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Getting hands-on and going behind the scenes

Students experience the magic that goes into making a major TV production.

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Victoria Madden’s atmospheric crime drama The Gloaming is the latest major film and TV production taking place in Tasmania, and our School of Creative Arts and Media students and staff had the chance to venture behind the scenes.

The performer

Bailey is in his first year of a Bachelor of Arts with a Theatre major and said so far he’s “absolutely loving it.”

Not only did Bailey get to tour the set, he actually appeared in The Gloaming as an extra.

I’ve always loved the idea of TV and to actually finally see what goes into making it behind the scenes was really inspiring because someday I want to get into television and film, so it was really inspiring to see how they actually do things behind the scenes.

Bailey wants to use his time studying to hone his craft, with the goal of becoming an actor and drama teacher.

“I’ve always liked the idea of throwing away oneself and just becoming a character and embracing oneself on screen and creating a show for the audience that just drags people in,” he said.

The producer

Ally Boulter is studying Media majoring in Screen, and she hopes to one day become a camera operator or an assistant director, so she was keen to take a tour of the set.

My favourite part of studying Media at UTAS is actually getting your hands on a camera. We’ve got cameras that are Netflix-certified so it’s exciting to be able to know that we’re actually filming with equipment they use for Netflix series. I find it very important to get hands-on.

“When we went to see The Gloaming it was really exciting to see a film set in Tasmania, knowing that there is an industry down here and seeing all the different positions we could undertake.”

The academic

Dr Craig Norris, lecturer in Media in the School of Creative Arts and Media said it was amazing to show students a real-life film location.

“When you get to see the reality of media making it actually ignites and excites students so much more.

“It’s so critical to be able to show that process of media in action. It does transform that idea of what we’re doing here is not simply theory but really about the grounded and practical.

It’s exciting to be able to get into a real film shoot and see it deconstructed but come away with some of that magic of TV making as well.

Dr Norris said Tasmania is punching above its weight when it comes to creativity.

“I think it speaks to this idea of a small city with a big imagination.”

Interested in Media? Apply now to study a Bachelor of Media and Communication.
Interested in Theatre? Apply now to study a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Theatre and Performance.