SCHOOL’S IN FOR FUTURE FILMMAKERS
NEW York Film Academy Australia will run monthly film production “hot sets” at Movie World to train students at the Gold Coast film and acting school.
Director Tasha Cooper said about 20 students took part in an advanced filmmaking workshop at Movie World on Tuesday. The Southport film and acting school has about 300 students.
“We always try to look for that hands-on experience and getting our students out to real world locations. We sort of have it as part of the curriculum,” she said.
“They get the real on-set protocol – learning how to deal with locations, crowds and exterior lighting. They’re becoming filmmakers from day one.”
Ms Cooper recruited for New York Film Academy at its Los Angeles campus in the US before taking on the director role at the Coast campus about five years ago.
“I remember when I was in my teenage years I went to Movie World and they used to show how movies were made. I learnt about a green screen and how Superman was done,” she said. “I was so inspired. It’s just that wow factor. That is the intent, to have the public get that wow factor too, with our students part of it.
“(Movie World) is more than a theme park, so it’s great that (Village Roadshow CEO) Clark Kirby is really passionate about bringing movies back.”
Ms Cooper said the Gold Coast “has everything” when it comes to making movies, including “stunning” locations, but there was one sticking point.
“I think it comes down to the incentive, the government incentive,” she said.
“The tax breaks need to happen more and to be increased.”
New York Film Academy Australia opened its doors at Southport in 2012.