I Got My USC Screenwriting MFA! What now?
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- Опубліковано 15 лип 2024
- In May 2017, after 2 years of grad school, I got my MFA in Screenwriting at USC. Here's what I'm up to now writing-wise, mental-health-wise, and dating-wise! Subscribe and stay tuned for my upcoming videos.
Here is my first video ever (with a playlist of all my videos following):
“How I Stopped Dating And Started Writing”
• Week 1: How I Stopped ...
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Other places you can find me...
TWITTER
/ lindabarsi
INSTA
/ lindabarsi
FB
/ lindajeanbarsi
TUMBLR
/ openellbey
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MUSIC / SOUND FX
It’s free! From freesound.org!
The song in this video is available at this link:
www.freesound.org/people/zagi2...
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XOXO
LB - Фільми й анімація
Awww, YAY! Congrats lady, I am so happy for you! And I'm glad you'll be back on the tubes because I miss your face 😘
Ahsante my girl!!! Aw thank you. Can't wait until the next time we can get lunch!! XOXO
Congratulations on getting your MFA! :) I recently got my Creative Writing MFA and I'm so grateful for my time there.I'm excited to hear more about your creative projects!
This is all really exciting!! It's great to hear from you :) Even though it sounds like you had a great time in your MFA, you must be very excited to be done and ready to get out into the field!
Thank you Ariel! Omg I'm so touched to have you watching. And I'm also so excited to be back! I am excited to get out in the field! It's nice to have all this training that I feel so ready to go with. :D
I'm so happy for you! It's huge that you can say that you feel in a good place about mental health and your relationship - and I'm sure that had been a result of a lot of hard work and many battles. You are an inspiration ❤️
Congrats! Well done! Glad to see you doing so great! Can't wait to see more videos!
ah so happy for you in every way! looking forward to more updates and videos from you!
Congratulations and glad you're back!
This is such a lovely update. Best of luck in all your endeavours 😊
I remember your early videos, and I'm very happy for you. Congratulations on your MFA and your new relationship. 😀
Congrats on grad school!! Awesome to see you back making videos!
I'm so glad to see you happy!! I'd also love to see your tv pilot in the near future! Good luck to the future.
So pleased for you, Linda!!!! And so so so happy to see a video from you
I am so happy hearing your personal progress look at all your little SUCCESSES gosh I'm chuffed for you
You've done great and im so glad your back to vlogs!
Soooo happy for you Linda
Congratulations all round! Sounds like you're making massive progress in your life.
Really hope to see more of your videos and updates in general! :) Congrats!
All of those writing projects sound SO GOOD, I'm so excited for you!!
So happy for you I could cry!!!! Been watching since the start & no one deserves alllllll the good things more than you 💛
Thank you for watching for so many years since the beginning!! Oh my gosh, it's been a *JOURNEY* and I'm so very happy you're here with me still. You deserve all the good things too, my dear!!
Yay! Congratulations 🎉 I have missed your videos! Glad you are so happy!! X
It's so nice to have you back! : )
Welcome back and congratulations! :) Can't wait to see more videos! And of course good luck with everything ❤️
THIS IS ALL SO EXCITING!!! Congrats on all of the amazing accomplishments and cannot wait for all of your dreams to come true
Thank you!!!
Glad to hear everything is going so well! Not much to add besides PROUD OF YOU and hope to see your face on the tubes more soon!!!
Kieran Cutting KIERAN!!!! 😍 Buddy!!!!!!!
Always love your vids! Rocking eyeshadow
I'm so happy things are going well for you! I've missed your videos :)
Congrats on the MFA!! Lovely to see you back with a new video and everything in a good place 😊
stages of long term relationship! You're my favorite youtuber i'm so glad this popped up in my subs! :)
Alexa oh yay! And AWW thank you! Day made. ☺️ you guys are the best
So happy for your Linda! Congrats! Just was thinking of you the other day. So pleased to log in and see an update from you girly!
Omg this is so sweet, thank you so much for this LaTashia!
THIS (!) Is the best best BEST thing that has happened all day! So glad to hear that you are doing well! I *CANNOT WAIT* for all the new videos
Aww, THIS COMMENT is the best thing that has happened to me all day. So excited to have you watching and thank you for the warm welcome back. It makes me so excited to post more. :)
I've been waiting for this video FOREVER! Congratulations!!! You inspired me to write my first feature and go after my dreams to get my MFA in Media Studies at The New School. I'm super proud that you're sharing your journey with us. Great to have you back!
