The AFTRS Open Summer School – now in its third year – has expanded to 17 intensive courses, including a new six-week doco school and a six-week film school.
These introductory and intermediate film courses running between November and January are designed for intensive learning and the chance to upskill in the rapidly changing media landscape.
Amongs the screen industry speakers and lecturers are writer/director David Caesar (Nowhere Boys, Underbelly, Dirty Deeds, Mullet), cinematographer Ross Emery (The Wolverine, Woman In Gold, I Frankenstein), TV writer Vicki Madden (The Bill, Water Rats, Blood Brothers, McLeod’s Daughters and Foxtel drama The Kettering Incident), feature film director Elissa Down (The Black Balloon, Offspring) and documentary director/producer Madeleine Heatherton (Call Me Dad, Bondi Rescue, The Nest, Last Chance Surgery, Outback Truckies).
Also screenwriter Ian David ( Police Crop: The Winchester Conspiracy, Police State, Joh's Jury, Blue Murder, Killing Time, 3 Acts of Murder, The Shark Net, Bad Cop-Bad Cop), documentary maker Dylan Blowen (The Snowman, A Northern Town) and AFI winning production designer Michael Philips (Garage Days, The Well, The Night We called it a Day).
Places are limited but available in several courses beginning in November and January.
November highlights include: The doco school, starting November 23, an entry/intermediate level course in which students will hone their documentary making skills and get their own project into pitch perfect shape. Led by Madeleine Hetherton, the course will give an introduction to the theory and business side of documentary filmmaking as well as lots of practical skills.
Also starting 23 November is the three week film school, a chance for students to fast track their filmmaking skills with tutor writer/director Martha Goddard and guest lecturers Caesar and Emery. The following week there’s Understanding Narrative Masterclass with Ian David.
The majority of summer school courses take place in January.The six week film school is a premium course that is unique in Australia and designed for new and emerging filmmakers who are looking to take the next step. The tutor is an AFI & ADG Award winning filmmaker, and AFTRS graduate, Lucy Gaffy with special guest tutors.
Also new this summer is the Sketch & Short Form Comedy Intensive. Over five days, participants will find out what makes a successful comedy sketch/series (and why some fail), brainstorm sketch and short form ideas, explore how to write razor-sharp dialogue and instantly recognisable characters, plus how to get their funny ideas on screen. There will be opportunities to direct and or perform in some of the finished sketches and segments and also to pitch to Rick Kalowski, Head of Comedy for ABC.
The new three week radio school begins in February utilising AFTRS’ state-of-the-art radio studios. Over 15 intensive days, industry experts Rachel Corbett (Triple M, 2Day FM) and Jess Campanaro (2GB) will guide participants, working collaboratively in radio to prepare, produce and deliver radio content both on air and on-line.
The AFTRS Open Summer School will also offer a range of 5-day intensives, during January including: Feature Documentary Intensive with Dylan Blowen, Writing for TV Intensive with Vicki Madden, Short Film Screenwriting with Jonathan Ogilvie, Production Design Intensive with Michael Philips, Intro to TV & Radio Presenting with Marie Pataneplus and 10-day TV Editing Intensive.
All courses are held at AFTRS in Sydney with the exception of the six week doco school that begins with a 4-week online component and finishes with a 10 day hands-on workshop in Sydney
More information on all the courses can be found at: http://www.aftrs.edu.au/short-courses/summer-school
Early bird bookings receive a 10% discount (for bookings made 28 days in advance).