Chance to be the next Taika

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Learning about film-making at Rangai Studios are, from left, Nathan Mihaka, Kaj Tata, Dakora Tihore, Tobias Horsfield and Sile Sneddon. Picture supplied

Would-be film-makers are enjoying the opportunity to study a new Level 5 New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production course in Tairāwhiti.

The one-year full-time course is being offered jointly by Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and Rangai Studios.

The programme is designed to give students hands-on experience with camera, sound and editing equipment and explores opportunities for working in film, television web and non-broadcast media.

Earlier this month students enrolled in the course took turns directing, shooting and editing their own version of New Zealand film-maker Taika Waititi’s award- winning romantic short film Two Cars, One Night.

Rangai screen production lecturer Jacqui Knight said, “I thought it’d be appropriate to recreate such an amazing short film since it was filmed up the Coast”.

“The spectacle of working on an award- winning film sort of motivates the students and gets them excited.”

Shooting the short film was part of several learning modules in the newly introduced programme. Other modules include learning about advertisements, promotion and making documentaries.

Jacqui Knight said she was proud of the students who were committed to the course despite the disruption caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in February.

“All of these students have been affected one way or the other and yet they have been eager to put all their energy into learning.”

Studio director Shannon Dowsing said the idea for the course started about four years ago.

“This is our first opportunity to deliver the course ourselves. So we’ll have the first batch of 11 students who’ll be getting their diploma this year,” he said.

EIT and Rangai are to introduce a New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production Level 4 in July.