Course details

Diploma in Film and TV Production

About the course

In this one-year intensive course, you’ll deep-dive into the world of film and television production and come out ready to go straight into the industry.

Delivered out of our South Seas Film School Campus, this programme has a ferocious reputation. We’ve been supplying work-ready graduates to the industry for 27 years, and everyone in the industry knows our name.

For good reason. The course is intense and is packed full of deep and immersive learning-through-action.

You’ll get a taster for all of the industry roles before picking your specialisation in:

  • Drama directing & scriptwriting
  • Documentary directing & research
  • Camera, audio and lighting
  • Production design
  • Production management
  • Post-production

Over the course of the year, you will participate in over 30 productions to give you the right communication and collaboration know-how when working with crews on set. You’ll be tutored carefully by industry professionals so you graduate with the competence and confidence to hit the ground running on any set.

Our course content is reviewed every year to remain cutting-edge and relevant. We don’t just want you to know what’s waiting for you on graduation, we want you to have the practical experience you'll need to navigate the realities of the film industry. Every year, we bring in a host of working industry professionals to interact with you. One of the highlights of the year is Dragon's Den, where students pitch film and TV ideas to a panel of hard-core professionals.

Successfully complete this course and you’ll receive the New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production (Level 5).

The selection process reflects the competitive nature of the film and television industry and is based on creative, technical and personal skill assessments in Term One.

Entry requirements

We recognise that this year has been tough for students, especially if you’re moving on from High School. Because of this we are offering Discretionary Admission to students who have missed out on credits, so you don’t need to have University Entrance or NCEA Level 3 to be accepted into this programme. You will need to show you have your literacy and numeracy credits at Level 1, and at least your Level 2 NCEA certificate. A support letter from your school is also beneficial but not essential.  Please speak to our Student Recruitment Advisors for more information.

Then usually you would need...

Applicants must:

  • Complete the course application form and written requirements as well as undergo a formal interview.
  • Have basic computer skills, although a good skill-base would be an advantage.
  • International students must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Domestic students must be at least 17 years of age.
  • Students with English as a second language require English language skills equivalent to IELTS level 6.

About the provider

Yoobee Colleges officially formed in May 2019.

The creative minds and legacies of South Seas Film & Television School, Animation College, Yoobee School of Design, AMES – The Institute of IT and Design & Arts (Canterbury) joined forces to become Yoobee Colleges, an interdisciplinary college with seven campuses located across New Zealand.

The colleges all have rich histories, dating back 30 years in some cases, and they have been working collaboratively for several years to offer complementary pathway programmes.

The official joining of these forces under one umbrella strengthens these relationships, enabling greater pathway options for students and stronger educational outcomes, as some of the best creative educators in New Zealand come together for the joint purpose of training the country’s top creatives and IT professionals and getting them into rewarding careers.

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