Screen industry partnership develops new student talent

New partnerships designed to discover and nurture new talent and ideas have been announced between Massey University’s School of Music and Creative Media Production and major industry players TVNZ and POW Studios.

TVNZ have partnered with the School, based at the College of Creative Arts on the Wellington campus, to create new talent development pathways for its New Blood innovation scheme, and greater local content opportunities for its digital platforms, including TVNZ OnDemand and a new children’s media platform, HEIHEI.

The client-led student projects move through pitching, ideation, pre-production and production phases with regular expert market feedback provided at project milestones.

The University’s Bachelor of Creative Media Production has been set up to better serve the rapidly changing global creative industries fill a gap in tertiary education. The degree consists of four distinct pathways in animation and VFX, film and television, game development, and web and interactive development.

The degree embraces critical and contextual studies, but also guarantees hands-on practical, technological, entrepreneurial and creative skills necessary for the new creative world students find themselves in.

In the final year of the programme students work on their major project supported by industry specialists who provide external briefs, deliver expertise and guidance. Through their collaboration with industry practitioners, students receive meaningful critique of their ideas and progress, and learn to develop “real world” outcomes and potential success through their own work.

Head of the School of Music and Creative Media Production, Andre Ktori, says working with clients or commissioners such as POW Studios and TVNZ is an incredible opportunity for students. “Their involvement will support our students with amazing learning and career opportunities.”

TVNZ Children’s and Digital Commissioner, Amie Mills says “TVNZ is thrilled to partner with Massey University to help foster Aotearoa’s next generation of storytellers. One of the goals of New Blood and HEIHEI is to put emerging voices at the heart of what we do and the Creative Media Production partnership gives us the opportunity to do just that.”

POW Studios chief executive, John McKay says “POW Studios is delighted to be involved with the next generation of creators at Massey”. POW Studios, based in the Wellington suburb of Miramar, specialises in post-production and content creation.

“We intend on introducing complex ‘real working’ concepts to the students to help ready them for the screen industry,” Mr McKay says.

The Bachelor of Creative Media Production saw its first ever graduate class in 2017 with graduates already winning awards and securing roles with world class companies including Pik Pok, Pukeko Pictures, Flying Saucer Films and Toybox Animation.

In November, graduate Christopher Chalmers won the Screen Producers and Production Association Big Pitch competition with his five-part web series Lance, What Have You Done? as judged by Dame Jane Campion.

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