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What can I do with a degree
in Theatre and Film Studies?
Theatre and
Film Studies.
Planning your career
Choosing a career involves more than just
finding out what is open to you. Knowledge
about yourself is central to the process. It’s
worth looking at your personal goals, abilities,
values, interests, and skills to relate study and
career options to you. The suggestions here are
only an aid to this decision-making process.
Most employers look for generic skills such as
leadership, communication skills, interpersonal
skills, customer-focus and the ability to work
in and contribute to a team. Some of these are
developed during your degree, while others have
been developed through extra-curricular activity
such as sports, community, or cultural groups.
As more and more employers are developing
jobs that are particular to their own
environment, it is more difficult to provide a
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definitive list of possible career options. The
ones that follow are illustrative rather than
exhaustive. Some career opportunities may
require graduate or postgraduate study or
additional work experience.
Some career paths and degrees have
recommended pathways from school. To
download the ‘Best Preparation for University’
information sheet go to
www.canterbury.ac.nz/liaison/best_prep.shtml
What is Theatre and
Film Studies?
Theatre and Film Studies (TAFS) students are
encouraged to work both as artists and as
scholars at all levels: to read, think and write, but
also to create, to act and direct, and to shoot and
edit films. Our approach to the study of theatre
and film is interactive and interdisciplinary,
incorporating literary, historical, aesthetic,
philosophical, psychoanalytic and socio-political
discourses through the experiences of doing and
watching as well as through intellectual inquiry.
Ideally, students study both theatre and
film as these disciplines have in common
various theories of genre, representation and
performance, as well as the practices of acting
and directing, however students may also
choose to focus on either theatre or film to fulfil
their majors. All Theatre and Film Studies courses
integrate theory and practice, with creative work
serving as grounds for scholarly writing and all
research having the potential to provoke artistic
experimentation.
‘Theatre and Film Studies
students are encouraged
to work both as artists and
as scholars at all levels: to
read, think and write, but
also to create, to act and
direct, and to shoot and
edit films.’
What skills have our
graduates gained?
Through their Theatre and Film Studies degree,
graduates develop a valuable set of skills that
are transferrable to a range of careers, including:
• Understanding all aspects of theatre and film
• Performance, theatre and film making skills
• Thinking critically and challenging ideas
• Creativity and innovation
• Interpretive and analytical thinking
• Logical and quantitative thinking
• Problem solving skills adaptable to differing
contexts and diverse challenges
• Oral and written communication.
Opportunities to apply your learning outside the
classroom through work and other experiences
also exist and can deepen your skills set and
employability. Work and other experiences
can also support and inform learning and skill
development in the classroom.
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Where have our
graduates been
employed?
Theatre and Film Studies graduates can be found
throughout New Zealand and overseas, working
in theatre and film production companies, in
schools and at universities, for community
organisations and festivals, in government and
in libraries, for tourist attractions and museums,
for the newspapers and in radio.
Many graduates build remarkable lives for
themselves in a wide range of professions
related to the performing arts, on stage and in
films and television. This includes working as
a producer, writer, curator, journalist, publicist,
editor, designer, events manager, teacher, or as
university lecturer.
For more examples of employers who
recruit UC students and graduates go to
www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers
For more information about UC student and
graduate opportunities, go to UC CareerHub:
www.careerhub.canterbury.ac.nz
What jobs and activities
do our graduates do?
Critic
Graduates with this degree are employed in a
range of jobs including production designer,
agent and storyboard artist.
• Maintains production knowledge to provide
informed opinions
Some of the jobs listed may require further
study at postgraduate level. Postgraduate
study can contribute to your employability.
It enables you to extend your knowledge and
skills, indicates your motivation and ability to
persevere at a high level academically and can
make you more competitive in the job market.
Postgraduate study may be a prerequisite for
certain jobs.
Scriptwriter
• Analyses productions for both their positive
and negative aspects
• Writes concise and interesting reviews for
publication
Producer
• Raises and manages funding and budgets
• Employs key staff, such as the camera crew
• Organises the filming schedule
Editorial assistant
• Proofreads material prior to publication
• Develops realistic characters
• Assists in the addition of graphic elements to
written materials
• Creates storylines that appeal to a set
audience
• Meets with writers to discuss required
changes
• Markets the storyline or script to producers
Entrepreneurship and innovation are
increasingly becoming an important part of the
world of work and should be considered as a
career option. For more information about UC
student innovation & entrepreneurship, related
internships, scholarships, courses and activities
go to www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers
Exhibition coordinator
• Creates marketing plans for theatre and film
exhibitions
• Assists in theatre and film education
initiatives
• Searches for productions and films to exhibit
Art director
• Designs and creates production sets
• Assists with special effects
• Ensures sets are ready in time and on budget
Actor
• Auditions for roles for stage or screen
performances
• Gains an in-depth understanding of their
character
• Performs the characters role and lines for an
audience or in front of a camera
Drama teacher
• Develops students’ acting skills
• Observes and evaluates performance in order
to provide feedback
• Assists in the organisation of performances
and productions
Stage manager
• Manages production rehearsals
• Organises sets, props and costumes
• Supervises both backstage and on stage
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For further information on job titles, please see
the latest UC Graduate Destinations Survey
(www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers)
For additional graduate destination information
go to www.graduatecareers.com.au or
www.prospects.ac.uk
What professional
bodies and organisations
do our students and
graduates link to?
