Lights, camera, action for students at Screen Queensland intensive
By Greg Chapman
A group of CQUniversity Digital Media students had the experience of a lifetime in front of and behind the camera at a Screen Queensland skills intensive recently.
Held at Screen Queensland’s studios in Cairns, CQU first-year students were selected as extras for a local production which for many, was an exciting introduction to the intricacies of filmmaking.
Screen Queensland's Film Intensive from Script to Screen is an initiative to provide training for local crews so that they can secure positions on productions that come to Cairns.
Now in its second year, CQU Digital Media Lecturer Dr Jan Cattoni has been a mentor for the initiative since its inception.
“I invited first year Digital Media students to volunteer as extras for the shoot as I thought this was a good opportunity for them to be involved in and observe an industry shoot with a full crew,” Dr Cattoni said.
In the scene, students played the roles of flood evacuees at an emergency shelter, an experience that many of them could relate to.
“This gives them the opportunity to observe different departments at work as well as see potential career pathways for their future.”
One of the participating students, Victoria Lucas, said she was grateful for the opportunity.
“Being on set was exciting and nerve-racking,” she said.
“I felt like a child again playing make-believe, but more technical as we had cameras, lighting and microphone equipment around.
“I also learned a little bit about movie magic, such as makeup, the order of shooting and communication between film departments. I am honoured to be a small part of a large project. I would definitely recommend any film student to involve themselves in opportunities such as this.”
Fellow student Benjamin Van Gool said it “was a very educational and exciting experience".
“I have made short films of my own but have never personally seen the professionalism in the behind the scenes of a much more professional film,” he said.
“I got to meet a lot of people who make films and understand more about their roles in the professional film making progress. I also extremely enjoyed acting in the role given to me, even though it was only a background role.”
Dr Cattoni said the students also got to network with two third-year Digital Media students, who were accepted as mentees for the initiative.
“It was also great for the first-year students to see other digital media students performing in professional roles. It was a very exciting event,” she said.
