Former Student Lands Plumb Job on Harry Potter
Courier Mail editorial May 2008
Being in charge of the visual effects on a major feature film like Harry Potter would be a dream come true for millions of film students around the world – and for one former student of Queensland School of Film and Television (Qsft), that dream has now become reality.
Former Qsft student, Lena Scanlan has just landed the plumb job of VFX Production Coordinator on the latest installment in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
“It is all really exciting and I am absolutely loving it,” Lena said, “I actually had two jobs offered to me at the same time, which I had to decide between. The other job was on Baz Luhrmann’s Australia. It was a very hard decision but I think I’ve made the right one.”
Qsft Chair of School, Alan Hills, said he was thrilled to see Lena’s career going from strength to strength. The staff at Qsft lined up Lena’s very first job in the industry while she was still studying her Diploma of Screen.
“I remember some years ago we had a call from a contact at Photon VFX on the Gold Coast. They were in urgent need of someone to work on the BBC’s Animalia series.” Alan said, “I immediately recommended Lena as she had a great attitude and her work showed a lot of promise. Photon VFX soon offered Lena an internship, and the rest is history.”
Film School Welcomes New Director in Residence
Courier Mail editorial February 2008
Queensland school of film and television (qsft) is delighted to welcome international film director, Geoff Cox, to the team as the school's new Director in Residence. Geoff is a seasoned professional filmmaker having directed and worked behind the camera on productions for the Disney Channel, Village Roadshow and the Fox Network.
In his new role, Geoff will draw on his considerable experience to mentor students on the finer points of film and television production and provide insider advice on how to break into the industry after graduation.
Geoff joins a team of highly experienced, qualified lecturers at the school, all sharing an enthusiastic zeal for film and television production and love for the teaching profession. Qsft lecturers have worked on many high profile projects including Meryl Streep’s Evil Angels, Big Brother, Steve Irwin’s Crocodile Hunter, Swimming Upstream starring Geoffrey Rush and international award winning productions such as The Acid House.
Horror on the Streets of Brisbane!
Quest Community Newspapers February 2007
In an Australian-first, students from Queensland School of Film and Television (QSFT) have been given the opportunity to work on a real, full-length, feature film, thanks to a ground-breaking agreement between the school, and feature production company, Tempo Pictures.
The horror/thriller, titled Harrisville, will be shot at various locations in and around Brisbane, overJan/Feb 2007, with QSFT students filling most key crew roles.
This unique partnership represents the first time a school had collaborated with an independent production house to develop a feature film project.
Most film schools produce short films as part of thestudents’ curriculum, however working on a real feature film, destined for a commercial market, is an opportunity that most students can only dream about – until now!
Film School has Industry Cred
Sunday Mail editorial: Sunday 5 February 2006
Doctors train in hospitals, builders train on building sites and at queensland school of film and television (qsft) the filmmakers of tomorrow train right in the heart of a real working studio facility.
Using the latest industry-standard technology and equipment, qsft students make short films and learn about the industry in the same studios where film clips for Silverchair, George and Vanessa Amorosi were made, along with numerous national television campaigns, documentaries and award-winning films.
Qsft students are trained by qualified lecturers – all industry professionals - who have worked on films such as Swimming Upstream (Geoffrey Rush), Evil Angels (Merryl Streep) Crocodile Hunter (Steve Irwin), The Great Raid (Benjamin Bratt), and Lightning Jack (Paul Hogan).
Chair of School, Mr Alan Hills, said “Just like doctors and builders, filmmakers have to learn by doing, so at qsft we’ve provided the best possible environment for that to happen – a professional studio complete with state-of–the art editing suites.”
“By training in this practical way qsft students are better prepared to land jobs and work effectively in what can be a very competitive field.”
This hands-on style of training has helped former students secure work on Peter Jackson’s latest blockbuster King Kong, Paris Hilton’s film House of Wax and on Channel 10’s Big Brother series to name a few.
Film School Rocks On!
Courier Mail editorial: Saturday 12 November 2005
Ever wondered who makes those amazing music videos you see on television every Saturday morning? They’re so slick and polished it seems like they come straight from Hollywood.
The reality is that many music videos are made right here in Brisbane by local filmmakers who are fast building a reputation for producing great work at a better price than their overseas and southern counterparts.
Queensland School of Film and Television (qsft) operates from the Pro Cam studios in Albion where music clips for artists such as Regurgitator, Silverchair, george, Spiderbait and Vanessa Amorosi have been produced.
Currently qsft students are busy producing short films for final assessment using the very same facilities where these music videos were made. Having access to the same state-of-the-art equipment used on international quality music videos means that qsft graduates will already be experienced filmmakers when they enter the fast-paced and competitive film industry.
Pro Cam studios also produces television commercials for major national corporations along with short films and documentaries.
Sounds like a win for film students
Sunday Mail editorial: 02 October 2005
Queensland school of film and television has joined forces with local sound and vision company, DSV, recent winners of a major Hollywood award for their work on the critically acclaimed Chinese film House of Flying Daggers.
The Golden Reel awards excellence in the area of sound design and DSV beat off competition from Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban, King Arthur and Troy to take out Best Sound in a Foreign Feature Film.
The Golden Reel Awards were held in February of this year in Los Angeles and were attended by Hollywood heavyweights such as George Lucas.
In the new arrangement, students from queensland school of film and television (qsft) will now undertake much of their practical sound work at DSV’s state-of-the-art digital studios at the Warner Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast.
