VCA Film and Television students make 'Fast Films' in new collaboration

Students from the Victorian College of the Arts recently travelled to Shepparton to participate in a whirlwind movie-making experience with students from the Greater Shepparton Secondary College. Working together in teams, the students brainstormed concepts and wrote scripts, then shot, edited and screened their films all within three days.

The program, called Fast Films, formed the opening night of the Shepparton Festival, where a delighted audience enjoyed the premiere of the collaborative student works.

This year’s films included the suspenseful and unsettling Tongues, a perceptive glimpse into student relationships in Rosie Wants a Friend, andan inspiring and uplifting musical collaboration portrayed in Crescendo.

The films were all shot on campus at the Greater Shepparton Secondary College with staff and third year students of the VCA’s Film and Television department guiding and mentoring the students as they developed their story and polished their filmmaking skills.

Filmmaker and Senior Lecturer at the VCA, Andrew O’Keefe, says the program offers young voices a platform to express their vision, connect with audiences and find their voice.

“Fast Films is such an incredible challenge and an amazing way to build skills in record time. It’s a genuine adventure for everyone involved and offers most students their very first foray into the art of filmmaking.  It’s a great opportunity to showcase talent, learn to collaborate, and enjoy the sheer magic of storytelling”, he says.

“Watching the students work together in such an intense way really tests their courage and determination. They’re scripting, casting, making props, scouting locations, problem solving and filming in quick succession. One of the films even has an original score composed and recorded a few hours before the screening!”

“They quickly learn that each person on the team brings different skills, qualities and attributes. The final screening is such an amazing celebration of the processes they’ve all been through.”

VCA student Milla Rovere, who worked as Assistant Director on the film Tongues, said of the experience:

“The highlight for me was collaborating with the students and letting them realise their creative visions. It was also amazing to be able to work with a group of students who otherwise wouldn’t necessarily have the resources to make these sorts of shorts. A lot of VCA students on this trip had a connection to this program because we also came from regional public schools and understand how difficult and disheartening it can be in the beginning. At the final screening it was clear what an impact the program had and how proud the students were of themselves.”

Asked about the team’s key challenges, Milla said:

“My group’s idea was very ambitious for a fast films exercise. If I had another round of this program, I would encourage the students to feel they could make mistakes and learn, instead of stressing over the end result.”

VCA student Lily Lunder, who worked as a Directing Mentor and Editor on Rosie Wants a Friend, also highlighted the collaborative experience and noted some of the key learnings:

“I learned a lot about stripping the filmmaking process down to its essentials and what really counts when you’re on a deadline - ensuring the story and action was meaningfully captured and elevated by every element of the production.” she says.

“It was both a challenge and an opportunity - the program allowed for experimentation in a way that making a film over a longer period doesn’t, and was a fantastic way for everyone to develop their filmmaking skills in the areas they were interested in!”

VCA student Felix Tyson, who worked as a sound recordist on the film Rosie Wants A Friend, said “The most enjoyable part of the experience was witnessing the growth of the GSSC students throughout the program – turning from people who don't know much about filmmaking in the slightest to amateur filmmakers with a short in their pockets. It was amazing to see how stoked they were to have created a film.”

This is the first year that Fast Films has been a part of the Shepparton Festival. It is facilitated by a partnership between The University of Melbourne and the Goulburn Valley that aims to build skills, profile and engage with the local artistic community and offer a regional context and experience to students.