#csssa questions

[viazels]

thurs. 2/29/2024

to-do:

submit csssa app

finish ch 24 questions

ch 24 quizlet

events:

math test

csssa deadline

music challenge 60/366: side by side (bewhy)

[localblackgirl]

hey!! can you tell me a little more about the film program at csssa? i have a couple questions. 1. how independent are we when filmmaking? like do we make films in groups or make them all on our own? 2. how advanced/complex is the equipment &software there? and are we expected to know how to use it? 3. is showing your film at a screening optional or required? ok i have a million more questions but thats all i can think of. thanks so much!!!

Hey! We are independent in the sense that we all turn in our own films and are accountable for our films. But you can totally make films in groups! I actually suggest you make your films with other people instead of by yourself if you get in because it’s hard to make a film on your own. There def is not the expectation that you do everything yourself! The equipment ranges in complexity, from basic tripods and digital camera to drones lol. They have a lot that is available to you but you don’t have to use it all. I would say the most complicated piece of equipment that most of the film students there use is called a zoom and it’s used for getting cleaner sound. For software, we used Adobe Premiere Pro. It’s more complicated than iMovie but similar in a lot f ways to Final Cut Pro. Don’t worry if this sounds unfamiliar to you! We have classes in the first week or so of CSSSA where we’re taught how to use the editing software and walked through all of the equipment they have. Showing your films at screenings is absolutely required! You show your films twice at CSSSA. Once during a “Works in Progress” screening halfway through the program and once in the last week. If you have any more questions let me know! 

[macbethz]

n theres a fucking csssa discord????? first day yall are all going to know each other and my gay ass is just gonna be fucking Lost

[ghostly-indecisive-hyena]

OK SO I’M FINALLY DOING IT! Here is my accepted CSSSA portfolio from 2017! I know it’s super late, but I hope this will still help anyone applying this year or in the future!

This should go without saying, but PLEASE do not use my pieces for your application or claim them as your own, because that will not get you into CSSSA. Trust me, they will not let you in or they will kick you out if they find out that your pieces are not your own.

In order:

Prompt A: The prompt for A last year was to make an image that tells a story without the use of words. So, for this piece, I was working on a storyline that I have since stopped working on, but I made this image to sort of represent the climax of that story.

Prompt B: This prompt is the same this year, which is to make an image about something that interests you. For me, it was biology. Specifically zoology. Here, I created a character who is a zoologist and is working to discover and study unique creatures in the wilderness. For the written explanation of this piece, I discussed about how the incredible zoological findings and studies of creatures across the globe inspires my approach to character design and writing stories for those characters.

Prompt C: This is the technical skill prompt. Now, figure drawing is super important in animation, so I simply put four of my best figure drawings at the time into one image and submitted that.

The last prompt is the animation reel, but I will probably put that in a separate post that supports the video format :).

And I won’t post my written statements, because for the written statements it is really important that you write honestly about why animation is important to you, and about an event that you worked hard on, because the CSSSA admissions people really just want to know about you! 

Best of luck to anyone applying, and if anyone has any further questions, please let me know and shoot a message my way!

[astroeden]

CSSSA 2018 Animation Application Out of State (accepted!)

Hi everyone!! sO I applied for the animation program again, and I got accepted!!! I’m SO excited to attend this year oh my goshhh!!! Still haven’t quite gotten over it :,) I’m from out of state (New Zealand!!!) and because I looked for ages both times I applied to find out of state applicants who posted their applications, I thought I should post my own to help others! To state why I think mine got accepted this year and the other one didn’t in a few sentences: The fact all my pieces were traditional, the fact my animation was more experimental and the fact I focused on showing my style rather than how pretty I could make something look. Without further ado, here it is!

Assignment A -  One drawing or painting that shows what you feel is unique about yourself.

Assignment B -  One drawing or painting of any subject that interests you. You might consider an emotion, memory, song, place or thing. Upload an explanation of the work. Include the poem, or lyrics if appropriate.

