New Zealand Film and Television School Buys the 'Ferrari" of Film Making

Every Oscar-nominated movie in 2014 used one and now the students of the New Zealand Film and Television School have one of their own.  It’s the Arri-Alexa digital movie camera and, according to the Film School’s Executive Director Sashi Meanger, it’s the equivalent of handing the keys to the latest ‘Ferrari’ over to a bunch of students.

The New Zealand Film and Television School (The Film School), has built both a national and international reputation for offering the most direct route into the New Zealand film industry, for future film makers. 

“The Film School tutors are some of New Zealand’s most acclaimed film industry stalwarts and it’s through their knowledge and connections that so many of our graduates get jobs - both here and overseas,” Mr Meanger says.

“Our industry links also mean The Film School keeps up-to-date with current needs and expectations including skills in using the latest technology.

“The film industry is a competitive one and so are film schools.  With the Arri- Alexa, graduates of The Film School will have the edge above other film school students, nationally or internationally, because they can walk straight onto a commercial or feature length shoot and feel confident with any top class camera.”

“Having a great product is one thing, but even better is a film course that matches it, and having anything less than the Arri-Alexa wouldn't have served our purpose as a top quality film course, nor fulfil the expectations we have of our students to be competent and confident with a high-end camera.  Despite its $150,000 price tag, you’ve got to have one to ensure your course remains industry relevant and of high quality.”

Enrolments for the July intake for the Wellington-based Film School’s Certificate in Introduction to Film and Television Production are open now; this programme is about turning out producers, directors and technical crews of the future.

“Very few film school students, anywhere, would have access to this state-of-the-art film technology or to the quality of our tutors, so we know our students enjoy the absolute best education in film production New Zealand has to offer,” says Mr Meanger.

The New Zealand Film and Television School is a subsidiary of Whitireia New Zealand Limited.