The Australian: VCA Students The Only Aussies At Cannes
Posted by savevca1 on April 26th, 2010
In a reminder of what we’re fighting for, The Australian has reported that two short films by Victorian College of the Arts students are Australia’s only representatives at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Truly this is a remarkable achievement by the VCA Film & TV School under the most trying circumstances imposed by the University of Melbourne. Well done to the talented VCA students and their tireless and dedicated teachers.
Read the story from The Australian here.
FACT: Did you know that dramatically changing VCA courses could put the multi million-dollar Victorian arts industry at risk? To use the Film and Television School as an example, in the past four years approximately 52% of all drama and documentary productions in Victoria have been written, produced or directed by a VCA graduate. Film Victoria has calculated the value of these productions to be at least $214 million. It is usually the writer, producer and director who determine the state where a project will be made. The high success rate of the Film and TV School, rated in the top ten in the world, has been attributed to the intense and practical pedagogy, where all students make at least one film each year and to the substantial interaction, through sessional staff, with the local industry. Despite this, the Federal and Victorian Governments have done nothing to intervene in VCA’s situation.
With state and federal elections this year, tell the Victorian Arts Minister Peter Batchelor and the Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett you want them to start doing their jobs.
You must support VCA in it’s previous form as a practical training institution. The new changes are damaging to what has been the most important training school for drama and performing arts students in Victoria. Why wreck what is so valuable, is held in high regard and has produced exceptional quality graduates, but in fact is too small these days to accomodate all the students who wish to train here.
“Why wreck what is so valuable…” That is what staff said at UoM main campus a few years back. Didn’t make any difference, Glyn and the Council sacked and pillaged just the same. The advantage you have at the VCA is its high public profile, and the enthusiasm of staff members (current and those recently eliminated) and the students to fight for the place. Regular exposure in the mainstream media is what really matters – keep naming and shaming and the chance for change remains possible. UoM management is very much like Paul Keating’s description of the Senate (go look it up if necessary – it’s a good one).