As they progress in their studies and into a
career, our students and graduates often join
professional bodies specific to their area of
interest. These organisations offer graduates
the opportunity to network and collaborate
with others within the same community. Other
relevant organisations are also listed.
• Screen Production and Development
Association of New Zealand
(www.spada.co.nz)
• New Zealand Writers Guild
(www.nzwg.org.nz)
• Canterbury Film Society
(www.canterburyfilmsociety.org.nz)
• New Zealand Film and Video Technicians
Guild Inc. (www.nztecho.com)
• Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand
(www.sdgnz.co.nz)
Social media networks, such as LinkedIn
(including LinkedIn groups), Facebook and
Twitter can provide avenues for students and
graduates to keep up-to-date with current
industry knowledge and ‘best practice’,
networking opportunities, industry-related
events and job vacancies.
What further study can I
do after my degree?
It is possible to study at postgraduate and
graduate level in subjects both directly and
indirectly related to your degree. For a list of
postgraduate and graduate study options, go to
www.canterbury.ac.nz/courses
Theatre and Film Studies graduates may
continue on to the one-year Bachelor of Arts
with Honours programme. Students who have
completed an honours degree may proceed to
the masters or doctoral programmes (PhD), both
of which involve thesis work.
The Theatre and Film Studies postgraduate
programme is the logical culmination of
the undergraduate courses and provides a
valuable opportunity for students in Theatre
and Film Studies to extend and intensify
their explorations of theory and practice. All
postgraduate-level courses make it possible
for students to choose to combine theatre and
film studies, or to specialise in one or the other,
and reflect the continuing commitment of
the programme to the integration of scholarly
inquiry with experimental practice.
Postgraduate study can also lead to an academic
career pathway in teaching and research.
Carefully consider your motivation for study,
how it fits in with your long-term career
plans and whether it is likely to enhance your
employment prospects.
Joseph Faletanoai
Theatre and Film Studies allowed him to work
with people who possess the same creative
vision and passion in bringing stories and
characters to life.
Joe believes that studying at the University of
Canterbury is an invaluable experience. He says
that UC has a good student community and is
an excellent place for Pacific students because of
the Pacific Development Team, who helped him
tremendously. When asked about what students
should do to prepare themselves for both
studying at the University of Canterbury and in
particular studying Theatre and Film Studies, Joe
says to just give it a go.
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Film Studies
Television actor and writer
Joe is of Samoan descent, was raised in
Christchurch and attended Shirley Boys’ High
School before enrolling at the University of
Canterbury to study Theatre and Film Studies.
‘I have never enjoyed capital ‘B’ boring degrees
like Law, Commerce, and Science. I have full
respect for the people who do that kind of stuff,
however I have always enjoyed stories and
entertainment and what better way to express
your stories than through the medium of film
and television, theatre and music.’
Joe says he enjoyed Theatre and Film Studies
as it requires a creative mind and a wild
imagination. It involves analysing performances
of actors, cinematic techniques, script writing
and filming, so there is never a dull moment.
Much like his Samoan ancestors, Joe thrives
when creating and telling stories. Studying
‘Watch heaps and heaps of movies and listen to
Michael Jackson’s Stranger in Moscow. The best
suggestion, however, would be to get a camera
and a group of friends and re-enact scenes
from your favourite movies, then add your own
trademark to it. You don’t necessarily have to
create your own scripts and shoot them, it’s so
much easier just to take an existing story and
adapt it on film the way you visualise it in
your head.’
Having completed his degree, Joe now works
part-time in UC’s Pacific Development Team
while putting the skills he learned from Theatre
and Film Studies into practice as a television
script writer and actor. It’s a combination of jobs
that works well for him.
‘I love my field of work as I
write scripts and see them
come to life on screen within
a week. I enjoy the buzz
of acting in something I
created – looking around
and seeing the production
crew, make-up artists, main
cast, directors and extras
working on something I
envisioned is a humbling
experience.’
‘I love my field of work as I write scripts and see
them come to life on screen within a week. I
enjoy the buzz of acting in something I created
– looking around and seeing the production
crew, make-up artists, main cast, directors and
extras working on something I envisioned is a
humbling experience.’
‘I really love what I do and I want to encourage
anyone interested in a career in film to back
yourself.’
‘I’ve been writing and starring alongside
Lawrence Lamsam [a former classmate] in our
first TV series as part of the Erin Simpson show.
The series is based on two Samoan boys and
girls as they go about their high school lives,’
he says.
More information
College of Arts
Careers, Internships & Employment
Student Liaison
Telephone: +64 3 364 2176
Email: [email protected]
www.arts.canterbury.ac.nz
Telephone: +64 3 364 3310
Email: [email protected]
www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers
University of Canterbury, Christchurch
Telephone: +64 3 364 2993
Email: [email protected]
www.canterbury.ac.nz/liaison
Careers, Internships & Employment offers
intending and current students and recent
graduates a wide range of services, including
individual career guidance, seminars,
career resources, and student and graduate
employment opportunities.
www.careerhub.canterbury.ac.nz
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Student Liaison provides intending students
with information about the university system in
general and the courses, qualifications, support
and facilities at the University of Canterbury.
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