Feature Film Diploma

In the early stages of the courses, student will be educated in the appreciation of film, filmography, film theory, film history and various film genres. Study the development of the film industry, the cultural movements and political situations that have affected the industry, as well as technical developments and their affect on the industry.

In class practical exercises designed for skill practice. From the beginning you will be involved with applying your artistic and business skills into Short Productions. These projects are designed to give you experiential knowledge and prepare you mentally and practically to take action and responsibility during the Feature Film Production.

Jump straight in – here students produce their first commercial film project from script to red carpet premiere. This is the most critical part. Students apply their freshly acquired knowledge in the real world. Directing, producing, editing and more – Participate offers you your feature film debut. Here students contribute more than the main weekly tutorial hours to successfully complete the production, and get film credits* for all roles performed and undertaken during production. See ‘The Feature Film’ below for more information.

During the work-placement component of the course, you are placed in a real film-production environment where students take on the roles of cast and crew, as the heads of the various film departments, and make operational day-to-day decisions to produce a full-length feature film. This unique work experience enables students to reach and experience their full capability before they enter the workforce.

Because this component of the course is actually a full commercial project, not a simulated exercise, students must be prepared to work hard, and work together as a team, to overcome any obstacles and see the project through to completion.

Some of the work-placement components of the course – the practical and project requirements – may take place off campus, away from the Australian Technology Park. This will depend on the requirements of the film script. You will be told about the locations as soon they become available and are confirmed.

Read more about the feature film project below.

Fifteen (15) units of competency make up the Diploma of Screen and Media CUF50107. Units in bold type listed below are compulsory core units. The other units are the electives that Participate offers.

• BSBCMM401A Make a presentation
• BSBCRT402A Collaborate in a creative process
• BSBREL401A Establish networks
• BSBPMG510A Manage projects
• BSBOHS509A Ensure a safe workplace
• BSBMKG514A Implement and monitor marketing activities
• BSBFIM501A Manage budgets and financial plans
• CUFCAM601A Direct cinematography for screen productions
• CUFDRT502A Direct performers
• CUFCAM501A Shoot material for screen productions under special conditions
• CUFPPM409A Organise and facilitate rehearsals
• CUFPOS501A Edit complex screen productions
• BSBPUB503A Manage fundraising and sponsorship activities
• CUFWRT501A Develop storylines and treatments
• CUSSOU19A Manage production for sound recording

Participate can also allows RPL and Credit Transfer. Even if RPL or credit transfer is granted, you will still need to attend all classes. This is necessary due to the nature and structure of the course, its reliance on team-building, coherence of project management, and integrated assessment.

Within the film industry, the Direction department is a largest occupational group - referred to as 'Production'. The best-known role within the Direction department is a role of the Director. This role carries the ultimate responsibility for the creative vision and overall style of a film. Within the department, the Director is also supported by a number of Assistant Directors, who ensure the Director's artistic vision is achieved from development to post- production, and beyond. They assist in areas of time and people management, scheduling, art and business day-to-day set operations.

Student directors and assistant directors, will be highly educated in managing people and relationships between cast and crew and other film departments, as well as undertaking technical responsibilities, and applying technical knowledge. Students will also have the opportunity to work with professional directors, working in Australia and Hollywood, to develop their own directorial style.

Film Production is a complex business which effectively requires the establishment and management of a substantially sized company, solely for the purpose of producing a single film, documentary or TV program. Therefore, those who work in the Production Department must be highly motivated, multi-tasking individuals, who have the creative vision, the business and art in mind, and the strong determination to do whatever it takes to see that the film is made to the best of everyone's abilities.

Student producers will be highly educated in managing people and relationships between cast and crew and all film departments, as well as all technical aspects of their craft. They will lean and apply general knowledge of their duties, responsibilities and technical knowledge of the heads of film departments. Students will also be engaged in discussions with professional producers, working in Australia and Hollywood, to develop a better understanding.

Cinematography is story-telling using light and shadows to paint the first frame of a motion picture, and capture the true nature of the film. Being a master of the art and technology, a cinematographer starts his/hers vision well before commencement of principle photography collaborating with the director to design the masterpiece. During production the cinematographer skillfully uses lenses and light to create unforgettable images capturing them on variety of different cameras.