AWWW! Yay!! Thank you, Karis! And congrats on setting out on your first feature journey and going for the MFA! All wonderful things. More videos soon!
Congrats on all your successes! Wishing you the best going forward, and looking towards the future! ❤️
Congrats to you! That is so impressive!
Yay! Congratulations on the MFA!
Super excited for your next step in life and videos to come! :)
Thank you, Marela!! I'm excited to post more soon!
I've missed you. I'm glad things are looking bright. I know you're going to keep working at them
Dude I am so excited for you! Three great topics IN ONE VIDEO :)
Congrats on everything! I've only seen improvement and grown in your journey. I wish you the best of luck in all of your endeavors.
so happy to hear these positive updates :) i would love to hear more about what being in an MFA screenwriting program is like and how to prepare for it
Audrey J love this idea!! I think I'll discuss this in my next video!
LINDA! I'm so happy for you! You've grown so much since your first video and it makes my heart happy to see you blossom into this healthy and happy person! And you and your bf are adorable ❤ if I'm ever in LA we will defs need to catch up (and pet ALL the dogs). Wishing you all the best in your future endeavours!!
ALEX! Thank youuuuu. Let's def catch up whenever you can make it to LA! I am always down to pet doggos. We can go to the dog cafe in LA! Thank you for this. Wishing YOU all the best too!!
This is so sweet! I'm happy school, work, mental health, dating are all going well. I totally feel you - that gushiness about finding a partner who is motivating, your best friend, etc. is a great feeling, especially after times you've felt disappointed by dating. I've been with my partner for 3.5 years and he is so important to me and makes me feel so calm and cared for, whenever I have anxiety about anything he is there. Excited for your future videos!
splitreads aww what a beautiful description! Yes yes exactly! I'm so happy for you. ☺️thank you for this wonderful comment
Awwwww all of these screenplays sound so great!!! Hope everything goes well!
YAAASSS im so happy for you right now!!! 😄😄
Congrats! Glad to see you back on here again! I'd really love to see the developement of SMUT or that web series, keep us informed on that please!
Love the idea of doing some behind the scenes or craft/process videos! I'm also thinking about making some early vs. later drafts of scripts or scenes available if that would be interesting to you guys. Feels so good to be back! Thank you for watching, Kaitlyn!
I don't know how I managed to miss this when it was uploaded, but WELCOME BACK!! I've really missed your videos. This was lovely, so happy for you :) x
YESSSS! I've missed you so much. 💕 It's so glad to hear that life has been skyrocketing up for you. Congrats on your grad degree! Can't wait to see whatever projects you go forward with and future advice videos.
Good to see you back here! Also congrats on LIFE coz you seem to be bossing it right now :) (which is lovely to hear about)
You go girl!! COngrats for everything :D
This makes me SO HAPPY. Truly, I'm so happy for you and that things are going well, and even if you hit a rough patch I think you're more than capable of finding resolutions. I just graduated in June and I'm still in that "existential crisis a week" mode lol, despite having a therapist. But, I'm working on it. :) Thanks for the update! It was lovely.
Aaah, Linda you're back on my sub feed! I'm so glad you've found a good therapist. I always struggle trying to find one since I keep moving around so much, but a psychotherapy group sounds like a great idea to make this a bit easier to be on the search. Can't wait for more videos!
Thank you Hussien for this!! Yes I definitely recommend trying a psychotherapy group. Thinking good thoughts for you! :)
I've been watching your videos for the last year (on a different account lol, just subscribed with this one) and I'm really happy to see how well things have been going for you, Linda! You definitely inspired me as a fellow creative to start my own mental health journey over the past year :)
Thank you for being here, Kat! That is SO WONDERFUL to hear and I'm so proud of you!!
omg, congrats on everything!
I would watch anything you write haha those scripts sound amazing. So glad to see you're in a good place in life!
Ellen Pellen aww thank you Ellen! 💕
I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU WILL DO I HOPE YOUR NAME BLOWS UP ONE DAY AND/OR YOU WIN AN OSCAR IN SCREENPLAY ❤️❤️
AWWW OMG THANK YOU STEPHANIE!!!
YESSS congrats!!!
