Matt Leaf

Hey James,

I don't know your level of experience... but there's a one day course next week at AFTRS in Melbourne... $130 for a full day with the Red Cam. A tutor will show the ins and outs, giving you a good hands on look before you decide to make some choices.

Could be handy.

http://www.aftrs.edu.au/courses/course-sea...il.aspx?id=3885

I'll see you there if you decide to come,

Matt

Also, may I ask another question? Are the Red Rock mounts equivalent to steadicams for DLSR cameras?

I too am considering these DSLR's as a first camera to experiment with Cinematography.

The whole rolling shutter thing is a bit of an issue for me. Are there any cameras out there that don't have this problem, or simple ways around it?

I read about a guy who just used slow frame rates and fast memory cards to solve it, is this true?

If it wasn't for the rolling shutter you could probably go with these cameras for a good first short or feature, but the rolling shutter pretty much destroys panning, which is terrible really.

Any other options out there is you can't live with the rolling shutter factor?

It could be something weird like the shape changing on the shutter. Or maybe we stop looking at rectangles and watch circle movies. Why is cinema rectagular? Vision is certainly not an oblong. Circlular shutters. Triangluar shutters. Or big blobby ones that cover an entire cinema/lounge room wall so your whole periphery is covered. Maybe it'll be goggles and headphones too. So frame has to be more blobby istead of square. We'll call it the blob-rate. Haha.

Hi Jake,

Thanks for the suggestions!

Will look into it,

Cheers,

Matt

I saw it last night.

A rather boring film.

Strangely reminded me a lot of The Legend of Zelda video game series...

I agree with Alex and Tom. I watched this film the other night after all the hype and must say I failed to be impressed.

I just realized the biggest major pictures out of America that are all up for awards are about war.

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone could help me out with regard to spending a day on set with a professional film crew in Melbourne. I don't really have to be in your way, I'd just love to see for a day how it all works. I can help out with anything, coffee's, gaffing stuff down, any menial job - but mainly I actually just want the experience of seeing a film in production first hand. I work as an AV techie so I can run cables and hang lights and do any of that stuff if you need.

If you wouldn't mind having an extra pair of hands on deck, or just letting me hang out for a day as a volunteer, it would very much be appreciated.

Otherwise, if anyone on this board knows a better place where I should place this ad please let me know,

Cheers,

Matt

this thread opens up a whole new dimension for me

it's weird how the director and actors gets all the credit

Yeah, good advice.

I am just starting out. I mean I've worked with video as an artist for many years but I'm looking to get more in depth. I reckon I'll do these short courses in Melbourne, and see where I end up after that.

I've already completed a BFA in Fine Art, so its more then a question of whether to do a Post Grad Dip at Aftrs, or get a decent enough folio together for VCA.

Are there benefits to each school?

It's so unfortunate that they have butchered the AFTRS course, mainly over money. I was one of the last few to go through as an MA student.

 

As mentioned the selection criteria was very competitive and the course was essentially highly subsidised by the Australian government.

 

Now it's user pays.

 

They loved to tell us when I was there that we were more expensive to train than FA 18 Hornet pilots, the next most expensive students that the Australian government trains. It averaged out to $186 000 per student per year i think.

 

And that's what made it great. The fact that there were few students in an intimate and high tempo immersive level of course work. With only 4 cinematography students and a 8-6 scheduled work day EVERY day there was no slacking.

 

For those that may not know, AFTRS was modelled somewhat on the AIS, the Australian institute of sport. A place where elite athletes go to train together in their respective disciplines but benefiting from shared resources like nutritionalists , fitness and physiology experts. ATRS was the same, the idea being to take away the costs and focus on practical courses operating at an elite level.

 

Now, to reduce costs, you PAY to go whereas before you were paid TO GO, essentially a scholarship that meant you could focus 100% on the course without trying to work at the same time.

 

They greatly increased the intake of students across the board and seemingly dumbed down the course. Now it seems to me that AFTRS isn't doing much more than a regular TAFE course and is just like every other course in the country. At least before there was a point of difference. At least there was something to aim for. Even getting into AFTRS could be considered an achievement.

 

Here was a course that had amazing access to resources, PAID you to attend and at a skill level that is was far above every other course offered in Australia, and was the envoy of the world. It was one of the only courses that placed a high emphasis on PRACTICAL training. 80-90% of the course had you in a studio or lcoation shooting something and honing your practical skills.

 

But economic rationalism means that there's no justification for that kind of cost with so few students. Never mind that 4 directors trained to a higher level probably have more chance of achieving and getting work than 22 directors trained to a lesser level that's the equivalent of 15 other tertiary institutions in Australia which also have 20+ students graduatiing each year.

 

John Brawley

MA Film And Television (Cinematography)

AFTRS

It's such a shame to hear that John. Like the topic starter I too am looking for some advanced training in Australia. But now what are we left with, where can we go? I feel as if I'm being forced to study overseas in the US or perhaps Canada, where the fees are astronomical for the international student.

I've found some short courses, one at OpenChannel in Melbourne and the other a Summer intensive offered by the Uni of Melbourne. But outside of that, the general current rep of where VCA is at isn't too comforting. I had been considering AFTRS but if the level of quality and standard has dropped it really leaves one begging.

Are there any suggestions out there for Aussies at the moment? Certainly seems like spending your hard earned cash on creating a film is much more appropriate for Australians at this time, though one does attend a masters/film school for more than just filmmaking (ie networking, mentors, expert education)...