Explanation: For this watercolor piece I was inspired by the characters from books that influenced my childhood, typically anthropomorphic animals with human-like societies. The part of this topic that interested me is the fact authors use animals to represent the ‘innocent’ parts of human society, the positive parts that are suitable for children to see. In this piece, I wanted to explore how the two worlds would meet - the harsh reality of the animal world (the dead deer) and the fabrication (the clothed animals).

Assignment C -  One drawing or painting that you feel demonstrates your technical skills.

Assignment D - Short Animation

If you have any questions, feel free to dm me!!

[chewytriforce]

hi!! i applied to csssa 2018 as a rising junior in musical theatre and was wondering if you know anything/how much you know about their theatre program or if you could direct me to anywhere that has info?? i love seeing art from all these csssa blogs but i’ve been a little shorthanded on finding info about theatre. thanks so much!

hello!!

congrats on applying!!! <3 and yes, i definitely know what you mean. it’s hard to find info on some of the departments sometimes. the year i went, my good friend from my high school and i both got in, so we got to see each other at csssa and stuff. and he was in theater, so i actually know a bit about the theater program based off what he told me and hanging out with him there!

hmm, i feel like you can just sort of dig around on the internet for information. maybe look through some csssa hashtags on instagram and check youtube to see if people posted their monologues or anything? i know what you mean when you say it’s tough to find info on theater online because a lot of the students that post content about csssa are like, visarts or animation people. (not that it’s bad haha, that’s just the majority)

if you have any specific questions, i might be able to answer them??? i went to a lot of theater showcases and hung out with a lot of theater people while i was there, but i’m not 100% qualified to speak about what it’s like being a theater student there of course. but i can tell you just, what i saw from my friends and stuff.

but yeah! let me know! i hope you get in!! best of luck <333

[csssa2018]

hey if folks have questions about csssa animation or csssa in general hmu. i went last summer.

oooo alumni speaking!! yall slide into their dms 👀👀

[readysetogo]

csssa visual arts!

hey! i was at csssa over the summer in the visual arts program (major digital media, minor painting)

if anyone has any questions about my major or visual arts as a whole or just csssa life in general, let me know and i can try to give you some advice based on my experiences!

good luck to everyone applying! don’t give up! i had given up a day before applications were due, but then quickly realized i should persevere and fight my self doubt, cranked out 2 more art pieces (did one in 30 minutes before submitting my app at the time it was due with the extension orz) and got in! you can do it!

[nielsomnia-blog]

CSSSA Animation 2017 Alum!

Hey everyone!

It’s csssa application season again! Being someone who attended last year (Animation), I’m open to answering any questions the best I can! Just pm me!

Good luck guys!

[peachpoem]

csssa 2017: what i wish i had known

hello there! i was at csssa for creative writing and i thought i’d make a list of things that i wish i had known before coming to csssa for everyone applying/attending next year! 

1) there’s a gender neutral hall (at least there is one right now) i know a lot of non-cis people who attended and had no idea that it existed until i got here. i don’t know how to get into said hall, but its there!

2) you have a joint bathroom with the dorm next to yours. you become very comfortable with the people in the neighboring suite. it’s a pretty good idea to make some sort of shower schedule/structure to avoid really awkward encounters

3) its pretty fuckin hot (shocker, i know), but its really fuckin cold inside the classrooms and some of the dorms, especially at night. its a good idea to bring a jacket or sweatpants. layers are your friend.

4) you don’t need a shower curtain. the door on the shower is frosted over and nobody can see inside of it so you don’t really need it unless you’re super uncomfortable without one

5) you don’t need an ethernet cable the wifi’s totally fine (even in the dorms. yes, there is wifi in the dorms)

6) you definitely need a trash can, and probably a big one. the packing list says to bring a small trash can, but my dorm definitely needed a bigger one.

