Furthermore, the South Korean education system is highly developed and well-regarded, so the combination of the two criteria qualifies this program as my best opportunity.
I am the youngest daughter in a family of three children. Throughout my academic career, I have been regarded as a smart and creative student. After graduating from high school, I never thought that I would wind up studying an art-related field because my parents encouraged me to pursue a degree in business administration. As a consequence, I was admitted into a business school, and honestly, I was unsatisfied with that choice. However, before the start of the school year, I decided to change universities and enrolled in a design school, where I majored in audio-visual advertising. While studying this specialty, I noticed how closely it was tied to film studies, which sparked my curiosity about the film industry.
In 2019, my university hosted the third annual International Design Encounters, known as "RAID," and I participated in the organization of the event and the set-up of the exhibitions. The following year, I joined the university's Radio Club and worked in the events department, where we planned events to promote our club and attract new members. However, the club's activities and those of other university clubs were suspended due to COVID-19. As a result, when we got back to classes, my classmates and I contacted our professors and decided to start a university mini-cinema club that would meet once a week to see a movie and then discuss it while sticking to the health protocols.
The first time I saw a South Korean film was as part of a class assignment to analyze and watch films from other nations, I was impressed by the cinematography, image quality, lighting, framing, acting, and screenwriting, and what attracted me the most was the language and the culture. Hence, I began to delve into the history of Korean cinema and discovered how much it might help me develop my knowledge of the industry. After watching several Korean films, I discovered that Bong Joon-Ho's films had a wonderfully interesting rhythm, and I admired his symmetrical frames, which reminded me of my favorite director "Wes Anderson", as well as his compositions, color palette, and all the techniques he uses, thus he has become one of my favorite Korean filmmakers.
To obtain my bachelor's degree, I had to undertake an internship linked to my studies, and I got accepted into a production company. As a first assignment, the company's editor gave me footage of a famous Tunisian singer's video clip to edit. I was both excited and nervous about being given such a great responsibility. The editor of the company led me throughout the editing process and once completed, both the director and the singer were pleased with the results and wrote my name as the editor in the credits. As a second assignment, the company was co-producing a television series. Therefore, the producer requested which department I was interested in. And, since I am interested in directing, I joined the assistant director's team, to have more knowledge about this job. During the filming, the second assistant director left the project, so I was assigned his tasks and was no longer considered an intern. This internship benefited me on all levels and allowed me to explore a field that I was passionate about. I was able to broaden my knowledge and develop new skills. After I graduated, one of the crew members I worked with during the internship recommended me as the "1st" assistant director for a shoot of a music video for a well-known Tunisian rapper. At first, I hesitated, but as the saying goes, "take the risk or lose the chance". Thanks to this opportunity, I learned to be independent, punctual, responsible, more organized, and more confident. Additionally, it allowed me to network with Tunisian film industry professionals and meet interesting people.
Despite the fact that I had the opportunity to work as an assistant director on several projects, I decided to expand my knowledge by getting a Master's degree in Film Studies. Therefore, studying in a country with a robust film industry will enable me to grow professionally and use my skills effectively. Furthermore, after graduating, I will be a much more well-rounded person because of learning a new language, immersing myself in a new culture, and meeting friends from all over the world. Aside from that, I will have the opportunity to introduce the concepts and knowledge of the South Korean film industry to my country and vice versa. I am confident that this program will help me achieve my goals.
I appreciate your attention and I look forward to hearing from you.