Showcasing film’s upcoming talent
University graduates and staff gathered with New Zealand’s film industry in March to celebrate 'Expanding Cinema: the Miramar Creative Centre Graduate Showcase' at the Roxy Cinema.
Guests at the event had the chance to see a selection of films from graduates of the Master of Design Technology and the Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice) in Film, as well as a special screening of Follow the Light, a short film created for the 125th anniversary of the University in 2022.
Each film was entirely created by students and staff from the University, from the directing to scriptwriting, VFX to music. Guests were also treated to a sneak peek behind the scenes of some of the films, before hearing from well-known film producer Jon Landau, famous for Titanic and both Avatar films. After the film screenings, graduates had the chance to network with industry guests and reconnect with former graduates of the two degrees.
“The Graduate Showcase is a wonderful celebration of student achievement and a great opportunity to share this with the local industry. We are very fortunate to be in a city with a vibrant screen sector always looking for talent,” says Kevin Romond, director of the Miramar Creative Centre.
The Master of Design Technology is an innovative programme where students learn from world-leading professionals teaching in VFX, game design, animation, 3D motion graphics, and multimedia design. Taught over one year, students produce a professional portfolio as well as completing coursework, before rounding out the year by creating a short narrative work under the guidance of academic and industry mentors.
“The Master of Design Technology graduates never fail to impress. The cohort is always wonderfully diverse and their extraordinary creative skills gel seamlessly with their technical capabilities. The Roxy event offers a unique opportunity to showcase our students’ individual creative talents alongside their capacity to be collaborative team members, while also celebrating their efforts and connecting them to the film and visual effects industry in Aotearoa and beyond—manaakitanga and whanaungatanga at its best. Ko koe ki tēnā, ko ahau ki tēnei kīwai o te kete,” says Nan O’Sullivan, head of the School of Design Innovation.
The Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice) in Film gives students the chance to hone their leadership, collaborative, creative, and business skills as a practising artist over an intensive 12-month programme. It is an industry-focused, practical degree that helps students build new contacts and networks in Wellington’s creative industries. As well as Film, students can also major in Music/Sound or Theatre.
“It’s always amazing to see the creative talent of our Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice) students,” says Professor Simon Mackenzie, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. “It’s important to us as a Faculty to showcase this incredible talent and creativity through events like these, which help our students launch their careers by connecting with Aotearoa’s thriving film industry.
“A big part of the Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice) is giving our students real experience in the creative industries. It’s also wonderful to be able to reward all the hard work put in by the students by screening their work on the big screen at the Roxy.
“We can’t wait to see where these talented graduates go next.”
Students in both degrees share the state-of-the-art, purpose-built facilities at the Miramar Creative Centre, located just down the round from famous film names like Wētā Workshop and Park Road Post Production.
“It was very fulfilling to finally see all of our hard work up on the big screen at the Roxy Cinema,” says Claudia Puti Homestead-Morris, a Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice) student whose film was screened at the showcase. “It was also inspiring to hear from Jon Landau and get his advice to ’go out and do things’ and take opportunities.
“The networking time after the screening was a great chance to see past tutors and creatives we have worked with or met previously and meet new faces and develop connections for future opportunities.”
“Working on my animation capstone project, Ignite, was both challenging and enjoyable. Through the process, I learned valuable skills in communication, teamwork, and troubleshooting various technical issues when working with different software,” says Jim Guo, a Master of Design Technology student.
“When I finally saw our animation playing on the big screen at the Roxy Cinema, I was both nervous and excited. It was an amazing feeling knowing that many professional audiences were watching our animation, and the opportunity to engage with them and receive feedback on our work was invaluable. It felt like we had achieved our goal and brought Ignite to life. I am grateful for the teamwork that made this project possible.”