First ScreenMarks Awarded

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 April 2007

First ScreenMarks Awarded

The New Zealand Screen Council is proud to announce the first seven recipients of ScreenMark, the Screen Council’s industry accreditation scheme for high quality, relevant, successful, practical tertiary level courses in the screen industry. These are:

- Diploma in Film and Television Production (South Seas Film and Television School)

- Postgraduate Diploma in Natural History Filmmaking and Communication (University of Otago)

- Bachelor of Media Arts (Moving Image) (Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec))

- Bachelor of Communication Studies (Television) (Auckland University of Technology (AUT))

- MA in Film, Television and Media Studies specialising in Screen Production (University of Auckland)

- Bachelor of Broadcasting Communications (Digital Film and Television Production) (CPIT (New Zealand Broadcasting School))

- Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts (Screen Arts) (Unitec New Zealand)

“ScreenMark has been in development for over two years”, said Tim Thorpe, Executive Director, NZ Screen Council. “It arose initially out of concerns about the number of graduates entering the industry without the requisite skillsets. However, it is also recognition of the high quality of training that is taking place in some institutions.”

The ScreenMark process is rigorous. It involves training institutions submitting an application form and questionnaire and hosting an inspection by an audit team; industry feedback on graduate performance and graduate feedback on the course.

“Students contemplating a career in film and television should look for the ScreenMark logo as ScreenMark courses have the highest success rates in terms of employment”, said Mr Thorpe. “Employers in the sector should do the same as these courses are more aligned with industry needs.”

“We believe that ScreenMark is fully aligned with recent changes in tertiary education with its focus on an industry perspective and outcomes’, added Mr Thorpe. “The level of interest from within training providers in the sector has been strong, with about half the applications receiving ScreenMark”.

Applications will be open every year and courses which miss out can reapply.

ENDS

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