Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Production)

Overview

• Prepares you to work as a production manager, lighting and sound designer, or theatre technician for ballet, dance, opera, concerts, conferences and large public events.
• Study lighting, sound, stage and production management.
• Opportunities to work on theatre productions, fashion parades, music and dance performances and film shoots as part of your course.
• Gain experience through internships and industry placements at music festivals, state and local theatre, opera and dance companies, entertainment venues and touring shows.

QTAC course code	421932
QUT course code	KK34
Attendance	Full-time
Course duration	3 years full-time
Start month	2013 February
Deferment	You can't defer your offer in this course. You must start in the semester you apply for.
Delivery	On campus Kelvin Grove
Faculty	Creative Industries Faculty
Course contact	Student Business Services (SBS) Admissions: Email: askqut@qut.edu.au Telephone: +61 7 3138 2000
CRICOS code	060810B
Careers	Lighting Designer Lighting Technician Sound Designer Stage Manager Technical Officer Theatre Lighting Theatre Professionals

Details

House lights to half, LX 2 and fly cue 1 – GO.

The house lights fade as the overture starts. A red velvet curtain rises as hundreds of lights start to brighten the stage. In the corner a stage manager calls cues in quick succession. Assistant stage managers are checking their props inventories as a radio mic technician is doing final signal checks. Behind the scenes up to 20 technicians are operating lighting consoles, followspots, sound equipment and undertaking complex scene changes hidden only by the darkness.

Weeks of training and rehearsal have prepared the cast and crew for this show. Tonight, as the house lights fade and the overture finishes, for the next three hours over a thousand audience members enjoy the final performance. The trucks line up in the back lane behind the theatre in preparation for the massive transfer to the next city.

Expertise in technical production is sought after in a range of industries. This course will provide you with skills in lighting, sound, stage management, and production management, with exposure to multimedia and film shoots, as well as the opportunity to specialise in a particular field of live production.

Why choose this course?

This intensive, highly practical course provides the opportunity to work on a range of events, including theatre productions, music and dance performances and fashion parades featuring students in other creative industries courses.

Our teaching staff consult to industry in their areas of expertise, and provide opportunities for students to enter working environments through internships and industry placements. Students have undertaken placements at music festivals, state and local theatre, opera and dance companies, performing arts complexes, entertainment venues and touring stage shows.

Industry professionals also work with students as production mentors and designers, and as directors and choreographers.

Career outcomes

Graduates work as stage managers, production managers, lighting and sound designers, operators and technicians for theatre, ballet, contemporary dance, opera, pop concerts, large public events, conferences, international galas and corporate events. Pathways exist to prepare you for further study including honours.

Units

Your course

Year 1

You will attend classes in stage management, lighting, sound, and the workshop areas of props, sets and costume, developing basic skills and knowledge in all areas of technical production. You will apply your knowledge on productions as bump in/out crew and production assistants. As you progress you will undertake the roles of stage managers and lighting, sound and AV operators.

Year 2

Your classes cover advanced lighting and sound technologies (including elements of design), set and costume design, stage management for dance, opera and musicals, and festival management. Classes will be aligned with production seasons within the areas of dance, acting, music and fashion. You will work on a minimum of four productions as a lighting, sound or AV operator, head electrician, fly operator, mechanist, followspot operator, assistant stage manager and/or stage and event manager. You will work with professional directors, choreographers and designers, and students from a variety of creative disciplines at QUT. You will also study electives in areas other than technical production.

Year 3

You will work on several QUT productions in more senior roles such as stage manager, head electrician, event/festival coordinator, sound coordinator and lighting designer. You may choose to focus on applying and developing your skills in one of these areas of live production. You will work alongside industry professionals (directors and designers) at QUT, with first- and second-year students as your crew. You will also have the opportunity of industry secondment placements with appropriate professional companies or personnel in your area of expertise.

Entry requirements

2013 registrations have closed

Registrations for the 2013 intake were due on the 12 October 2012 and are now closed. If you had not registered and you are considering applying to study in 2014 we recommend you read the following information as a guide only as it details requirements for entry in 2013 and these may change prior to the 2014 intake.

Prerequisites

Successful interview

Closing date

 

Register online and submit your additional supporting documentation with QUT by Friday, 12 October 2012.

Additional entry requirements

In addition to applying through QTAC and you must also before the closing date:

1. Complete the Online Registration Form and print the confirmation page.
2. Post or submit the following documentation to the Creative Industries Faculty:

• Online registration confirmation page
• A current passport sized photograph
• A copy of your most recent school report and/or results of previous tertiary studies
• A resume or curriculum vitae, no more than six (6) pages - this should detail all of your relevant experience, any leadership roles and employment history
• A copy of the QUTpay confirmation page from your online credit card payment for the $33 service charge (PLEASE NOTE: Q-Step and ATSI applicants are exempt from the service fee)
• Practical Task (PDF file, 262.1KB) -  you are also required to complete three (3) additional tasks. You should carefully read the instructions before completing these tasks. A floor plan (PDF file, 421.5KB) of the Gardens Theatre has been provided for use in the practical response

Please Note: Registering plus submitting your supporting documentation with QUT is separate and in addition to listing the course as a preference with QTAC. To successfully apply for entry into this course, you are required to do both. The interview process is managed by Creative Industries Faculty; however, all offers for the course will be made through QTAC in December.

Delivery details

In person

Creative Industries Faculty Additional Entry
Z6 Level 1 The Hub-foyer delivery slots
Creative Industries Precinct
Musk Avenue
Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059
(opening hours from 8am to 6pm)
Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059

Post

QUT Creative Industries Faculty
L Block, Room 209
Victoria Park Road
Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059

Service fee

A $33 service fee applies to all applicants, excluding applicants who seeking admission assistance via QUT’s Q-Step and/or Oodgeroo schemes. This payment is to be made via QUTPay and please ensure you print the confirmation page as you will need to attach it to your portfolio.

Interview locations and dates

All applicants are required to attend a first interview. A letter confirming the time and place will be sent to your nominated address.  Interviews will be held at QUT Kelvin Grove campus.

First interview

To be held during the week commencing November 12, 2012.

Your first interview will be scheduled when you lodge your online application. Please note that the time and date of your interview cannot be changed except in exceptional circumstances. You should be prepared to discuss your academic history and the reason for your interest in this course, as well as your Practical Task.

Second interview

If you are successful, you will be required to attend a second interview and present further supporting material for their applications.. You will be notified by email by 5pm Friday November 23, 2012 if you are successful in continuing through to the second round of the interview process during the week commencing November 26, 2012.

Who do I contact for more information?

Please contact the Creative Industries Faculty by:

Phone: (07) 3138 8114 and press option 4

Email: ci.additionalentry@qut.edu.au

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Course fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.

HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay your course fees

You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.

Find out if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan

Scholarships and financial support

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

These scholarships are available for this course:

View all scholarships

You may also be eligible for Centrelink payments