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Anna K. Miers | Bachelor of Communication (Media) | Major: Cinema Studies

Why are you here?

To acquire the skills necessary to be a proficient and unique filmmaker. Specifically, documentary filmmaker.

10 things you want to be able to do/be better at/to know/to achieve by the completion of your degree:

1. learn how to direct
2. learn cinematography
3. create industry connections
4. experience in documentary
5. practice editing 
6. organisation: being better with deadlines
7. learn how to finance films
8. practice communication – interviewing people
9. practice presenting
10. ultimately gain the skills, knowledge, direction and connections required to work in the media (film, radio, TV, documentary) industry.

Steps to accomplishing goals:

1. identify skills required
2. hone and apply
3. watch passion grow as skills grow

In reading week one’s set texts, the man thing that stood out was to hone your craft; ‘be so good they can’t ignore you.’ The chicken vs egg argument of whether passion or skill come first is utterly irrelevant. I know what I want my career to be, I am taking steps to achieve it, and I will make it happen.

I’ve spoken to and researched enough filmmakers, writers, journalists and media moguls to understand that there is always more than one path to follow, more than one trajectory to get to where you want to go. If I end up hating university, I will find another way to pursue my craft, or rather, gain the skills to do so. I chose a media degree over a straight film degree because I wanted versatility and I wanted content; to make things of importance as well as artistic value. So far I think I’m in the right place.