YAY GO LINDA!!!
YES! I missed you girl! I was so excited to see this pop up in my subscriptions. Congrats on getting your MFA! I just want to say that you are a huge inspiration. You've been a writing and mental health guru to me for a while, and I'm so excited to see what you will do next! I know you're busy, but I would definitely love a video on how to get into the USC MFA Writing Program. Since I just graduated college for theatre, I'm thinking of either getting an MFA in Acting or Writing. Any advice would be appreciated! YOU DA BOMB!
I love this! Yes, great idea for a video. I think I will make this my next writing video. :D So fun to hear from you! Thank you for this comment!
Congrats lady! 😄✌
MISSED YOU!! I'm so happy to see you back! I graduated from my undergrad this year, got on medication for bipolar (type 2! They're working well!), and ended a 2.5-year-long relationship. Now I'm on a journey of self-discovery and seeing how my mental illness and trauma have played into my unhealthy relationships. But I'm in a good place and had a good summer and I'm so so so pleased to hear you doing well. ❤
Hi Coryl! So happy to hear from you! And congrats on all these brave and empowering changes! These are very exciting updates. Safe to say I'm familiar with how challenging bipolar can be and am so happy you are in a good place and are staying open in a wonderful way. Great to hear from you and thank you for this lovely comment!
I missed you so bad!!! 🐣🐣 Good to see you so happy, I'm looking forward to see videos about your thoughts on long term dating 😉
Como240 I missed you too!! Thank you!!
New video agh, I'm so EXCITED! :D (...ok now gonna actually watch it. moment of sheer joy over)
So stuff is good(ish) in some but very good in other areas. I'm really happy for you! Good luck on the job front, so fab about the scripts and all that. Breaking up w Jesus sounds especially interesting, I haven't really seen a lot like that before. Any chance you'd like talk about spirituality relating to your mental health? Would be interesting to watch. Xx
I could definitely talk about spirituality relating to my mental health. I'm so pleased that topic would be interesting to you. Thank you for this, Vivian!
Fab, no problem :)
Yay!! You're back!! And hi-5 for the tinder long term relationship. 🙌🙌I've been with my bf for almost a year now 😊😊
Congratulations!!! On all the things! I will definitely look forward to your new videos and all the best with all of your fab writing projects. Can I watch Breaking Up with Jesus now please??
Love your work
Nawwwww it's so good to see you happy :)
ACM xxx
Congratulations!
I had to pause the video after the writing part of this vlog because I want to say that I'm really happy to hear that you're doing well writing-wise and I'm really really excited to see more about your scripts and how they're going to appear in the future!! They all such great ideas and I would donate multiple dollars to fund them if a kickstarter or something-other is needed!!
Amazing, Joey!! CONGRATS ON YOUR MFA JOURNEY! I almost considered trying for a creative writing MFA instead but didn't want to move away from LA as it's become my home, haha, and I figured I had more screenwriting samples, but I think creative writing classes and workshops are WONDERFUL! So helpful and any one storytelling craft relates and informs other ones in a very cool way. Thank you for this comment!! and YAS #DanceRecessForever
Congrats!
Just Wanted to Say Hi :) Nice to see video from you :)
I'm so happy for you and how much you've grown since your last video! Your videos are really soothing and relatable, and I hope to see more content from you in the future. You may have already covered this in another video (sorry if you have), but how did you decide to follow your passion for writing instead of something more practical? This is a question I'm wrestling with as I enter college soon. Also, what was your experience with USC? It's a college that I'm considering.
Aw thank you, Kiana! I love this comment!! I went to Cornell and got an undergrad degree in Film Studies. I graduated with that in 2011 and from there interned and started working in LA. And what a great question (re: practical vs. pasison)! I would love to make a fresh video about this as I have many thoughts on it. I have an older video (much older! omg bad sound quality so sorry!) that relates to this topic if you want to watch that in the meantime. Maybe it'll be encouraging to you! Here's the link: ua-cam.com/video/o7kI6DXESKM/v-deo.html
And my experience at USC was really really good. I wanted to go there for undergrad but (long story short) they lost my application and were only able to offer me spring admission, so going there for grad school was exciting and felt like a long time coming. I had great professors and other writers that I had class with whom I am now bonded for life which I love. It definitely helps to know other writers who you really like on a personal and work level so that you can form writing groups and continue to get great feedback as you write and grow. XOXO Thank you so much for watching! :D Viewers like you are so dear to me like WOAH.
