Bond University students could soon see their names up in lights on the silver screen, with work underway on a full-length feature film – destined for commercial release in cinemas across Australia and around the world.
Students from Bond University’s Centre for Film, Television and Screen Based Media will work in conjunction with staff and industry professionals on a thriller, titled Stage Fright.
As most film students typically experiment with short productions during tertiary study, it is extremely rare for a university to provide students the opportunity to work on a commercially orientated feature.
Centred on the abduction of a famous young actress, the film will be shot in various locations across the Gold Coast during August, including a beachfront apartment complex and a shack in the hinterland. Exact locations are still being determined.
Students have already begun pre-production on the low budget film, written by Ocean Shores-based professional screenwriter Philip Witts.
Lennox Head-based producer Brian Bigg, who has produced numerous international television shows, such as Big Brother and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, has also come on board.
The film will star professional actors and is expected to be completed and ready for release in 2010.
Bond University Director of Film and Television, Michael Sergi, said the University was ‘thrilled’ to have such a ground-breaking project underway.
“It is very rare for a university to produce a full-length feature film, particularly one that is aimed for commercial release in mainstream cinemas,” he said.
“It's an exciting way for our students to learn how to make long-form productions in a way that will make it easier for them to enter the industry at the end of their degree and have an internationally recognised feature film credit on their resume."
The project was the brainchild of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Centre for Film, Television and Screen based Media. It is being financed by the Faculty.
Mr Sergi said, “The concept is being approached professionally and will involve industry professionals mentoring Bond film students in production roles.”
“Using the production of a feature film to teach students the realities of higher-end filmmaking is a teaching technique unique to film and television at Bond University.
“Although we will be working with a limited budget, it will be a proper professional production, with our postgraduate and undergraduate students working alongside industry professionals to ensure we replicate professional production practices.”