Film

What Is Film?

Film is a medium of communication rich with social implications, created within different social, historical and cultural contexts. University studies explore the significance of cinema in society, and articulate a number of key questions. How do different societies express themselves through film? What part does a director’s vision play? How do filmmakers contribute to culture and influence societal attitudes? How can other disciplines, such as psychology, help us to better understand film? Film explores the breadth and depth of motion picture making from the early days of cinema to the multiplex era we now live in, giving graduates the knowledge they need to decide how they wish to work within the film industry

Why Do Film?

Those who earn their living in the film industry are highly motivated – they can’t imagine doing anything else. It is a high-risk, low-security business, which demands stamina and discipline, imagination, optimism, talent and a high tolerance for sleep deprivation.

While the academic study of film is not vocational training, it offers a unique and exciting educative process that combines creative and practical with historical, theoretical and critical analysis. The outcome is a degree that is recognised and respected nationally and internationally

What Skills Do Film Graduates Develop?

• Critical Thinking
• Research
• Audio-Visual Literacy
• Communication
• Creativity
• Teamwork

Where Do Film Graduates Work?

Public Sector

• Ministry for Culture and Heritage
• Film Archive

Private Sector

• Film and Television Companies
• Production
• Post-Production
• Film Distribution
• Marketing and Publicity
• Education
• Journalism
• Professional Writing

Industry Bodies

• New Zealand Writers Guild
• SPADA, Screen Production and Development Association
• New Zealand Film and Video Technicians’ Guild
• Film Society and Film Festivals

Job Titles

• Actor
• Arts administrator
• Casting assistant
• Cinematographer
• Community arts worker
• Costume designer
• Critic/reviewer
• Film and video technician
• Film archivist
• Film critic/reviewer
• Film distributor (publicity, marketing, sales)
• Film editor
• Film/TV producer
• Funding assistant
• Independent or industrial filmmaker
• Lecturer/tutor
• Marketing assistant
• Journalist – arts and entertainment
• Producer (assistant)
• Production designer
• Program researcher
• Prop maker
• Publicist
• Scriptwriter
• Set designer
• Sound editor
• Story editor
• Teacher

Find Out More

Further information about Film & Theatre can be found in the Film Career View (560KB PDF).

See also the School of English, Film, Theatre, and Media Studies website.