Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film, Screen and New Media) / Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

Storytelling for screen is no longer restricted to big-budget cinema releases and television series commissioned by major networks. The need for quality content for subscription TV, mobile devices, internet, promotional campaigns, film festivals and events is leading to lucrative opportunities for multiskilled professionals to generate highly creative, captivating productions.

This course gives you a broad base of knowledge, skills and experiences to explore a wide range of career options within the film, television and digital media industries before specialising in an area of your choice. If your passion is cinematography, editing, sound or directing, you will develop technical skills by producing high-quality creative content. If you are interested in producing, you will find your niche as a creative entrepreneur, learning how to generate ideas and develop them into finished productions through sourcing funding, personnel and distribution. Alternatively, you may hone your skills in scriptwriting.

There is an emphasis on creating quality content for a broad range of applications. You will choose from a range of genres, including documentary, drama, television formats and experimental film, and be encouraged to consider formats that include film, television, digital and mobile platforms.

Immerse yourself in the film and screen and new media major with up to 16 discipline units and gain in-depth knowledge in your specialisation. Your law degree component comprises nineteen core units and eight law elective units, which can include a third study area as a minor or electives from across QUT.

In the law component, there is a practical focus which, when combined with film, screen and new media study, will equip you for a broad range of careers, including legal practice, and provision of legal services to the film industry.

Careers and outcomes

Graduates work in the film, television and screen industries in entry-level positions on film sets, for production companies or screen media outlets, and as freelance professionals. Career outcomes include cinematography, vision and sound editing, directing, script-writing, producing or production management. Your Law degree will provide additional career opportunities within the film and entertainment industry, such as media lawyers involved in copyright disputes, negotiation of licences and talent agreements. Alternatively, law can enhance your skills as a film producer to draft contracts, and develop and manage deals. Or you could work as a film maker specialising in crime or legal content within film, TV or online media.

Our graduates have gone on to make films or programs that have won Oscars, Emmy, BAFTA, AACTA and IF awards. They have screened at prestigious festivals worldwide including Cannes, Tribeca, Berlinale, Sydney Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival and Tropfest.

QUT graduates have worked on films including The Martian, Hacksaw Ridge, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, Burning Man, My Mistress, Harry Potter, The Wolverine, Quantum of Solace, The Great Gatsby, Les Misérables, Batman Returns, Battleship and Total Recall.

Television programs include True Detective, Westworld, Hoff the Record, Secrets and Lies, The Night Manager, Battlebots, Australia’s Got Talent, Big Brother, MasterChef (USA), The Voice, X-Factor, Australian Story, Go Back To Where You Came From, SLiDE, and Absolutely Fabulous, The Thick of It, and Quick Cuts for BBC London.

Music videos include those for Powderfinger, Silverchair, Washington, and many others.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) is accredited by the Legal Practitioners' Admissions Board (LPAB). To become a solicitor or barrister, you will need to complete practical legal training (PLT) and pass the Bar Exams. QUT offers PLT through our Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.