Visual Arts and Media

What will we do in Film, Television and New Media (FTVNM)? 

About half of all the learning you do will be in practical work using the professional digital cameras, the editing systems, vision and sound mixers, and so on. Students often borrow this equipment to continue working on their productions in their own time at home. The other half of the learning time is spent in analysing and evaluating films, television and new media such as computer games. You also learn how to write great narrative scripts and storyboards for all kinds of genre productions. 

There are four units in the course. 

Will this course help with my ATAR? 

Creating a great film or new media production shows serious creative potential. Being able to analyse and evaluate the meaning of media productions also shows great literary skill. The results you gain will contribute to your ATAR and university entrance. At university you will be able to study other courses that further develop your potential in these fields, or related ones. 

What are some career pathways associated with this subject? 

Almost any career pathway benefits from the study of film and media because media literacy (like the original literacy) is applicable to a vast range of life situations. Digital media literacy is an important skill in the twenty-first century.  

FTVNM teaches you production and literacy skills that are applicable in fields as widely divergent as the sciences, social sciences, languages, education, the arts and industrial design. It is difficult to think of a field where these skills are not useful to some degree. 

Pathways specifically within the media field include: 

What assumed knowledge or subject result is recommended from Year 10 to be successful in this subject?  

There are no pre-requisites for the course in senior Film, Television and New Media and students traditionally come from a wide variety of backgrounds. They also have a wide variety of long-term career goals. However, you should have had good success in your previously chosen subjects. 

How will I be assessed? 

Assessment is made up of video productions worth about 35 percent of the course, analysis, evaluation and pre-production activities worth about 40 percent of the course, and there is a 25 percent final analysis and evaluation exam with an unseen stimulus. 

Are there any excursions or extra costs for this subject? 

Filming is often done on location but you get to choose when and where that is. There are no extra costs for the subject. It would be good if you can access a laptop that can handle the Adobe suite. The school provides desktop computers for editing if you don’t have a laptop that meets the specifications. 

Are there any compatible subjects that would be beneficial to also study with this subject? 

Compatible subjects include English subjects, Visual Art, Drama, Music, Creative Industries, Digital Solutions, many of the Design subjects and Social Science subjects. 

For more information about FTVNM, please refer to the Year 10 Subject Guide (PDF, 4MB) or Year 11 & 12 Subject Guide (PDF, 3.3MB) or contact the Head of Department. 

What will we do in Visual Art?  

The programme is designed to capitalise on the knowledge that you already have and to expand your ideas about art. In unit 1 you will manipulate an object that you choose in response to different lenses or ways of looking at objects as art and make works using artforms such as drawing, photography, stop motion animation and sculpture. In unit 2 you will investigate ways in which colour can be used as a code using contemporary approaches to artmaking. Unit 3 allows you to develop a personal focus in response to an excursion to an unknown environment and then gives you the chance to communicate your ideas by making a collection of works. Unit 4 explores alternate ways to make artworks and to write in response to inquiry questions. 

What are some common career pathways that are associated with this subject? 

Pathways include Fine arts, Illustration, Design careers, work in studios, gallery and curatorial work and teaching opportunities. Visual art also builds skills prized by other industries in the 21st century including collaborative working, innovative thinking and independent problem solving. 

What assumed knowledge or subject result is recommended from Year 10 to be successful in this subject?  

A ‘B’ or a good pass in a Grade 10 Visual Art, Media, Photography or Design unit and a deep interest in creating art will set you up for a successful senior experience. 

What should I be good at to excel at this subject? 

Drawing and analysis skills are really beneficial.  

How will I be assessed? 

Assessment consists of investigations and projects which involve researching artists, experimenting with media and ideas, responding to insights gained, evaluating materials and processes and making resolved artworks that are displayed in our art gallery space. Final submissions are submitted in a digital format. The exam at the end of Unit 4 is an extended written response to an inquiry question, using analysis of artists in context. 

Is there any theory in Visual Art? 

Yes there is theory with responding and making tasks integrated. The course is designed around gaining insight through research and analysis of the works of other artists, evaluation of your own work and discussion and deep thinking about concepts associated with art. There is a lot of deep order thinking required. Written responses range from succinct 100 word paragraphs to extended responses in exam formats. 

Are there any excursions or extra costs for this subject?  

There is a compulsory excursion that forms the basis of student inquiry at the beginning of Year 12 units.  

What will help me to be successful in this course?  

You will be successful in Visual Art if you are curious, a risk taker, an explorer, adventurous, tenacious, imaginative, visionary and expressive.  

Are there any compatible subjects that would be beneficial to also study with this subject? 

Film, Television and New Media (FTVNM).

What is this subject about?