The biggest mistake you can make is treating your film, photography or magazine
production as ’school work’ or ‘homework’.

One of my most enjoyable experiences while studying VCE Media was creating My
Spectacular Student Film (my year 12 VCE Media film).

I remember Jo Flack, a VCE Media assessor, once explained to an audience of VCE
students at the annual VCE Top Screen panel discussions, how VCE Media is one
of the only subjects where you can walk away after the year with a product. A product
(film/magazine/photography) that you can show your friends and family with pride.
You don’t see many maths students showing off their books full of formulas. Its
true. Always keep in mind that you can create a VCE film on pretty much any topic
imaginable. Once you start thinking of it like that, it becomes a whole lot more fun.

Do you have an obsession with chocolate? Make a documentary, highlighting the best
places to eat chocolate in Australia.

Your research would involve contacting local chocolate manufacturers, shops and
cafes and asking for information. You could ask to set up a shoot, where you try out
their different chocolates!

Interview the owner of a chocolate cafe. People love feeling like ‘experts’. “I am a
VCE student and am wanting chocolate experts to interview for my film, would you
be available for a short one hour interview. I think your cafe is fantastic, by the way.”
They will more than likely feel all warm and fuzzy inside, accept your offer and
hopefully go out of their way to help you.

Use the ‘I’m a student’ line to your advantage. As I keep saying, its amazing what
businesses will do for free! Many big and small companies allocate time and money
to help the community.

If it was me and I was making this fabulous chocolate documentary, I would be
contacting Cadbury. I would have lots of research done about the company, then
would send them a proposal asking if they could sponsor me by allowing me to
visit their Tasmanian factory and provide access their resources to help make my
production awesome. I’m thinking shots of the chocolate machines doing their thing.

You are probably saying now, how would I get to Tassie? Well, personally, I would
be contacting other businesses specialising in holidays to Tasmania, accommodation
and transport companies.

How great is that? By simply making a film about a topic you love, or at a location
you love being at, you can turn VCE school work into one of the most enjoyable
experiences of your life.