Hi, I’m Rachel.
I help aspiring filmmakers navigate one of the most competitive college admissions processes: getting into film school.
Having studied at two of the nation’s leading film schools and worked as a filmmaker, educator, and admissions reader, I understand the process from both sides.
Film schools aren't simply looking for good grades or technical proficiency. They’re looking for emerging storytellers with a distinct point of view, students who can show them who they are, what they care about, and why they have stories worth telling.
My job is to help you discover what makes you distinctive and translate that into a compelling application. From essays and creative portfolios to films, scripts, résumés, and school-specific materials, I provide individualized guidance throughout the process while making sure the work—and the voice behind it—remains yours.
You bring the ambition. I’ll help you figure out what comes next.
What my clients have to say…
"When I applied to USC Film School I was totally overwhelmed by the odds, and the amount of ideas I wanted to put on paper. Rachel has such a good grasp on what the admissions team is looking for, and how to distill your thoughts into something that catches their attention. She was an incredible help, allowed me to believe I could be accepted, and hey, I was!”
Ryan Maxey
Director
“Rachel is amazing to work with. She has extensive knowledge on all facets of movie production and communicates about story in a very engaging and insightful way. She is a great listener and problem solver, able to help identify obstacles and strategies.”
Nicholas Massouh
Actor, Producer, Writer
"Rachel's advice was extremely helpful and affirming for what to expect moving forward with my short film. I’m so thankful I was able to connect with her. I’ve already snagged 2 free waiver codes for some festivals, and have started working on my next project. So far, so good!"
Chloe Gebacz
Director
Insider knowledge to give you an edge
Rachel brings a rare combination of film school admissions experience, university teaching, and professional filmmaking to her work with aspiring filmmakers.
A graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Rachel directed one of the program’s competitive thesis films, worked in the student production office, and graduated cum laude. She later earned her MFA in Screenwriting from Columbia University.
Rachel returned to USC as an instructor and, for three years, served on the undergraduate admissions committee, reviewing applications and helping select incoming students. She has also taught at Columbia University and Fairfield University. Her experience as both a film school educator and admissions reader gives her firsthand insight into how highly competitive programs evaluate applicants, and what makes a young filmmaker stand out.
Rachel has spent more than two decades working in the film industry. After beginning her career in development, she became Director of Development at Rival Pictures and went on to produce six feature films. Her credits include Space Station 76 and Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, which was nominated for a Grammy and received the Producers Guild Award for Best Documentary. In 2015, she co-founded Higher Content, producing films including Super Dark Times, Darkness Visible, and The Ballad of Lefty Brown.
Her work as a writer has also received industry recognition. Rachel was awarded an SFFILM Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship, and her screenplay Typhoid Mary received the Alfred P. Sloan Screenwriting Grant and reached the quarterfinals of the Academy Nicholl Fellowships.
Rachel’s experience on both sides of the film school admissions process—as a student and as someone helping decide who gets in— informs her approach to coaching. She helps young filmmakers identify what makes them distinctive, develop their creative voice, and build applications that communicate not only what they’ve accomplished, but who they are as storytellers.
Insider knowledge at its finest