7) kinds of shoes you should definitely bring: flip flops or sandals for showering/pool/generic hot weather, sneakers or every day shoes, and maybe some running shoes if you’re planning on being on the active side while you’re here

8) to avoid having to cross the massive hill from the main entrance of the main building and Chouinard Hall, there’s a little shortcut. if you come directly from Chouinard and just keep walking straight, you’ll see a pair of double doors on the side of the main building. you might want to figure out how to navigate the halls before you use this shortcut, but it’s air conditioned and is a shorter way to get to the dining hall/classrooms once you figure it out!

9) Chouinard is pronounced “shih-nard” CSSSA is pronounced “see-sah” 

10) curfew is VERY IMPORTANT. they mean it when they say that 1 minute late is late (unfortunately). teachers are a little more lax about time, but the RA’s aren’t.

11) the Valencia Shopping Center isn’t as close as they make it seem. it’s not a long walk, but it’s hot. there’s a Von’s (supermarket, basically the LA version of Safeway or Publix), Michael’s Crafts, Party City, and Walmart (amongst other food establishments)

12) you’re allowed to put up streamers and decorations on the dorm walls as long as its done with scotch tape or masking tape. we went to party city and got some Dora the Explorer decorations. edgy, i know.

13) if you forget some supplies, you can get some from the student store on campus! it’s a little more expensive than Von’s or Walmart, but it’s closer

14) there are two cool cafe hang outs on campus! one is Mom’s Cafe, which is by Chouinard and it’s usually pretty crowded but has microwaves and games and you can watch TV and stuff. Tatum Cafe is inside the main building by the nurse’s office. it’s a little coffee shop that is reasonably priced and has really good iced matcha lattes. a lot of cw kids hang out there

15) laundry is a BITCH AND A HALF. on the weekends there are always huge lines (i’ve spent upwards of 3 hours doing one load of laundry) so definitely try and do it on week days or when there’s open washers and dryers. the washing machines accept credit/debit cards and quarters, not cash or dollar coins.

16) they mean it when they say that they’ll expel you for drugs or alcohol or doing anything stupid and irresponsible. just don’t do it. it’s only 4 weeks.

17) always wear your name tag! you won’t get in serious trouble for it like michael fields says you will it’s embarrassing to get called out for forgetting so it’s easier to just wear it

18) it’s super easy to make friends, even in different departments, so don’t stress about it. everyone’s really nice and just wants to have a good time. nobody WANTS to be an asshole

19) the food’s actually pretty good. better than you’d expect. even if you don’t like what they’re serving, there’s always a salad bar, cereal, pastries, and multiple vending machines across campus

20) the sublevel’s fucking awesome (it’s one of my favorite places on campus!) it’s in the main building so just take the stairs all the way down to the basement. have fun!!

21) they don’t let you take prescription medications back to your dorms - you have to leave them at the nurse’s office (in the main building) and take them there when you need them. for non-prescription drugs (like advil) you should let the nurse know that you have them, but you can keep them in the dorms

22) if you’re going to bring and play Cards Against Humanity, definitely keep it on the down low. since it’s rated 17+ most people aren’t really supposed to play it and if the RA’s catch you, they might take it away. just be sneaky about it

23) attach your key to your lanyard/name tag so you don’t lose it. i brought a piece of ribbon and tied my key to my lanyard, other people slid the key on their string, etc. (speaking of lanyards: you don’t need to bring a new lanyard to put your ID badge and stuff into. the ones they give you are fine)

24) go to all the events that you can, even if it’s not specifically marketed towards your department! it’s always cool to see what everyone’s up to

25) the cots are actually pretty comfortable (arguably more comfortable than the Actual Beds) so don’t flip out if you’re sleeping on them.

26) so many people dye their hair at csssa. it’s fun and kind of a rite of passage, but just rinse the dye out in the showers by the pool so it doesn’t stain the bathrooms

have fun at csssa - it goes by way too quickly! if you have any questions message/ask me and i’ll help u out.  good luck on future applications, packing, and attending!!!!!!!!

