Griffith Film School has more than 90 students and graduates working withGold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games official broadcaster NEP.
The Host Broadcast Training Program has provided Griffith film students with hands-on experience in the lead-up to the Games, working on NEP live broadcasts for network television.
94 Griffith Film School students and graduates are working with NEP Host Broadcast during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018), with another seven working directly with Official Rights Holders, including Channel 7 and the BBC.
The paid roles are spread across all of the Games venues – from camera assistants to runners and audio technicians.
“These roles provide students with the opportunity for paid work in a real-life industry setting, and to network with media professionals,’’ says Gerry O’Leary, Head of NEP Broadcast Training.
“It is important to get our next generation of broadcast technologists and content creators experience in the real world.
“The live skills they learn are transferable across all genres and will stand them in good stead for a career in the broadcast industry.”
In the lead up to the Games, NEP has run a series of live broadcasting master classes at Griffith Film School. Students have attended live broadcasts of AFL, NRL, Cricket, A-League in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.
Griffith Film School lecturer Richard Fabb oversees the school’s commercial production arm, LiveLab, and has worked closely with the NEP team on the internship program. He said Griffith’s position as Official Creative Arts Partner for the Games had provided invaluable opportunities for student internships.
“These opportunities have given them invaluable insights into what goes into broadcasting a major international sporting event,” he said.
“The internships have provided practical training and integrated learning, and for many of our students and graduates, it has given them a foothold in the TV industry.”
After interning with NEP, recent Griffith Film School graduate Payton Harkonen has picked up work as a runner for the BBC during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The NEP internship was a great training ground and has led to so many other opportunities for me,” she said.
“I’m part of a 100-strong team from the BBC, and it’s a real honour to be working with people who are at the top of their game.
“I feel like I’ve come full circle – watching the BBC’s Dr Whooriginally sparked my interest in getting into film!”
Fellow Griffith Film School graduate Rachel Shapiro has also found work in the TV industry after completing an internship at NEP during the Rio Olympics.
Rachel is now working as a senior audio assist on her second season of Channel Nine’s reality juggernaut,The Block.
“The NEP internship changed everything for me,” she said.
Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production student Lily Mitchell will be working with NEP at the Beach Volleyball as a Broadcast Information Assistant.
Despite a degenerative eye condition that impairs her sight, Lily has a clear vision for the future – hoping to juggle her film studies with training for the next Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
“I was going to volunteer at the athletics track during the Games, but the internship with NEP has allowed me to combine my passion for film and broadcast and my love of sport.”
Fellow Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production student Zachary Allison said his role as a vision switcher at NEP’s outside broadcasts had changed his career path.
“I’ve worked as a vision switcher at a range of events in the leadup to the Games – from the Big Bash cricket to the Rugby League World Cup and the swimming trials,” he said.
“As a vision switcher, you are coordinating footage from 40 different cameras at the event – it’s basically live editing,” he said.
“There is a lot of pressure and it’s very high paced, but everyone is in the zone – it’s amazing to be part of it.
“I never thought I’d be interested in multi-cam sports production, but this internship has opened up a pathway to a proper career- it’s mind-blowing.”