Congratulations to current final year BComm Media students, Daina Anderson, Grace Hardy, Rose Ng and Fabiana Weiner whose research article on ‘Diversity in Australian Media: Production, Content and Representation‘ has just been published in the latest issue of Australian Mosaic (produced by FECCA – Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia).
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Media students partner with Foxtel
A group of RMIT students and recent graduates worked hard to record the Foxtel broadcast of the 2016 Australian Directors Guild (ADG) Awards at the Sofitel on May 6.
For the first time ever the ADG Awards have received a television broadcast, possible through the dedication and creative skill of a team of RMIT students and recent graduates, who worked as production crew for the broadcast and production assistants for the event itself.
The students were responsible for the entire broadcast and informal vox pops with attendees.
The broadcast was produced and directed by Mark Poole, who teaches into the Media program, co-produced by recent graduate Maree Prokos and edited by graduate Bella Walker.
The evening was compered by comedian Nazeem Hussain, and presenters included industry leaders such as Jenni Tosi from Film Victoria, directors Fred Schepisi and ADG President Samantha Lang, former President Ray Argall and actors Lisa McCune and Catherine McClements.
Winners included well known directors Nash Edgerton, Emma Freeman, Daina Reid, Jennifer Peedom and Rachel Perkins. Looking for Grace director Sue Brooks and John Hughes, RMIT Adjunct Professor, were presented with a lifetime membership award.
Kingston Anderson CEO of the ADG said he was very excited that they are able to secure a broadcast of the 2016 Awards for the first time.
“It is very important to profile the talented directors that Australia has across all genres and the broadcast gives people the opportunity to see the depth of talent we have,” Anderson said.
Mark Poole, the Chapter Head of the ADG in Victoria and member of the media teaching team said he was incredibly impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the crew that filmed the Awards throughout the night.
“This was not only a fantastic opportunity for students to rub shoulders with the industry, to get real-world experience but also, to get meaningful industry credits for their CVs,” Poole said.
“RMIT staff Paul Ritchard, David Stanley and Windsor Fick ensured we had the right gear for the job,” Poole said.
The crew were co-producer Maree Prokos, editor Bella Walker, camera/sound and production Mollie Cowell, Ben Grant, Sarah Petrie-Allbutt, Angus Strachan and Jordan Williams.
Media and Communication Honours student Mollie Cowell said being given the responsibility to produce a broadcast was test of whether students have the skills to go out into industry and the experience showed that they did.
“We worked well as a team and performed under pressure and this was a great affirmation of not only what we learnt, but what we can do with our skills,” Cowell said.
Lisa French, Deputy Dean (Media) said the School of Media and Communication has an ongoing working relationship with the ADG’s and this is just one of the many outcomes of a productive industry engaged partnerships.
“The President of the ADG, filmmaker Samatha Lang, included in her speech reference to the need to improve the participation of women in film and television industries.”
“I was delighted to look to the back of the auditorium and see the two key cameras were being operated by women (Sarah Petrie-Allbutt and Mollie Cowell) and that RMIT had visible gender equality with a 50% gender balance on this crew,” French said.
“RMIT is equipping them for the industry but this is a very good example of how we are creating industry experience in that industry, and flagging that women have an equal place in it.”
The ADG awards will be broadcast on Foxtel’s Aurora channel on Sunday 29 May at 8pm.
Story: Wendy Little
[This story featured on RMIT News]
A love of film and France
RMIT student Angeline Armstrong has combined her passions for film and French culture to win a prestigious award.
The French and media studies student was awarded the Francophonie Award from the Embassy of France and the Government of New Caledonia, in conjunction with Campus France Australia, for her video submission titled L’Hexagon.
The university video competition encouraged students to submit short clips regarding what “Made in France” meant to them in a globalised world, striving to subvert the stereotypes surrounding French culture.
Ms Armstrong’s two-minute entry explored the modern yet historically-grounded nature of the French landscape through sophisticated verses and black and white footage.
The video’s title originated from her affection for the nickname often given to the hexagonal-shaped country, and sought to move away from the inclination of “putting France in a box” when it is actually a complex, polygonal entity.
Emerging screenwriter, director, producer and award-winning RMIT student, Angeline Armstrong. Photo: Amelia Stanwix.
With only two days to meet the deadline, the multi-talented screenwriter, director and producer worked with her own music, unused footage from an old trip to France and her knowledge of the language and culture.
A third year Bachelor of Communication (Media) student undertaking film/TV with a social contextual major in philosophy and electives inFrench studies, Ms Armstrong said the competition gave her the unique opportunity to pair her love for the French society with her professional skills in filmmaking and editing.
“I feel so encouraged and blessed; receiving financial rewards for my creative film work is a privilege that I didn’t really expect at this point in my life,” she said.
“Whether you’re working with a billion dollar Hollywood budget or a $1,000 Pozible campaign – it’s partly about raw inspiration, but largely about evaluating your available resources and drawing inspiration from that as well.”
Ms Armstrong was awarded a return airfare to New Caledonia and a 30-hour French immersion program at the Centre de Rencontres et d’Echanges Internationaux du Pacifique (CREIPAC), international centre of exchange in the Pacific region.
Dr Kerry Mullan, Coordinator of French Studies and Ms Armstrong’s French 4 teacher, said the RMIT Language Studies team were absolutely delighted with her well-deserved win.
“Her video is beautiful and is clearly the result of a lot of hard work,” Dr Mullan said.
“Her award is an inspiration to all our French students and colleagues – it shows what motivation and dedication can achieve.”
Ms Armstrong’s award will be presented this month at a ceremony held at Alliance Française in Melbourne.