Vocational Aptitude Questionnaire

This questionnaire will help live-action filmmakers locate their professional aptitudes but may also
be interesting to animators. It won’t say what you “must” become (you alone control that) but
will indicate which filmmaking role seems best to suit your temperament and tastes. Answer each
question and score your agreement on a scale between zero and four, with 4 signifying that the
statement is very true, and 0 that it is very untrue. This is for you alone, so be completely honest.

0 1 2 3 4

1 I like to go to art exhibitions

2 I use a stills camera for fun

3 I have shot, edited, and printed my own digital photos

4 I have taken one or more art classes by choice

5 I have taken one or more photo classes by choice

6 I am more aware of cinematography than most people I know

7 I am more knowledgeable than most people in lighting

8 I am more knowledgeable than most about picture composition

9 I keep a sketchbook

10 I have a collection of tapes/films that I have shot myself

11 I have sung in a choir or played a musical instrument

12 I can identify most instruments of the orchestra by sound alone

13 I consciously listen to all the elements in a movie sound track

14 I own a lot of albums including non-vocal music

15 I am interested in the science of sound

16 I have manipulated sound using a computer

17 I could list four feature films whose sound is specially interesting

18 I want to work mainly in sound recording and sound design

19 I want to learn about the psychological effects of sound

20 I have used sound recording or playback equipment

21 I like acting in public performances

22 I have strongly defined ideas about the human condition

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23 I have researched into the life and vision of four favorite directors

24 I can adopt someone else=s idea in a group activity even when it isn’t mine

25 I can be both tough and diplomatic

26 I am recognized as unusually patient and persistent

27 I have a history of finding find trustworthy partners to work with

28 I am intensely interested in the lives and viewpoints of others

29 I am not afraid of confrontations and handle human crises effectively

30 I trust my instincts and usually act on them even when others don=t agree

31 I write often and for pleasure

32 I have read several short stories or novels in the last six months

33 I follow local, national, or international news most days

33 I often discuss writers and writing with friends

34 I own several writer’s reference books (dictionary, thesaurus, style manual

etc)

35 I am interested in several writers outside my own region or culture

36 I have a good knowledge of at least one area of contemporary fiction writing

37 I have a good knowledge of my country’s great writers prior to my own era

38 I own the texts of several screenplays or stage plays

39 I have at least one good storyteller in my family

40 I enjoy working on my own for long periods

41 I listen to a good deal of music

42 I take an active interest in several art forms

43 I am aware of the different way that stories are structured

44 I am interested in sound design and the way sound tracks blend

45 I like projects that involve an intense partnership

46 I am orderly and methodical by nature

47 I am willing to redraft something many times to get it right

48 I am really diplomatic when I try to get my own way

49 I can take a strong role but have little need to be in ultimate control

50 I can absorb and act on criticism of my work even when it hurts

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51 I am good with numbers

52 I get special fulfillment from trying to put together a winning team

53 I have a real talent for recognizing good stories

54 I know I don=t want to write or direct

55 I am good at talking people into doing things

56 I am a socially at ease with all kinds of people

57 I enjoy nurturing team operations and seeing them flourish

58 I can live by principles and when necessary tell people Ano@

59 I have a talent for salesmanship

60 I can use rules and persuasion to settle conflicts between people

If I had to choose ONLY ONE A. Camera & Lighting

of these professions to pursue
for my first four years after B. Sound
school, it would be............
C. Directing

D. Screenwriting

E. Editing
CHECK ONLY ONE!
F. Producing

Disk D-I\Evaluation Instruments\Apt form