How to get the most out of your diploma

There’s more to training than getting into the right course; here are some strategies to help maximise your educational opportunities.
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As 2016 draws to a close, a generation of students are preparing to embark on the next phase of their education in the New Year. But there’s more to tertiary study than simply attending class. Even the brightest student can sometimes struggle to adjust to new teaching methods, especially in vocational training institutions where the focus is on production and performance-based training.

Here, staff from the Academy of Film, Theatre & Television (AFTT) share tips and advice to help ensure you get the most out of your new degree.

Involvement and commitment

‘Over the years what I’ve seen is that students come to an amazing course like this, and I don’t think they always come fully committed,’ said Woody Naismith, Course Director – Film at AFTT.

‘My big thing is if you’re going to come to film school, then really dedicate yourself. It’s fine just to do enough but we have amazing facilities and tutors, so you should go beyond what you’re asked to do and get involved with everything you possibly can,’ he added.

Glen Hamilton, Course Director – Acting at AFTT agrees with his colleague.

‘It’s probably quoted a lot but obviously you get in what you put out. The nature of the course is experiential learning. You learn by doing – by doing exercises, by participating in shows, by exploring things on the floor and in the studio. So participation is a really vital part of your learning,’ Hamilton explained.

‘It’s not like some other degrees where it’s about the acquisition of knowledge; this is more about the acquisition of experience. So my advice would be to get involved – get involved in every exercise, every activity, every opportunity you get to work your acting craft albeit in the studio or in performance.’

Learn more about studying at AFTT

Networking

The contacts you make while studying at AFTT or any institution can play a significant role in later life. Networking, socialising (within reason) with potential future colleagues and participating can help bolster a successful career, Naismith explained.

‘We have some amazing tutors here that work in the industry and could employ the students after they graduate, so the networking starts from day one, really. This is the industry, you know? … I think that’s something to understand, the fact that from day one it’s on – you’ve got to dedicate yourself, go above and beyond the call of duty. You’re starting to network from day one,’ he said.

The same is true for acting students, Hamilton stressed.

‘It’s about making those industry connections with the teachers and directors you work with, but also, having the film department here as well means that as a student you’re developing relationships with future actors and future filmmakers – you’re already networking. It’s a huge part of it,’ Hamilton said.

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Avoid distractions

For many students, tertiary education is as much about extracurricular activities as it is about study. New horizons bring new freedoms, but it’s important not to get distracted and lose sight of your dreams.

‘It’s always tough when you’ve got to negotiate your private life, your personal life, social life, friends, family, whatever, but the more you can immerse yourself in the work and put that as number one, the better,’ said Hamilton.

‘Remind yourself of why you’re here. There’s a dream that everyone has that brings them through the door when they come here for an audition. It’s a big dream, a really big dream, so keeping your eye on the ball is really important.’

Discover more about AFTT courses and training

He also stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being aware of factors that can damage your health and education.

‘So not drinking too much, not working too hard – as in a part-time job – support networks around you, that sort of thing.’

Finding the right balance between schooling and social life will not only ensure you stay focused on your career; it can also feed your creativity. 

As Naismith put it: ‘This course is set up in a way that you can study and still get out and have fun and live your life. Because I think living a life is important as an artist – see what’s out there, meet people, experience things and then bring those experiences back into your filmmaking or your writing. What happens on a weekend may well feed into a great idea that you can write a script about or something like that,’ Naismith said.

Read: Getting fit for performance

Awareness and confidence

Hamilton urges acting students to be constantly aware and committed. ‘You never know when a paradigm shift is going to happen or when a penny drop moment will happen for you as an actor, so be prepared for that. You want to make sure that you really commit to everything, every task that you’re given.

‘The other thing is bravery. Anything great artistically only ever happens from  when you let go and release your control of things and bravely put yourself out there. So being brave is a really big thing. Also knowing that confidence happens by being continually brave. You can’t wait for confidence to happen, you have to put yourself out there in order to develop confidence.’

Be hands on

Studying at AFTT is very much about getting to grips with best practice models used by the industry every day.

‘We have some students that come in who know how to operate a camera, they know how to write, so it’s very much extending their already good knowledge base; providing them with hands on experience and the chance to learn from mistakes here rather than out in the industry. But if you come in here with no experience this course offers an amazing practical knowledge base to build your industry knowledge and get you ready for a fruitful career in film,’ Naismith explained.

‘We have some of the best equipment that you can get here, and that is exactly what they’re using out in the industry at the moment; so if you want to be industry relevant and industry ready, coming to a place like AFTT and using these sorts of cameras is imperative.’

That industry-ready focus extends to all aspects of teaching at AFTT, Naismith continued. ‘Our writing teachers are working in the industry; you come here and you learn from them – it translates straight into the industry. You go out and have a meeting with a production company – they’re going to be using very similar language, so you can have that confidence that you will meet the industry; you can look it in the eye and be confident.’

www.aftt.edu.au

Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts