English - Drama - Writing - Media Studies

Speaking and Debating Skills (1993)

Made with the assistance of the University of Melbourne Debating Team and Rostrum. Titles include That's Debatable: A Guide,  That's Debatable: A Model, Public Speaking, Public Speaking II, Get it Right! and Get the Facts! (6 videos)

 

 

Writers Blocks (1993)

Novelists, film scriptwriters, radiowriters, copywriters,  poets, playwrights, journalists, essayists, critics, travel writers, researchers, columnists, publishers, editors, and sub editors....They all have their say. How do they take a blank sheet of paper and turn it into a literary masterpiece? What is the fine line between divine inspiration and purple prose? All these and more wre answered in this series. Titles include: Method, Genre, Inspiration, Factual Writing and Audience, Fiction, Editing, Publication, Criticism and Responding to Texts.


Playing a Part (1994) 

This covers  the process and development of  acting techniques. It features interviews with Michael Veitch (Fast Forward, D-Generation), Sophie Lee (Muriel's Wedding, Flying Doctors), Sarah Chadwick (G.P, Priscilla), David Roberts (Law of  the Land, Phoenix),  Syd Brisbane (Struck by Lightning), David Pledger (Isabel Eberhardt),  Jane Bayly (Midsummer Night's Dream), Vince Colosimo (Moving Out, Country Practice), directors Jean-Pierre Mignon (Anthill Theatre), Rolf De Heer (Bad Boy Bubby), David Carlin (Arena Theatre ) and writers Richard Murphett (Slow Love), Harry Cripps (Tanya & Kit) and Jema Stellato-Pledger (See You In Heaven).  (6 programs)

Theatre Studies (1990-94) 

Individual programs looking at practtical theatrecraft skills such as Costume Making, Lighting Design, Set Design, Make-up and Mask Making  as well as specific skills like Mime, Clowning, Juggling and Improvisation were produced at various times over the nineties as well. Made with the involovement of mime artists, theatre troups (Anitpodes) and Ashton’s Circus. (8 programs)


Behind the Scenes (1994)

A look behind the scenes at a number of media related areas. “Fly on the wall”, observational footage together with interviews. A local suburban newspaper, a community television station (RMITV), a filmed TV advertisement  (Italian pasta sauce) and a commercial radio station (FOX FM). 4 programs)

Interviews with Writers(1990-94)

Writers profiled in interview are Paul Jennings, Robin Klein, Tim Winton, John Marsden, Alex Miller and Kerry Greenwood. ((6 programs)

The Cutting Edge(1996)

A broad look at the audio and video production and post-production industries.  Demonstration of camera and sound equipment in action including Miller head tripods, 35 millimetre film cameras and so on. Comments and insights were obtained from industry leaders: Avid, Yamaha, Samuelsons, Fujinon, Ikegami, Sony, JVC, Panasonic, Miller, Steadicam, Quantel, Collage, Silicon Graphics, Digiteyes (Shotlister), Future Reality, Techtel, Phillips, BASF, Audio Sound Centre (ASC), Fairlight,  Lako Vision, Ampex, Miller Professional, Tektronics, Samuelsons, Lemac and many others. (10 programs)

English Basics (1996)

Totally unsuccessful series looking at the basics of English sentence construction and spelling. Some of the most boring programs produced in television history. But effective  nonetheless. Programs could be used to cure insomnia if not improve basic English skills. Titles include Punctuating the Sentence, Spelling Blitz I-IV, Word Punctuation, Basic Sentence Grammar, Dictionary Use, Basic Word Grammar.(9 videos)

The Big Issues (1997)  

A series of ten videos addressed some of the major issues debated in Australian society - topics like The Republic, Euthanasia, The Environment, The Legal System, Poverty and Wealth, The Family and Feminism came under the microscope. Key interviews were secured with leading thinkers, celebrities  and writers including:  Phillip Adams, Don Chipp, Dr Jim Cairns, Rabbi John Levi, Professor Peter Singer, Tricia Caswell (ACF), Dr Brendan Nelson, Phil Cleary, Doug Aiton, Peter Couchman,  Bettina Arndt, Andrew Denton, Stan Grant, Neil Mercer, as well as commentators from Greenpeace,  Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy, the Australian Republican Movement, the National Children’s and Youth Law Centre, the Brotherhood of St Lawrence, The Right to Life Australia and The Voluntary Euthanasia Society.

 

See Also: Graphics, Media and Multimedia