“We fulfil all our teaching just by making films,” says Studio and Promotions Manager Ali Dullard. If it sounds simple, that’s because it is. The ethos behind Footscray City Films’ approach to education is to get their students producing as much as possible. After all, a textbook can only take you so far. The actual refinement of a craft such as filmmaking needs to come from getting behind the camera and making it happen.
“Everything we do goes towards making the student’s films, and we shoot a lot of films each year. The minimum number of films students will work on is 15. You don’t have to wait until second year to make a film. You hit the ground running and you’re straight into it – on your first day, you’re already in pre-production to make your first film.”
While Footscray City Films focuses on creating films, it also offers opportunities to explore other relevant interests in the field by allowing students to experience different roles throughout the course.
“We run a four-hour shoot week to get everybody used to making films. We make 30 films in a week, so if you’re not directing one then you’re crewing on one,” says Dullard. “It’s a great way to get people into it quickly and find out what you like doing – whether you want to be a cinematographer or a production manager. All of our course work is designed so it’s part of pre-production, post-production, or production of your film. There’s no exercises for the sake of it.”
In Dullard’s opinion, students equipped with a steadfast practical knowledge of the industry are far more inclined to find success than those armed simply with theory.
“Filmmaking is arts-based, but it’s almost got a trade element to it as well,” says Dullard. “If you go onto a film set having studied cinematography by writing about it, you’re going to be no help. You really need to have the practical experience as well. Because [the students] are doing it constantly, they graduate with a big show reel of work and a lot of on-set experience which is really helpful for employers. They don’t have to be taught anything when they’re getting paid – people don’t want that.”
As well as teaching students how to make films themselves, Footscray City Films is also arming them with the knowledge to slot in on any production they find themselves working on. This experience, says Dullard, is just as integral as anything else taught at film school.
“It’s incredibly important. There’s even stuff like on-set etiquette and crew hierarchy – the more you know about that the better. People are too busy on film sets to be able to teach people properly. You learn what needs to be done before it happens, and that comes with experience. You can’t teach that unless you’re doing it. Film school is cool because you learn by your mistakes a lot, and it’s better to make mistakes early on than when you’re on a million-dollar music video.”
Like any school – regardless of what it specialises in – the desired outcome after graduation is, of course, to find work in a field the student is passionate about. As for the alumni of Footscray City Films, many of them end up doing exactly that.
“Most of our ex-students are working in the industry,” says Dullard. “Whether it’s working in the electrics department, production or camera department – it’s because they’ve had so much experience at school, and because everyone is working together. It gives them a really good work ethic.”
Couple that with the networking opportunities afforded by learning in an environment surrounded by like-minded peers, and you’ll find that Footscray City Films is a prime example of a local institution preparing the next generation of filmmakers to achieve great things – right here in Melbourne.
“Because [filmmaking] is such a collaborative process, going to film school is a great way to find a group of people that want to work on your stuff. It’s great working by yourself, but it gets really difficult. One of the main things people say about the school is, ‘I’ve met the best people I can work with forever.’ We’ve got people who still work together 20 years later.”
As for parting advice for those wanting to break into the industry?
“Just go out there and do it,” says Dullard. “Start shooting.”