[viazels]

wed. 2/28/2024

to-do:

csssa assignment b

submit csssa app

print highlights doc

finish ch 24 questions (22-26)

events:

guard 5:45-9

music challenge 59/366: fade into you (mazzy star)

[pesthoe]

csssa alum!

i went to csssa for creative writing last year and am Here and Ready to answer your questions for 2018!!! (i also applied and got in for theatre too so if you want advice on that app i can help u out)

[its-pronounced-see-sah]

I'm really interested in applying for csssa 2018 for animation but I know you need 2 rec letters but my small school only has one art teacher and no other teachers are familiar with my art so what do you recommend I do?

Do you have any teachers who know how you think? Like, classes where you participate in discussions, ask questions, etc? Or classes where you get to show off your creative/innovative side? For example, I got my AP lit and my US history teacher to write my letters. The former is p self explanatory, and I asked the latter because I participated a lot in his discussions.

Hope this helps!

[xnnnie]

RE: CSSSA 2017 [WOOHOO]

I only got back on tumblr to talk about csssa because it’s coming up soon and I remember searching through tumblr thirsting for any info i could find

I’m a returner to csssa! I went in 2016 for music (piano, specifically) and I’m going back this year wooooo

I guess I’ll just list some useful things I wish I had known before I went last year:

1. bring clothes you’ll be comfortable in. it’s hot (one day I think it got up to 109, I choked on my spit and melted) but when it gets cooler at night it’s useful to have a hoodie to throw over your tank top.

2. if you’re the type of person who likes to dress up/stunt on everyone with your badass fit, don’t be afraid to bring FITS. I wish I brought waaaaay more clothes bc I could’ve stunted :’) [oh well it’s okay I’m packing more and cuter clothes this year LOL]

3. if you wear makeup and want to wear it at csssa, feel free. csssa is really accepting with all forms of self-expression. everyone is just so chill about everything, it’s such a great environment~

4. if you’re in the music department, make sure you pack a set of formal (@pianists: bring a set of all black) clothes because at our concerts at the end of the year, they want us to dress nicely

5. bring a swimsuit! the pool is so nice to relax in after/between classes

6. the cafeteria provides an endless amount of water bottles so you don’t need to worry about lugging a Costco pack of water bottles to your dorm

7. the first few days are kinda awkward if you’re not the type of person to go out of your way to make new friends out of complete strangers, but don’t worry. you see your fellow department people every single day and the friendships kinda just bloom by themselves :)

8. pack snacks in your dorm. doesn’t feel good to see your money slowly slip away because you’re craving a late night snack from the vending machine

9. people DO hook up at csssa, but don’t expect it to last past the month unless you live close to each other or are willing to commit to the unrealistically long distanced relationship (this tip comes from personal experience)

10. don’t worry about having a lack of inspiration to draw from. csssa is literally a vat of artistic, creative, eclectic people and everyone is so unique and amazing. the energy at csssa is practically electric with how unreal the experience itself is.

11. the dorm rooms have AC.

12. if your roommate snores, the nearby Wal-Mart sells those anti-snore nose stickers that I saw on Grey’s Anatomy when Meredith had a snoring problem

13. you can use Amazon to ship stuff to you when you can’t find the time to run out to the local shopping center to grab snacks/toiletries/whatever (the addressing format is in the handbook)! you can also have food delivered from GrubHub because sometimes the cafeteria food is absolute garbage (think soggy pasta with sour “marinara” sauce)

14. there’s pretty good wi-fi at CalArts so if you bring a laptop, you can definitely use it. it’s not good enough to play League of Legends on though (again, from personal experience), so if you’re trying to do stuff that requires major bandwidth, you might have some problems

15. there’s a TV in the lobby of the dorms that has an HDMI cord so you can have group movie night!

