Certificate of Television and Video Production

THE COURSE

The Lifeway College Certificate in Television Production and Video Production Skills aims to give students practical skills for jobs in the broadcasting industry and is complemented by work experience at the free-to-air community broadcaster Family TV on the Lifeway campus.

Graduates can get work in a variety of jobs in the film and television industry and have taken positions at TVNZ, Sky, TV3, production houses and Family TV.

The year-long course at the Lifeway campus at Snells Beach, near Warkworth, covers pre-production planning, recording footage and sound, post-production editing and special effects.

Students attain the National Certificate in Film and Television NZQA level four qualification.

Practical work is carried out using industry standard equipment, including Avid editing suites. Students learn the history of New Zealand film and television, broadcasting law and media ethics, as well as practical aspects of camera-work, lighting, sound, video post-production, audio post-production, pre-production, production, safety, handling equipment, and graphics.

Personal development, relationship skills and work ethics are included in the training.

People typically study for 32 hours a week, half in the classroom and half in their own time, but extended hours are possible.

Students must get passes in all papers to achieve the certificate. They produce practical projects such as video footage, edited footage, and sound clips, and a final 10-minute video.

There are also written assignments and team projects.

Some graduates are offered internships at Family TV as a second year.

Prospective students need a sufficient level - such as School Certificate - in maths and science plus basic computer skills. They must be over 17.

The next course begins on January 25 and applications for the 20 places close a week beforehand.

Fees total $5870, including GST.

Campus accommodation is provided for singles, married couples and families.

WHAT GRADUATES THINK


Craig Henderson, 21

Head of corporate video production

Family TV

Graduated 2001

For anyone interested in TV as a whole but not quite sure what avenue that they want to go into, the course covers a vast variety of TV production such as camera-work, editing, audio, producing, directing and technical work.

Everything we were taught in theory was backed up in the practical. For instance, shooting a camera sequence from a director's point of view - they will show what you need to look out for in your sequence or storyline, and from a practical point of view you go and shoot that sequence.

It's a course that definitely brings out the creative side in you and makes you think about what people see on the couch. You have to think from both sides of the camera.

You learn a lot about dealing with people.

You can only really pass by working as a team. There's no competition in it.

I went to the course with the expectation of learning how to get a good shot - composition and learning how to edit - and I got a lot more from it than that.

WHAT EMPLOYERS THINK


Nikki Chapman

Head of production

Family TV

Snells Beach, Warkworth

On the course students get an overview of everything.

They have a realistic view of what to expect in the industry as they have had work experience.

They are definitely team players and hard workers and not shy about getting in and doing whatever it takes to get a job done.

As an employer, those are skills you are always looking for in people.

Family TV is different from a bigger station - we are able to say to people: Can you do audio for this, and camera for that?

The reality of the industry is that it is very competitive. And you need to be flexible as you are not always going to get your dream job straight out of school.

The great thing about the CTV students is they are willing to do whatever they need to to get their foot in the door.

Being flexible and keen and enthusiastic about the opportunities they are given will eventually see them through into the position that they want to get into.


THE QUALIFICATION

Certificate of Television and Video Production

Lifeway College

Phone: 09 425 4054



Email: registrar@lifeway.ac.nz

Initial salary: Approximately $30,000 a year