Master of Producing

Exercises in film production practice collaboration, appreciation of essential film production craft skills,
basic screen language exercises, understanding of industry facilitation via fieldwork.

Students will be introduced to the creative processes and stages in the development of film and television product. Students will be exposed to script and story analysis, trained in pitching potential film and television product as well as widening their understanding of screen theory and practical production knowledge.

Business of Producing 1 develops as students undertake the role of producer on one major short film production, putting into practice the business items they have learnt to date and extending to budgeting and, scheduling. Students will develop the projects produced at VCA toward entry into major international short film festivals and create the publicity and promotional material for the little they produce.

Screenwriting is studied in lecture, classes, plus tutorials. These deal with moving picture language and principles of characterization and dramatic form. Students undertake Screenwriting exercises. Each student also develops scripts for their exercises, which are monitored at tutorials. Students undertake additional specialist screenwriting classes relevant to their strand of study.

Through lectures and guest speakers, students will be exposed to areas such as working with government funding bodies, entertainment law, negotiating deals and small company business skills.

Students are able to choose an industry attachment or a substantial research document that prepares the student for a career within the entertainment industry. Students who choose an attachment will be expected to find a film, television or allied industry attachment for a period of 2 - 4 weeks intensively or weekly for 6 – 10 wks. This will be off-campus depending on the location of the attachment.The attachment exercise will be completed with the delivery of a report by the student. The research document, if chosen, will be of substantial weight. Students will develop a creative concept or idea and turn it into a viable product, worthy of financing.

Students are introduced to the culture and practice of collaborating in a film and television environment. Each student is required to form a creative partnership or team and to follow at least one screen project through its entire process. Students will take the role of producer of that student production and will be expected to oversee its distribution and marketing strategies.
Students are expected to follow the project from pre-production through production to post production. Students may need to work on location off-campus when producing or crewing on student films.