Program Reviews

I had dreamed about coming to New Zealand for years, but actually traveling and studying in this program was an entirely different (and yes, better) experience than what I expected. As an international student in the University of Auckland, even for only four weeks, I was faced with the challenges of living in a city twenty hours away from home by plane. However, Auckland--and New Zealand in general--is one of the safest places I've visited. As a country, it is astoundingly beautiful and welcoming to the traveler. The terrain differs distinctly from north to south, east to west, and there is always more to explore.

As for the program itself, the goals and perspectives of the staff made for a friendly learning environment, which is unique especially within filmmaking. We were encouraged to make mistakes and learn from them, truly "learning by doing," because the goals of the staff were to see us improve, and they believed in us enough to mentor us. I worked as one of two directors in our film groups, and I quickly learned the value of collaboration. Every job within a film or television show exists for a reason, and learning to work with people I had never met before--even as they were figuring out their roles--was a challenging and rewarding experience. By the end of the course each of the two groups had produced two scenes written by our convener John Callen, one scene written by the group, and one full short film created, produced, and edited by the two groups in tandem. However, I think one of the most incredible outcomes of the course was seeing how much we improved in four weeks, going from a clustered group of individuals from all around the world, to a fully-functioning team of filmmakers.

In addition, we had the opportunity to take a few field trips. As a Lord of the Rings fan, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Hobbiton. Wellington satisfied not only my fandom but a lot of my questions about the production and post production process as we visited Park Road Post Production, Weta Workshop, and Roxy Theater. Our impromptu visit to Shortland Street at the end of the course was an absolute treat in watching professionals do on a much larger and faster scale what we were trying to achieve at the university. We also had the opportunity to hear from and converse with Damon Andrews and Rachel Jean, both professionals within the New Zealand television industry, whose insights were extremely helpful. Most of all, we had the opportunity to learn from a professional throughout the four weeks of the course. John Callen is filled with filmmaking knowledge, and he thoroughly believes in the students he teaches. One of my favorite memories is riding the bus up to Hobbiton and sitting next to John, discussing everything from his experiences on The Hobbit trilogy to filmmaking tips to our families.

I would highly recommend this program for filmmakers, creatives, and general students alike. The collaborative lessons, as well as the empowerment gained in travel, has a value that can be applied to any job or field of study. My biggest advice to future participants: seek to learn, not to impress. Ask questions and seek out feedback, even though you will receive plenty during the course. Filmmaking truly teaches a person how to stay calm enough to fix problems and move on quickly, and it is helpful if you stay open enough to mistakes from the beginning. Develop relationships with the other students and staff members--I know I have made some life-long connections during this course, not just for making films but also as friends and mentors.

I would also recommend making real attempts to travel around the country on the few days that you may have off. New Zealand is just as picturesque as... well, the pictures, and I learned valuable lessons in traveling on days off just as much as I did in class. It also allowed me to clear my head in between script meetings, schedule meetings, rehearsals, location filming, studio filming and editing, which I think circled back to help in keeping perspective during those meetings, filming and editing sessions.

Overall, I had an unforgettable and enriching experience while in New Zealand doing Screen Tools, and I hope that my return will not be too far in the future.

During my time in Screen Tools, I not only learned about practical production process, but also taught me that no dream is impossible and there will always be a place for our craziest ideas in the industry.
I had the opportunity to work with incredibly talent people from New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Started like friends and at the end we were like a little family, always got each others back.
My role during the four weeks was Director’s Assistant. I was in charge of the vision switching, continuity and was constantly communicating with the 1st AD in the studio. This role made my develop several skills such as multitasking and working under pressure. I always had help and great advice from our incredible mentors, I never felt like I was working by myself.
There’s a lot of information to process in only four weeks, but not overwhelming, everything falls into place and you don't realise how much you have learned until the very end. Such an incredible experience I would live all over again.

Apply! Don't think about it, just apply! This course was one of the best experiences I've had!

From day one, it was hands on and engaging, and everyday was another chance to develop my filmmaking skills. I was a bit nervous going into the course because I hadn't had much experience making films, but the staff made sure the learning environment was supportive and encouraging, and a space where it was okay to ask questions and make mistakes. The staff showed their professionalism through experienced knowledge and advice, of which I found incredibly valuable.

I also loved working with talented and like-minded students from around the world. Having a diverse range of people means we had different perspectives and suggestions which contributed to the success of our final product. I made some really great friendships, and would be eager to collaborate with them again in the future!

Taking part in the Screen Tools course not only re-affirmed my love for the filmmaking industry, but it gave me the confidence that I needed, to prove to myself, that I am capable of working in this industry. The course was set up to mimic industry standards and each day we learnt more and more about what it is like working in the film/television industry.

The awesome field trips also gave a look into how the industry runs. The trip to Wellington was amazing, in particular, our time spent at Park Road Post where we talked with professionals about their roles in the post-production side of filmmaking. This was an area I didn't have a lot of knowledge about and I found it incredibly interesting. All of the staff at Park Road were willing and eager to chat and discuss their roles and the industry which was really lovely.

Our trip to Shortland Street was also wonderful as it was a similar set up as what we had been using. It was really cool and inspiring to see that what we were doing in class wasn't dissimilar - Shortland Street was just on a much larger scale!

For any future students fortunate enough to take part in the course I would suggest to ask as many questions as possible, absorb as much as possible, go with an open mind, and just enjoy every single second of the process! It really is an awesome opportunity!

Oh, and enjoy New Zealand! It's such a warm, welcoming, and beautiful country!

