Programme summary

Career opportunities

Courses & timetables

Admission requirements

7, 360 3.0
Full-time for three years
Starts February
45 places
Mt Albert campus
Semester dates for 2013:
Semester 1: 25 February - 28 June; Semester 2: 22 July - 22 November

NZ$8274 (Approximate fee only, find out more about the costs of study)

International fees

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Programme summary

Become equipped to begin a career as a film and television professional in cinematography, editing, sound, production, scriptwriting and directing. Work collaboratively with other students on a wide range of projects.

Have you always wanted to make movies? Have you considered a career in film and television? The Screen Arts (film and television) major has an emphasis on the creative and practical skills and knowledge you need for a career as a film and television professional in one of the following six specialisations: camera, directing, editing, production, scriptwriting or sound.

Develop the skills to participate in the making of work to a professional standard in your specialisation. Gain the ability to analyse your own work, interpret a variety of creative briefs and study the history, theory and critique of film and television. An important component of the programme is the opportunity to work in teams with students from other specialisations while still practising your own specialisation. This will help you understand what it means to work at a professional level and assist in forming important future collaborative relationships.

Highlights

• Practical projects: you'll work on high-quality practical exercises and projects (a mix of short documentaries, commercials, music/dance video, short films, experimental film and studio pieces) using current industry standards.
• The real world of performing and screen arts: work collaboratively with acting, dance, art department and costume students to gain real-world, on-set experience when making short films in the studio and on location.
• Lecturers who are experienced film and television practitioners and educators: our staff have many years of industry experience.
• Strong industry links: SPADA (Screen Production and Development Association), WIFT (Women in Film and Television), New Zealand Writers Guild, Screen Directors Guild, Entertainment Technology NZ and New Zealand Film and Video Technicians' Guild.
• Graduates who are regarded as highly employable by the film and television industries. They work on Hollywood blockbusters and local independent features, and produce prize-winning short films and documentaries in New Zealand and internationally.

You will have time to discover where your interests lie. In the first year you'll explore the basic skills and techniques associated with film and television production such as camera, directing, editing, production, sound and scriptwriting, and gain an overview of the production process and key responsibilities.

By the end of Year One, it will become clear through your achievements in various subjects and projects which discipline area(s) suits you the best. The remaining two years will focus increasingly on your specialist area.

Please note: Some specialisations are particularly competitive, so it's important to achieve highly from the beginning in order to secure a place.

Camera

Aid the realisation of the director's vision onto the screen through lens choice, lighting, composition, camera movement, focus, filtration and exposure. Develop essential skills and knowledge by working creatively on a wide range of projects, and get trained for the film crew positions of camera operator, focus puller, clapper loader, gaffer, lighting assistant and grip.

Directing

You'll learn about the creative and technical side of directing, and also about text analysis, actor process, shaping performance, design and the associated technologies of film, including camera, sound and editing and what they contribute to the filmmaking process. You'll learn what it means to formulate and communicate a vision for a project, and lead a team with a variety of creative skills towards a common creative goal.

Editing

Gain practical, hands-on experience of film editing, from documentary through to feature film, and use the latest equipment and technology, which is being constantly updated to include new formats and techniques. You'll also learn the power of visual storytelling through screen grammar, the cut, and the use of effects and transitions.

Production

You'll learn about production management, assistant directing and location managing in a variety of industry-modelled projects and workshops. You'll progressively learn to harness your organisational and communication skills as you keep the production moving according to set timelines and ensure that production deadlines are met. You'll plan ahead, trouble-shoot and pay close attention to detail as you assist the director and co-ordinate all production activity, supervising the cast and crew.

Scriptwriting

You will develop your writing skills in a practice-based course that offers in-depth knowledge of the craft and creative processes involved in writing for screen. A number of key areas of scriptwriting, including short films/plays (which increase in length and complexity), feature film treatments, soaps and sitcoms will be studied. Scripts may even be made into films.

Sound

Become involved in field recording and sound post-production, from basic introductory techniques, such as boom-swinging and mixing levels, to the rigours of dialogue replacement, FX editing and multiple microphone location recording. In your final year, you'll explore the creativity of the craft via challenging projects such as documentary and short film, and explorative studio work, including surround sound and video dance.

Interviews

Places are still available for this programme starting in February 2013. Once we have received your application, we will contact you to arrange an interview.

 

Last edited: 30 January 2013