film, video & TV training | professional development
Feature Film and TV Series Development program (leads to CUF60107 Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media)
| Dates: | This qualification program is made up of the 8 modules. Subject to availability, additional places may be available for individual modules for those not wishing to undertake the full qualification program. EXTENDED DEADLINE: Second round applications now open! Course commences 26 March 2013, runs Thursdays and Fridays, finishing mid December 2013 (including breaks). |
| Modules: | Modules within this course may also be undertaken as short courses, subject to available space. See our Short Courses page for details. |
| Contact hours: | 24 hours per week (Austudy eligible), part time option also available |
| Times: | Proposed face-to-face days for 2013 are Thursday 9.30am – 4.30pm, Fridays 9.30am – 4.30pm; plus online learning, project work and individual project mentoring (approximately two days per week) |
| Places: | 20 |
| Fee: | Individual Enrolment (Producer or Writer or Director - Teams encouraged to apply): Subsidised: $3,564 for Filmmakers/Production Companies with an ABN (or people working together with a Company on script development), subsidised through the Australian Government's National Workforce Development Fund.
Full fee: $10,400 Shared Enrolment for Creative & Business Team (minimum two people) Fee: $5,400 per person (see information kit for details) Austudy eligible. Student Fees include all tuition and assessment, student services, and discounted equipment hire during enrolment to record live script read. |
| Prerequisites: | 1. Certificate III in Media, equivalent related qualification, or demonstrated industry experience 2. Screen project at Extended Treatment or First Draft/Early Draft Script stage |
Developing Feature films and Television Series Projects
"Usually, you get one shot at a project, and when you do, it needs to be ready. Open Channel's course will help you get there."
- Marc Gracie (Director/Producer; The Craic, Take Away, The Tumbler, The Adventures of Lano and Woodley)
The success of a film or series depends on a number of factors. But one thing that is fundamental to all successful projects is good development.
Development takes time.
During this stage, the creative team of Producer, Writer and Director refine concepts, write treatments and script drafts, read and evaluate script edit notes and re-write to solve dramatic and script problems and work towards a shooting script. In developing script, the team prepares a sound package as a basis on which to finance the film including budgeting, project and business planning, casting, shooting pilots or teasers, preparing a pitch, examining the project against other case studies, preparing a visual and aural approach, including concept art, pre-visualisations and storyboards, and determining platforms on which to ultimately market and exploit the project. The team are also networking and meeting anyone and everyone who can help get the project off the ground.
The Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media (Feature Film and TV Series Development) is the first sustained program in Australia to focus on the intricacies of project development.
With the advent of digital technologies, new TV channels, internet-based exhibition and the impending introduction of the National Broadband Network; together with big changes to funding agencies and financing models means that tomorrow's projects will need to be built on solid creative, technical and business foundations. Designed for writers, directors, producers and creative teams with a specific film or TV series (i.e. drama, childrens, genre, documentary) project in development, this program will build your creative, technical and business skills as well as your industry knowledge and networks.
With leading local and international mentors, you will workshop your project over nine months. Projects are interrogated creatively, technically and financially in their evolution from script to screen - and always with the audience in mind. Through this process, you will develop the skills and knowledge needed to get projects into production.
Program Staff & Trainers
This program is taught by leading screen industry figures including distribution and exhibition company executives, producers, directors, screenwriters, script editors, critics, educators and key creatives. Open Channel wishes to pay respects to the late Ian Sands (Managing Director, Reading Cinemas), whose short course Film Marketing, Sales and Distribution at Open Channel in March 2010 laid the foundations for the program.
Further Information
Daniel Schultheis - Vocational Education and Training Manager
Open Channel, Victoria Harbour, Shed 4, North Wharf Road, Docklands 3008
Telephone: 03 86109300
Email: training@openchannel.org.au
Download Information Kit
Download Application Form (Full Fee)
* if applying for NWDF funded place use following Application Form
Download Application Form (NWDF subsidised) - must have an ABN
Download Flyer on National Workforce Development Subsidy
* This training is delivered with Commonwealth government funding for eligible applicants. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
**Full fee participants undertake all business and creative sessions.
*** This option allows two or more members in the creative and business team (Writers, Directors, Producers) to complete different parts of the program.
Students enrolling under this option choose EITHER the creative lab (9 units) or business lab (7 units) and associated online courses. Each participant under a shared enrolment graduates with a Statement of Attainment (partial qualification)
ALL participants enrolling on this basis from the same team share mentoring hours and production support which are provided on a per-project basis.
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