I found you from your Alaska videos because I want to move there. But I'd love to watch or even read those scripts. Also you're freaking great
Kathryn malone aww thank you Kathryn! So happy to have you here!
Linda Barsi I was just watching a BuzzFeed video and it's either you or you have an identical twin!
Haha, it's me! I worked there right before I went to grad school. :) I still love all the friends I made there and hang with them often.
So happy for you, I met my long term boyfriend on tinder, and finding the person you're gonna fall in love with on a dating / hookup app is a weird feeling. Glad someone else might be able to talk about it too 💕
I'm so glad you're doing so well!! I'm starting university on the 30th of this month to do English and creative writing, with the end goal of potentially becoming a screenwriter, though open to other things along the way and I was wondering if you have any tips? 😊 again so glad you're doing so well and good luck for the future 😊💕
This is so exciting! Congrats, Sofia, on this new journey you're about to start! Yes, I have so many tips and I'll share three with you here! My first tip is the biggest and best tip I have for any writer (albeit the one that was hardest for me to learn): Just let go. Let go while writing, especially while you have the gift of being in a university program for a set amount of time. You have time, Sofia. You have time. You have etched out time for yourself to go to school and focus on you and focus on your craft so let go of what other people think you should do. Remember that you can absolutely do what you want to do and write what you want to write. When you feel peer-pressured to focus on grades or get the best marks, remind yourself that you can let go of that desire to prove yourself. You can let go of thinking about what you "should do" and let your instinct lead you, especially when it comes to trying new things and writing new things. You can let go of the idea that any one draft will be great or exceptional or perfect and this will help you grow as a writer more quickly. Letting go will allow you to write more and live more. Letting go will allow you to be your own champion while you write. Letting go will allow you to get through a first draft, take a break, and then come back recharged. Letting go will allow you to ignore the critic in your head. Letting go will allow you to not put too much pressure on any one project or assignment. And letting go will allow you to type something up at three in the morning because you had a funny idea that just made you smile and you want to jot it down because it makes you happy, even if you "should" go to bed.
Another tip I have specific to screenwriting is: don't feel pressured to master the mechanics of screenwriting just yet. That will come. The real challenge is how to tell compelling stories about characters with a big compelling want. For inspiration, look at the big wants you have in your own life. And for more inspiration, try new things and meet new people and go on that spontaneous weekend trip with friends. You are young, and you have time. All of it is writing -- living is writing. And when you catch yourself being too hard on yourself or getting caught up in doing what other people want you to do, forgive yourself. Inspiration and productivity and high points will come in ebbs and flows. A strong writer is one who keeps getting up after they're knocked down from a rough patch. A strong writer is one who keeps writing, even if all they write the day they come back is one page.
And lastly, make a lot of friends. They will inspire you and these will be your buddies for a long time. The friends that are writers will be in writing groups with you for years to come. You won't get along with every single person you have class with, and that's okay. But still try and be compassionate and understand where they are coming from. Be gracious in your notes, and you will find people who are also gracious. These will be valuable allies and you will teach each other lessons of vulnerability that will make you all better, more compassionate writers.
Excited for you, Sofia. :)
Wow!! Thank you so much for these amazing words..honestly may have teared up a bit. I am so thankful that you took the time to give me these tips and I know I will look back to all of your videos for inspiration and help so thank you so much for that. I was going to say that you have no idea how much I needed to hear these words but I think that you do and that's why you knew exactly what to say- I hope to be able to do that for people one day too with the skills that I learn over the coming years. Again thank you so much!! I hope to see more videos from you and that your life keeps going in the positive direction it seems to be moving in. Thank you so much! :)
Yay!
Just discovered your channel! It seems like the MFA has been huge in helping you develop as a writer. I’m interested in doing an MFA in screenwriting program but at scared of being able to pay back the student loans with any work I’d do afterward. What’s your advice on tackling that?
Can you talk about some of the exercises the MFA program puts their students through? Please do a video more on 0:56 !
It puzzles me that people still make (and use) car alarms. I mean when one goes off, the reaction from the people who hear it is not, "Hey! Someone's trying to break into that car! Stop 'em!" No. The reaction is just like yours. "Aw, for cryin' out loud! Some idiot left on his car alarm!"
this is EXACTLY what i wanna do omg!!
