Film students wow the West End

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Spring 3-11-2010

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle Campus

Publication Place

Fremantle

Abstract

Life, death and the challenges in-between were explored with originality and creative flair at The University of Notre Dame Australia’s recent Annual Communications and Media Screening, held at the Fremantle Campus.

Showcasing a fine array of student films designed to confront, challenge and inspire, the event was attended by local supporters from the City of Fremantle, Communications and Media Alumni, staff, students and a ‘smattering’ of film connoisseurs.

Demonstrating skills learned under the guidance of School of Arts and Sciences Communications and Media Lecturer, Dr Melissa Milton-Smith, students put on an impressive display of ‘shorties’, displaying a masterful blend of narrative and mise en scène to delighted gasps and rounds of applause from the audience.

Event co-organiser and final year Communications and Media student, Alice Farley, said she was encouraged and inspired by the caliber of films screened by earlier year students and hoped it would herald the first of many events showcasing their work.

“Film plays such an integral role in developing our culture and identity and I think giving students the opportunity and the freedom to produce short films is an important tool of creative self-expression,” Ms Farley said.

“It gives me hope that the event will continue annually, developing into an event that showcases all communications and media students work from film to web design, photography and journalism.”

Paying homage to the expressionist 1930s German and 1960s French New Wave film movement, student Director and winner of Best Communications and Media Film for 2010, Jan Harmse, said he hoped his film, The Kind, would encourage people to take notice of the talent in Notre Dame’s film department.

“Film is considered to be one of the most important art mediums of our times, and I strongly believe this. Film creates and ends popular culture fads, making it a very powerful tool to put ones message across,” Mr Harmse said.

Student Director and People's Choice Award winner for the film Consensus, David Lough, agreed, adding that film’s importance as a medium came from its ability to create or recreate a world for the audience.

“Very little is left to the imagination with film. As such, filmmakers can fully transport their audiences into alternate realities. No other medium fully allows for that,” Mr Lough said.

“It occurs to me that the process of producing a good film is in many ways a metaphor for ‘producing’ a good life. There are always challenges, but those challenges always bring opportunities to learn, grow and come out with a better ‘product’ at the end.”

Media Contact:

Andrea Barnard (+61) 8 9433 0610, Mob (+61) 0408 959 138

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