University film schools at the heart of creative collaborations with industry: a case study

ABSTRACT

This paper is a detailed case study of how the Bond University Film and Television School collaborated with external production companies to actively participate in, and support, the production of the $1.5 million feature film The Fear of Darkness as a means of providing a unique student learning and industry networking experience. Students were able to take genuine on-set production roles for the duration of the production, rather than conventional short-term internships and work experience, which, upon their graduation, has contributed towards meeting the industry’s current skills gap. Furthermore, this case study also shows how the production provided a significant opportunity for academic staff to have senior production roles to further their professional development. Additionally, this collaboration supports the notion that academic staff with significant prior industry experience can function as a useful conduit between film schools and industry.

KEYWORDS:

• Creative collaborations
• work integrated learning
• film schools

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Sergi

Michael Sergi was the director of the Bond University Film and Television School from 2008 until 2023. Prior to becoming an academic he directed many episodes of network television dramas including, Home and Away, Neighbours, Shortland Street (NZ), Pacific Drive, and Breakers.

Chris Fitchett

Chris Fitchett was the Deputy Director of Film Victoria, CEO of the Commercial Television Production Fund, and Chief Executive of the Australian Film Commission before joining the Bond Film and Television School in 2010.

Darren Paul Fisher

Darren Paul Fisher took over as director of the Bond University Film and Television School in 2023. After six years as Lead Tutor at the Met Film School in London he joined the Bond Film and Television School in 2011. He has directed of three feature films, Inbetweeners (2001), Popcorn (2007), and the multi-award-winning Frequencies (2013).