AAAAHHHHH what was it like?????????
Great video! I am considering getting my MFA in screenwritering do you think it was worth it to get a degree or would you now, looking back, take screenwriting in a nondegree program? How are you doing in your career now?
Aw thank you! Great question! I do feel it was worthwhile for me! Right now I'm a copywriter by day and then also about half-way through a novel trilogy (not represented yet by an agent). I really loved the USC screenwriting MFA program and felt I learned so much about story and all the craft things I wanted to learn. I'm actually in the process of starting writing coaching online so I can teach classes through Zoom or another platform. I'm still in the planning stages. I've mentored a few writers over the years since getting my MFA and I definitely feel not all writers need an MFA program to advance the way they want. If you'd be interested in taking one of my classes when I start offering (hopefully within the next month) check back on my channel in the coming weeks. Also feel free to email me at openellbey@gmail.com. Thank you for your lovely question!
You might enjoy the podcast called "Happier in Hollywood." They give excellent advice for writers.
ohjoannabanana amazing! I'll check it out!
That is so awesome Linda! Out of curiosity, what did you get your undergrad degree in?
Film Studies at Cornell! It was fun but I wish I had just started making my own projects with any old camera instead of waiting for assignments to get my butt in gear. Making stuff is a great way to learn esp when you can scrounge up some friends to do it with you. :)
Oh! And creative writing classes! I wish I'd started taking those earlier too. Structure was easier for me to follow but I think sometimes the best things is to start making content in whatever way you can! XOXO
Gotta love doggos
Yay! I adored this update. Yay for graduating, writing projects, falling in love, and good mental health. :) Alsoooo, I've written two scripts and both protagonists are so much like me. Sometimes I get kinda frustrated that I can only think of stories that feature someone similar to myself. It often feels like I can't get out of my own head? What do you think about that? Sounds like your stories feature people like you, too. Did your professors at USC say anything about writing characters based upon yourself? I'm curious. Congrats again! I dream of maybe going to USC for screenwriting one day. I'm currently finishing up my undergraduate degree in creative writing at UW in Seattle. I'm healing from a chronic illness, so my future is very TBD rn, but I love the idea of pursuing writing one day.
Thank you so much, Aviva! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. I think it's good when your protagonists are like you! It means you'll be able to write from a very honest and specific place when you tell their story. The industry has SO MUCH CONTENT these days that many, many producers are only interested in reading stuff from new writers that are written about something they know really well -- whether that be an experience living in a place or an experience having a certain kind of family dynamic etc.
It is a much bigger challenge to write about your own experience. Writing from life will challenge you not just as a writer but as a person. It can be much harder to get objective perspective and you'll probably learn quickly if you still have unresolved feelings about what you're writing about by how emotional or extra draining the writing process becomes. That's where rest, therapy, and getting feedback from writers you trust is incredibly helpful.
That being said, whenever I've worked through that first draft, it's been incredibly rewarding. And for the scripts I've continued to revise, it's exciting because I start to realize how relatable content becomes when you get very specific to your own experience. I've had people tell me things like "oh my god! that happened to me too and I've always felt so alone about it."
On another note, I hope you feel better soon! Chronic illness is so incredibly hard, not just physically but also mentally. I have friends who've finally gone to talk therapy to open up about that specific kind of pain, so I hope you have lots of support through this time! I love the idea of you pursuing writing too!
Wishing you all the best. :)
XOXO
Go travel. Live a little to collect experiences that you can write about. Good luck!
I was the cell mate of Paul Anthony Ciancia? Any chance to make money hear?
I'm missing Leena Norms in the comments.
You could collab with Animation UA-camrs like Jaiden: ua-cam.com/channels/Gwu0nbY2wSkW8N-cghnLpA.html Domics: ua-cam.com/users/D0MICS . They have talked about need for more in depth topic or stories beyond personal experiences.
I have a friend with an MFA in Poetry. I asked her what one does with an MFA in Poetry. She said you train other people to get their MFA in poetry. Which seems a little circular to me... She went on to work for a museum and I haven't a clue what she does now after moving.
You're very attractive
You remind me of the female version of woody Allen minus all the weird stuff lol..
Congrats, now how much do I owe you for the pizza?
I've missed you so much! I'm so excited to hear about your life and what happens next!