What is the Swinburne School of Film and Television and what programs does it offer?
 The School of Film and Television is located within the Faculty of Design at Swinburne University of Technology. The Design Faculty is well known for its programs in Communication design, Multimedia, Interior and Industrial design and in 2004 introduced its newest member, the School of Film and Television.
The Bachelor of Film and Television is an innovative and exciting undergraduate program that provides students with a solid foundation in all aspects of the film and television industries.
The School has a special emphasis on digital media outcomes for broadcast, film, video production and post-production, Animation, computer/video game development and mobile network telecommunications – particularly in relation to advanced production skills, creative direction and project management.
Through collaborative projects, lectures, and studio workshops, students engage in the creative, practical and critical processes that define current film and television production and post-production and that are defining new possibilities for digital media.
The course delivery strategy has been developed through close consultation with leading practitioners from all aspects of the Film and Television industry. The course places special emphasis on the relationship between filmmaking principles and industry-based practice.
One of the features of the Bachelor of Film and Television program is the applied vocational emphasis and direct Industry application through Industry Placement (IP) Programs.
Swinburne University continues to be a pioneer of Industry Placement, a program that places students directly within industry for vocational employment as an integral part of the course structure.

What makes the Film and Television course stand out from similar programs at other universities?

Industry Placement
Industry Placements (IP) is an experiential learning program conducted within a partnership arrangement between industry and the University. Swinburne University has coordinated IP programs since 1963 -the longest running program in Australia.
Currently, the Faculty of Design has students placed locally, nationally and internationally. Each of these students is placed within a professional environment relevant to their area of specialisation.
The IP program has been tailored to meet the unique demands of the Film and Television Industry. For example the placement within the production of a feature film could last a few months whereas the placement within a post-production studio could last for up to a year.
What is essential is that the students are achieving experiential learning, which provides them with a professional and realistic understanding of the rewards and challenges of these diverse industries.

Student ownership of work
A major part of the study at Swinburne is devoted to production work. The outcomes of this include Film, Video, Animation.. Under Swinburne University’s Intellectual Property Policy, students generally own the copyright for material they create as part of their course. We support and agree with this direction, which differs from other film schools that ask students to sign over all rights of their work to that institution. Swinburne School of Film and Television does ask its students to non exclusively licence their work to the school for promotion in film festivals, print publications, and show reels.

What career opportunities await graduates of the Film and Television program?
The current Film and Television industries offer a diverse range of employment opportunities. With the advent of digital media, many new employment opportunities have arisen in recent times. Students have the potential to explore careers in Scriptwriting, Directing, Editing, Cinematography, Special effects, compositing, 2D and 3D animation, broadcast film and video post-production, computer-video game development and movie network telecommunications.

The role of the Scriptwriter/Director/Producer
The role of the scriptwriter/Director/Producer today is still based around the traditional filmmaking methodologies. The narrative structure of filmmaking is at the centre of this course. Through group projects Students can specialise in these areas later in the course giving them career prospects in areas such as Scriptwriting for Film and Television and games development, Producing and Directing in the Advertising, Film, Television and Animation industries.

The role of the artist in Post-production
The traditional and digital filmmaking methods have combined to create specialist roles such as special effects (SFX), 3D modelling, lighting and animation, digital film compositing and sound design, production and post production.

The role of Editor
Conventional film editing using celluloid and manual techniques has largely moved into the digital domain. Career opportunities exist for students to become editors in filmmaking, corporate and advertising and video game animation sequences.

Careers opportunities exist in
Post production houses-(SFX), Editing firms, sound firms, Film production companies, Advertising agencies and games development animation companies, Television studios.

What can students expect from the course?
Through an emphasis on project work students will achieve an understanding of the creative, technical and business aspects of filmmaking. They will have opportunities to work in industry as part of their coursework and establish professional networks.
Students will be exposed to leading professional exponents through visiting lecturers and guest speakers and can enjoy close consultation and mentoring with staff. The permanent teaching staff are also leading practitioners in their fields. Sessional staff members are established Film and Television industry professionals who teach specialist subjects within the program.

When will the Film school be offering Post Graduate programs? As part of the faculty’s ongoing commitment to post graduate, research and coursework studies the School of Film and Television is working to establish post graduate programs commencing in 2007. These will include, Graduate Diplomas, Masters and Professional Doctorates.


For more information on our professional Film and Television staff, please go to our staff section on the website. www.swinburne.edu.au/design/staff

Are there pathways one can take to better their chances with entry into the Film and Television program?
Local and International students can apply to undertake the two year Advanced Diploma of Screen (Digital Television) at Swinburne TAFE, Prahran Campus. Students who successfully complete the Advanced Diploma with a credit average can achieve entry into year three of the Bachelor of Film and Television Program.

How are students selected and what advice would you give to someone applying?
Selection into the Film and Television course via VTAC is based on ENTER Score for Year 12 leavers. Mature age entry is also catered for.
VTAC Guidelines
International students should apply directly to ISU
The proposed Associate Degree of Film and Television is a two -year full-fee paying program. The first year of this program is undertaken at Swinburne TAFE and the second year is completed at the School of Film and Television. Students can graduate after two years full time study with an Associate Degree or students with a credit average can apply to undertake the third year of the Bachelor program. For further details contact the School of Film and Television

What facilities are available to Film and Television students?
Through its focus on digital film and television making the school has established a cutting edge learning environment. Production facilities are based around High Definition Video (HDV) and progressive scan digital camera equipment. The production equipment interfaces with a high capability Macintosh computer laboratory.
Although we focus on the digital outcomes of project work students also work with traditional 16mm and Super16mm traditional film cameras.
In addition to the teaching laboratory there are specialist high end video editing facilities, sound studios and all necessary production equipment facilities to enable industry standard productions to take place.
Set within the Visual and Performing Arts, Prahran campus, the Faculty of Design enjoys a placement within a highly creative environment. The Faculty has always been at the leading edge of its disciplines and has an international reputation based on the excellence of its programs.

What International study programs are in place for Film and Television students? Currently we are investigating partnership relations with International Film and Television schools to enable student exchange, advanced entry course options and sharing activities.
Does the school offer short courses in Film and Television?
The Swinburne School of Film and Television offers a Short Course in Digital Filmmaking twice a year. The short course offers workshops in Screenwriting, Directing, Producing, Camera/Lighting and Digital Editing.
For more information on our short Courses Please contact:
The School of Film and Television on (03) 9214 6755
Email: nidenquiry@swin.edu.au or visit www.swinburne.edu.au/design/shortcourses