Disclaimer: my home university coordinated the majority of my study abroad trip, including the initial preparations and orientation. However, the University of Auckland (UoA) International Student Services did contact me a number of times with class-related information once the semester began.

Academics: UoA was a lot less challenging for me than my home university, but it does take some time to get used to the New Zealand grading system. None of my classes required mandatory homework, and thus the final exam was often worth more than most American students are used to. This also means staying up to date on class material is on you. There are plenty of classes offered at UoA with interesting and NZ-specific content, and I would definitely recommend exploring these as NZ culture can seem almost the same as familiar US culture at first pass. I took a wine science class that involved wine tastings in lab - definitely would recommend.

Safety: New Zealand is mostly a safe country, but Auckland on a weekend night can be an exception. I myself had a close call on the Grafton Bridge near campus. Always travel with a buddy, and pay attention to liquor laws. Internationals at bars in New Zealand must use a passport or NZ-issued ID rather than a driver's license from their home country. Don't lose your passport by getting one of these NZ IDs, forms available online.

Adventure: The main reason I enjoyed my study abroad semester was the constant traveling I was able to do in New Zealand. The North Island can feel lacking at times from deep in the heart of the big city, but cheap rental cars and flights to the South Island mean travel is easy. UoA offers a number of its classes via webcast in addition to physical lecture, which is a great resource if you're out for a long weekend. Backpacking spots abound, and I would say Abel Tasman and the Copland Track are a must.

Tips: The city of Kaikoura on the South Island has seen an earthquake since my visit, but Kaikoura Cheese on the town's main road is phenomenal. The colonies of seals nearby are a plus.
Auckland has a delicious vegan eatery/bakery, Little Bird Unbakery. All their foods are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and delicious. Albert Park Cafe just a block from campus makes amazing polenta fries, and Scarecrow Cafe just a few shops down is a great brunch spot.

The screen tools program is a truly a one of a kind opportunity for people interested in media production which has been made by the tightly and meticulously crafted schedule by the university’s staff.
I can’t think of a better way to spend four weeks than polishing and learning practical screen production skills that range from the pre to the post production process.
The staff and tutors of the course are professionals and completely invested in transmitting their knowledge and experiences while also exerting the right pressure to ensure the students will understand and following quality standards and industry practices.
Personally this experience was enriched by the opportunity of working closely with incredible classmates from a variety of backgrounds and experiencing not only through the lessons but also through field trips the kiwi culture and the film industry.

It's all in the community and the great work you create along the way. Everyone involved was welcoming, open, honest, friendly, and generous, and that's why the course was a success, and why I can look back on the four weeks with such great memories. Administration, instructors, and educators were truly invested in teaching and supporting my classmates and me in and out of the classroom (or studio as it were). While the hours in the studio were long and rigorous, the personal growth (regarding character, career-building goals, and technical skills) I underwent was massive and made me realize the potential of my talents. The field trips were a highlight, taking us to locations like Hobbiton and WETA studios, and now I strive to work in similar places in the future. Being in New Zealand helped me experience the production industry outside of my home country, explore fantastic landscapes and cultures, and approach my future education and career prospects at an international scale. If you're prepared to tackle a massive amount of work, fueled by adventure and creativity, this course won't disappoint.

Auckland Uni is a place to grow and learn, and during my semester here, I had the opportunity to reflect on my future and focus on my long-term goals.
During my semester there, I made friends from around the world, joined some exciting clubs like the Auckland Uni Diving Club and the Aero RC Club, took courses taught my amazing, talented professors, and got to travel around New Zealand and explore its beauty.

To come here for nearly 3month ,I feel great beacuse lots of activities and firends here.

I have attended lots of activities and get help from so much people.When I first come to school,I did not no where to go because I have no booked a room and the staff gave me some wonderfull sugestion.After taking classes,I feel free t talk to my classmate as they have patient to tell you something I do not know.

I hope I can come here in the future！

I registered to the Screen Tools program as a way to improve my portfolio, but what I got out of this experience is much more than I had originally imagined. From the very moment I landed in New Zealand there was a driver awaiting to take me to City Lodge, the place where I and the rest of the students enrolled in the program would be staying. All the staff from both the Lodge and the University of Auckland was always attentive and readily available for contact if it was needed. The program began swiftly and we were taken on a tour throughout the city to learn more about the history of New Zealand and Maori Culture by visiting museums and important landmarks. When classes begun we were introduced to John Callen, who gave us a warm welcome and initiated the Screen Tools course. Swiftly, the project began and our team was given plenty of time to plan and device our approach, as well as lots of creative freedom of how we wanted to craft of work. While the experience was demanding and rigorous in the amount of work we had to submit, we were fortunate to use our time wisely and have a group of members that brought very important artistic elements to the production. During our time off we had many opportunities to explore Auckland, including the lively nightlife and the nearby islands reachable by ferry. Overall, the month long trip was an unforgettable experience that is very well worth every moment of it.

Actually, I quite enjoy the life in New Zealand. And I like University of Auckland very much. I am a student from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. I come to University of Auckland as an exchange student for one term in School of Law. Everything here is new and fresh to me.

Environment: the UoA is situated in the city centre of Auckland. So life is convenient here. One can go to Queen Street for nice meals. The university cafe is also good.

Accommodation: I live in Huia. Although it is a little bit far from School of Law, but it is not very far to the city campus. And people here are quite nice. I met a lot of good friends here.

Study: Teachers are quite nice. The courses are well organised. Most of them will send the videos after class to make sure the people who has not come to class won't miss the point. Students here are hard working and nice to get along with.