16. ladies - if you forget to bring pads or whatever, your RA has some stocked in her room, don’t be afraid to ask!

if you have anymore questions, feel free to DM me on twitter @xnnnie or on instagram at @outlaier! I don’t check my tumblr much, I just wanted to post this :-)

[chewytriforce]

Hello! I uhh have questions about csssa if yr taking them.Im applying for 2018 and it sounds dumb but i am kinda worried about the way they let you know if u were accepted/rejected? Like email etc. because my address situation is weird. Also do you anything about getting into the gender neutral hall? Thanks in advance

hello anon!

they’ll mail you your acceptance/rejection letter. the acceptance letter is a big packet, the rejection letter is a small envelope. if you’re worried about your address situation, maybe email them and ask?

yeah, csssa has a gender neutral hall! if you’re accepted, you can indicate that you want the gender neutral hall when you’re filling out the paperwork for your rooming situation.

good luck!! <3

[numuatelierlife-blog]

NUMU Atelier Life | Part 4 Jessica Flowers Becomes a California Arts Scholar at CSSSA

This summer Archbishop Mitty high school student, Jessica Flowers attended a four week Arts intensive at the Cal Arts college campus in Valencia, California. The campus was founded by Walt Disney and has been training talented high school students since 1987. Jessica has been honored as a California Arts Scholar and she earned 3 college credits.  She is currently back in high school in her Senior year.

The California State Summer School for the Arts provides professional development for kids pursuing a career in the Arts.  They teach a month-long training program in the visual and performing arts, creative writing, animation and film for talented artists of high school age.

Every spring high school students from across the state, and across the country, compete in a highly rigorous selection process. Students are required to display talent, skill and creativity. Jessica’s parents called me in February, 2017 to help her prepare three pieces for her application. Since Jessica had been studying drawing and painting with me since 2013 she was experienced enough to be successful at this level. Her natural born talent was evident when I met her as a middle school girl.

Jessica has a remarkable and innate sense of form and style. When her mother and father brought her in for a meeting in 2013 she showed me several drawings of faces she had done. There was no question she could become as accomplished as she wanted to be.

She decided to became a regular student at NUMU Atelier and continues to grow as an Artist.

When she was 14 years old the first drawing she did for me was the above cast drawing in graphite and chalk. Her attention span is long and she is very focused in her process. She has a natural ability to capture a likeness and her confidence shows in her lines.

She needed to add one distinct painting to her portfolio that would help her gain a spot in the CSSSA program. Before she began that she honed her painting skills by studying nature forms, such as this madrone branch. I gave her a limited palette of oil paints to practice flesh tones.

She had a concept in mind of two hands representing a person in need and a person offering help. Jessica has a strong sense of compassion and empathy. She is a twin to a sister who needs constant emotional support. I could see this in her painting as she wanted to convey a sense of light and compassion to a fellow human in need of love and contact. The feeling of a person in darkness needing to be uplifted by a source of light was touching.

Her message was very genuine and heartfelt. I was glad to see her growing ability enable her to express her message. She created a detailed drawing from observation and from that she finished an oil painting for her application. As her Art teacher I wrote a recommendation to express my confidence in her abilities and qualifications.

After waiting several weeks, for the results of the application, her mother contacted me. Jessica was accepted into the program; being among 1 in 3 students who made the cut. “She is over the moon excited!” said her mom. During her stay at CSSSA Jessica studied digital media, painting, drawing, design and figure drawing.

Knowing I was able to help Jessica towards this goal is one of the best feelings I get as an Art teacher. At the end of the program I thanked Jessica’s mother for coming to me for help. She replied, “You are welcome. Jessica has learned so much from you and all of that technique is from you”.

In the next blog post I will share Jessica’s experience, from her own words, and show the artwork she made. These stories are meant to inspire other parents to support a child’s education in the Arts; providing clarity and confidence in that goal.

Thank you Lisa Coscino and New Museum Los Gatos, Gabriel Coke

Gabriel Coke  |  Atelier Program Director 

NUMU Atelier  | New Museum Los Gatos