An industry standard filmmaking course tailored to intellectually disabled students will come to Canberra next year, with Bus Stop Films and Screen Canberra partnering to deliver the program.
Starting 12 September this year, three ‘taster’ workshops will take place to give prospective students and their families insight into how the program will run.
“They’ll get to meet other participants, see where program will be held next year at Screen Canberra and get an understanding of what a classroom situation for Bus Stop Films looks like,” says Bus Stop Films CEO, Tracey Corbin-Matchett.
“It’s not hand holding or a day program; it’s structured professional tertiary education that’s just tailored to people with intellectual disabilities.”
Corbin-Matchett says Screen Canberra have been very accommodating and forthcoming in forging a relationship to set up their course in Canberra.
“They were just accepting from day one; they get a lot of queries from families, and they were really happy to have a platform to connect them to.
“The local film industry there has really grown … it’s a really good time to partner because there will then be those pathways to production that we can provide,” she says.
“And it really helps Screen Canberra meet a need that they haven’t been fully able to previously.”
Corbin-Matchett says the course provides a connection and sense of community amongst its students – and for their families, too.
“The outcomes in addition to learning film studies are other transformational skills – social, work ready, learning to take direction, turn up on time – skills they can use in other aspects of life,” she says.
“Many of our graduates have gone on to gain employment in not just film and TV, but in other industries too, so the training and skills we give students is quite transferable.”
Corbin-Matchett says the industry standard films their students are able to produce as part of their courses help to change the way people think about people with disabilities.
“Working with professional crews, our students get to work alongside professional industry every day, so the content they get to produce is always top quality.”
Visit screencanberra.com.au or busstopfilms.com.au for more.
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