Student’s cinematographers will be highly educated in technical skills of lighting, camera, grip equipment and problem solving, as well as working with other departments and actors. Technical exploration includes: composition, depth of field, key-back-fill lighting, location or studio set-up, dynamics of lenses, focal lengths, different lighting systems, tracking, dollies, cranes, frame rates, aspect ratios, recording formats, aerial photography, integration of visual effects, (Chroma Key) green and blue screen, shot sizes, purpose-shooting, camera movement.

Students will learn and experience, on-set, director and crew relationship management, the way a Director of Photography (DoP) and Director collaborate to bring the movie to viewers with an individual signature. Students will also be engaged in discussions with professional cinematographers working in Australia and Hollywood, to develop better understanding of successful practices in art and business of filmmaking.

The screenplay is a blueprint for the entire film project and is frequently called a ‘bible’ on set. The script development process starts with an idea or concept, possibly a true story, an existing screen work (film or TV program), or a novel, poem or play. An interesting story is well-written and well-structured with correct formatting – this is the responsibility of the writers. Without a good script, it is almost impossible to finish a film. Screenwriters spend a long time developing stories into perfect the screenplays.

Students will learn about the development of the story through screenplay development: pitching an idea, creating a blog line, synopsis, treatment, and more, concluding their education with a full screenplay ready for production. Students who go through the process of developing a screenplay will visualise every aspect of the finished film. Student screenwriters are the central and pivotal driving force to the script writing process, and have very large responsibility to complete the screen play on time, so other departments can get started in the film making process. Participate provides a platform during creative development for collaboration, and input from other film professionals, Script Readers, Writer's Agents, Producers, Development Executives, Script Editors, Directors and, eventually, Students Directors, who will be involved in the final versions of the screenplay and creation of the shooting script.

We hear thousands of sounds around us and they are always in perfect harmony. The biggest challenge starts when we attempt to capture them. Like a mechanic uses precision tools to fix a car, a sound recordist is a master of microphone choices for the right job. He/she knows how to eliminate wind and white noises to make a film complete. There is no movie without a good sound.

Students will receive expert mentorship on the aesthetic of sound in film. They will engage in recording sound on location including dialogue, atmosphere, Foley, ADR and more. They will learn about the principles involved in sound design, and the purposes of recreating and re-recording sounds throughout filming.

Students will record environmental tracks at every location and set they attend, and travel to various locations in order to record the thousands of sounds required for the final stages of the film. Sound design students will be trained in how to approach the manipulation and adjustment of sound during post-production. Working closely with the editors and visual effects students, those involved with sound and music will create sound environments to meet the requirements of the visual environment.

Sound design students will work with actors on the recreation of performance in ADR and adjustment of the digital audio to aid the actor. Students will be able to harness the power of music and sound software to create an original motion picture soundtrack for the film.

Post-production is the last rewrite of the script to create a master of the motion picture - the final movie. During this process raw material of camera footage and sound recording are edited together to create the final cut of the movie. Post-production is the longest period of the entire project and may take many months to complete. Students are also introduced to the importance of post-production budgeting, and always getting the right shots on-set to avoid expensive post-production costs.

The editing program introduces students to the elements involved in the assembly of a film once it has been shot. Beginning with an understanding of the non-linear editing workflow using sophisticated software, students grow to incorporate the work of sound design and music personnel to assemble a completed work. Editors will develop an understanding of the aesthetic of different sequences presented through alternative shots, and providing the greatest presentation of the film story.

Editors will also be trained in how to maintain and manage their relationships and interactions with the post-production staff, from the director and sound designer, to the composer and visual effects supervisor. Once students master the technique of simple film editing, they will work on the dynamic creation of suspense, comedy and drama – linking the visual edit with the aid of music and sound. For the feature film, students will produce a professional-level product with their own visual style. Editing students will ultimately learn the technical expertise needed to create and manage their workflow in short and long projects.

From day one you are part of a creative team that undertakes the journey of film creation filled with fun, discovery and first-hand experience. Your film journey will take you from pitching an original story idea through to production, marketing and distribution - a completely student managed project.

Not only do you work on a film, but a also short films, a documentary, plus all film marketing material: trailers, cast photography, posters, website etc... and when it's ready for public exhibition - students are engaged in executing the premiere of the movie in a major cinema followed by screenings across Australia through movie theatres. 

Armed with their first feature film credit, our graduates are well prepared for guild membership, future contract negotiation and their next feature film.