A Film and Television student at the Fiji National University (FNU) firmly believes that smartphones and fancy electronic gadgets have taken over the world, where every second person on the street can be seen browsing through a device held firmly in the palm of their hand or streaming a video live to family and friends.
Enrolled in the programme of Certificate IV in Film and Television at FNU’s College of Humanities and Education (CHE), Sarah Robertson says the demand to keep up with content now is more than ever.
“People are watching their favourite soaps, movies, cooking shows or educational videos with the help of devices and hence there’s a need to ensure the need to create compelling content for screens of every size to keep people informed as well as entertained,” said Robertson.
She said this growing demand for professionals in the field prompted her to enrol in the film and television production programme.
“I have always been interested in visual storytelling and film-making, and I even started experimenting in these areas through shooting and editing simple videos on my phones and other gadgets.”
According to Robertson, the highlight of this programme is students constantly receiving valuable exposure by being attached to high-profile international production companies, which further enhances creativity, production and analytical skills which are essential in the rapidly evolving world of film and television careers.
“The learning is provided through classroom instruction, hands-on workshops, practical & projects and in the process, the students acquire a thorough production experience in their specialisation.”
“We students get several practical opportunities outside the classroom, giving us the chance to practice what we learn during the seminars and classes. This also gives us students the opportunity to visit several places, some of which we would never be able to visit on our own.”
“As a student intern, I have had the opportunity to work with various international production houses, who were in Fiji to shoot their TV shows. Working with them allowed me to experience the atmosphere at production sets and the reality of a television workspace.”
“The crew members were friendly and helpful – always ready to answer my questions and provided me with a conducive learning experience,” Robertson added.
For the past nine months, eight students who are currently enrolled in Certificate IV in Film and Television Production have been involved in the production work for eight international television reality shows undertaken by six different production companies. The reality shows include Australian Survivor, French Survivor, Love Island Australia and Eco-Challenge Race.
Enrolment for Certificate IV in Film and Television is currently underway, and you can get enrolled in this programme by visiting any FNU campus nearest to you.
This programme provides students with an opportunity to learn about the broader filmmaking process, acquiring the essential practical skills and mastering the ever-evolving equipment and computer technologies that are central to this profession.
The progressive nature of this programme requires students to follow a stair-casing program from the basics of FTV to secondary FTV through a final project phase. This progression aims to enable students to learn the full range of specialisations incorporated in film and television production, to enable career-ready technicians as they enter into Film and TV careers.
Graduates of this programme are equipped with necessary skills and knowledge in the following areas of film, television and documentary production – directing, editing, cinematography, research, sound design, location sound, screenwriting, VFX, production design and producing.
Sarah Robertson (right) tests the camera with a colleague during their practical session.