Head of School, Mr Alan Hills, said he was very excited about the new partnership.
“DSV are nationally recognised as industry leaders in the area of digital sound. They’ve worked on films such as Scooby Doo, Peter Pan and Inspector Gadget 2, so the standard of their equipment and also of their designers and editors is very high. Our students will benefit tremendously from the opportunity of working side by side with the professionals.”
DSV conducts weekend workshops on sound design and editing at their Gold Coast studios. For more information on these workshops click here.
Ground Breaking Move for Leading Film School
Sunday Mail editorial: 24 April, 2005
Filmmaking is a hands-on collaborative process involving high levels of technical expertise and teamwork. For this reason queensland school of film and television (qsft) has always placed a great deal of importance on the practical side of its specialised courses.
So when the school was presented with the opportunity to move into specially designed classroom facilities in a real working production studio it was a natural and very exciting move.
Qsft’s new premises are located at 22 Gore Street, Albion, Brisbane, right in the heart of a commercially operating film and television studio complete with state of the art post production facilities. Qsft is one of the only film schools in the country to offer this kind of exposure to the coal-face of the industry.
Low OP No Barrier to High-Flying Career
Courier Mail editorial : 06 February, 2005
Failing to get the OP score you want does not mean the end to your career prospects. In fact it could mean just the opposite. At queensland school of film and television (qsft) entry is based on a successful interview – no OP scores required.
Qsft Head of School, Suzanne Hills, said it wasn’t uncommon for the school to deny a place to students with very high OP scores if they felt their heart wasn’t in the right place.
“Forging a successful career in the film and television industry is solely dependent on attitude. No amount of academic achievement will guarantee you work if you aren’t passionate about this industry and driven to learn more.” Ms Hills said.
Qsft’s fully accredited courses articulate with courses offered at some of the major South East Queensland Universities. So if students choose to further their studies, a Diploma from qsft will help them get there faster.
Qsft is still taking enrolments for Semester 1 of 2005 with classes starting February 28. Positions are filling fast so you will have to be quick to secure your placement.
Can-do Attitude at Film and TV School
Courier Mail editorial : 31 January, 2005
There’s an old saying that goes: Those who can – do, and those who can’t – teach. At Queensland school of film and television (qsft) we’ve discovered the loophole in this adage by only employing lecturers who currently work in the film and television industry.
Qsft lecturers combine the best in book-based theory and practical training with a wealth of experience and insider knowledge of the industry. This means that qsft students are kept up-to-date on the latest industry trends and are always familiar with technological advances in the medium.
In a highly competitive industry, it’s this kind of understanding that can mean all the difference between unemployment and a fulfilling life-long career.
Entry to the school is based on an interview with no minimum OP score required. Qsft courses are articulated with all major South East Queensland Universities, providing an even wide range of options to students.
Qsft is still taking enrolments for Semester 1 of 2005 with classes starting February 28. Positions are filling fast so you will have to be quick to secure your placement.
The Wallet’s in the Can at QSFT
Courier Mail editorial : 04 December, 2004
There’s a buzz in the air at queensland school of film & television (qsft) this week with filming completed on the school’s end-of-year 35mm short film project.
“The Wallet” written by Gold Coast filmmaker, Roger Nolan, was shot over four days at various locations around Brisbane ’s CBD and Botanic Gardens. Professional actors performed the lead roles, with students filling key roles in camera, lighting, editing, sound, wardrobe and set design. All students also appear in cameo roles in the film.
“The Wallet” is an action comedy with a twist. Set in New York , the film begins with an adrenaline-charged foot pursuit through the crowded streets of The Big Apple, and ends with our better-heeled hero learning a lesson about first-impressions and the cold grip of paranoia.
Qsft is one of the only film schools in Australia to produce a 35mm film as an end-of-year project.
“At qsft we place emphasis on the practical side of filmmaking”, Head of School, Suzanne Hills said, “That’s why we only employ lecturers who currently work in the industry and are up to date with current technology and trends.”
“Film and television is an extremely competitive environment, and employers are looking for staff who can hit the ground running. We aim to equip our students with the skills and experience to enable them to secure steady employment in this highly creative field.”
Film School Means Jobs, Not Just Degrees
Courier Mail editorial : 04 September, 2004 Adam Elliott, creator of Oscar-winning Australian short, Harvie Krumpet, was recently in Brisbane for a national filmmakers convention, and when asked about his work he credited the knowledge he acquired at his film school as one of the contributors to his success.
Steve Baker, recent winner of Brisbane International Film Festival’s Fast Film competition agrees with Adam’s sentiments saying much of his continuing success can be attributed to the solid skills and sound practices he developed through studying at Queensland School of Film and Television (qsft).
While a full time career in film and television may seem like a dream to many, the reality is that the film and television industry is one of the fastest growing in Australia. Recent innovations in digital technology have brought the cost of production down, and resulted in an increase in demand for film and television services.
Chair of qsft, Alan Hills, said that production companies around the country were looking for keen, skilled, entry-level employees to help with their increased workload.
“Qsft only appoints lecturers who are currently employed in the film and television industry. We believe it’s important for students to have a realistic view of the industry and know what will be expected in the workforce. We want our students to leave with a job – not just a piece of paper.” Mr Hills said.
Qsft has accredited full and part time courses to suit secondary school students, school leavers and mature age students as well as a post-graduate program for tertiary students.
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