KEY POINTS:
Qualification: Diploma of Performance Technology (Level 6)
Where: Unitec
Contact: 09 8154321 ext 7187 email bgledhill@unitec.ac.nz or visit unitec.ac.nz
Entry Requirements: 60 NCEA Level 2 credits in best four subjects (or equivalent). Unitec's foundation course is another entry point.
Applications: There are 24 places per year. A full day workshop is held mid October for applicants, although applications will be accepted until the course February starting date. All applicants are interviewed.
2008 course fees: $5203.00. International fees - $16,000.
Starting hourly rates: Varies considerably depending on company and production, ranging from $13 to $20 per hour.
Behind the scenes of any production, big or small, there is a talented stage crew working hard to ensure the show gets off the ground.
Unitec offers a two-year diploma in performance technology to help people develop professional and creative skills for backstage roles in film, performing arts and entertainment industries. Students specialise in one of three areas; lights/sound/stage management, wardrobe, or scenery/props.
Over the two years the students work on a total of eight plays, six dance shows and 25 films, often collaborating alongside other students from the performing and screen arts degree.
About a fifth of the diploma is theoretical, including two major theatre and screen history courses and a New Zealand theatre and screen theory course.
Industry placement is an important part of the diploma. In first year students are placed by the school into various productions and organisations. By second year they are encouraged to find their own work, although the school will assist if required.
The first year placement is a week long; the second year two to three weeks. The graduate diploma students do three to five weeks.
THE GRADUATE
Lauryn Wati (33)
Stage manager; self employed
2007 diploma graduate
I got into stage management totally by chance. I volunteered to operate the lights for a church production and got such a buzz out of it that I decided I wanted to do it for a living.
I'm currently on contract to stage manage a theatre production of Oleanna, produced by Opportune Productions at Musgrove Studio. We went into rehearsals the beginning of September. This will be my third show this year. The other two shows were Where We Once Belonged with Auckland Theatre Company and Betrayal with Silo Theatre.
So far, I have had three to four week breaks between each show which is pretty good, I think. Rehearsal periods are usually four to five weeks, then you have pre-production week and then the show. Rehearsal period follows a fairly standard working week, moving into 12 hour days once the show goes into production week. Over the actual production, I work the length of the show with a couple of extra hours each side to set up and break down.
The role of stage manager varies throughout the production process. At the beginning I coordinate between cast, crew and creative team to make sure everyone is aware of what is happening in the rehearsals. Then from opening night the overall flow becomes my responsibility so I can end up doing everything from technical cues to ironing costumes and mending props.
The diploma was very practical, which was great because none of us liked being stuck in the classroom much. I had an assistant stage/management role at Auckland Theatre Company, and we were all seconded to the AK07 festival last year. You need to try and learn as much as you can and get as much experience as possible because there is so much to cover. The industry is very generous towards students and the school tries to accommodate work opportunities around our study when opportunities arise.
I started the course without any knowledge of the industry and without any networks, so I really appreciated being able to work with lots of people in the industry while I was still studying at Unitec.
Initially I didn't expect to be freelancing when I finished; I didn't think that far ahead. But as I got into it I realized there wouldn't necessarily be regular work so I still work as a laboratory technician on flexible hours that fit around show hours. Some graduates from my year are in full time roles in lighting and production companies. Some are stage technicians; one is a theatre manager.
Now I'm out working, I would have liked more information during our course on running a small business and doing things like paying your own tax and GST, because that is what you do when self employed. We had a two to three hour workshop on this, but I would have liked more. But I don't know how they'd be able to fit that into the course. It is full on as it is.
I'm certainly not in this for the money; lab technicians get paid better, but I'm it is very fulfilling. I love stage management because I'm working with creative people in a variety of shows with lots of challenges.
