Filmmaking

Intake Dates

Advanced Diploma
Feb 2025

Duration

Advanced Diploma
2 years

Fees

Advanced Diploma: VETSL approved
Domestic / International

Unleash your creativity in Filmmaking

This world-first qualification combines film and virtual production in a practical course to learn film making that prepares you for the global film industry. AIE's filmmaking course is designed to expand your creative thinking and explore new ways of storytelling, replicating the film industry and operating just like a production house. Learners will get real experience in traditional film making and virtual production methodologies, enabling you to become part of the new generation of in-demand professional film practitioners.

This course runs over two years full-time, during which you will create your own extensive portfolio of work that will impress potential employers or prospective clients and set you up to become a leading independent filmmaker.

Why study Filmmaking with AIE?

Practical Skills

Develop the skills demanded by industry
making you immediately employable.

Courses are made by industry practitioners and developed to teach you industry relevant skills and prepare you for immediate employment.

Specialists

Learn from experienced industry professionals
who have insights and connections.

AIE teachers are award winning trainers with industry experience and a passion for educating the next generation of learners.

wacom-icon-pink-02

Equipment

AIE provides state of the art,
cutting-edge, game technology.

studio environment

You will use the latest, industry standard, hardware and software to create your own unique entertainment experience.

Start your own studio

AIE is going beyond providing
digital media training.

AIE Incubator

Education is only the first part - we want to help our graduates achieve their dreams - initiatives like the AIE Incubator Program make it possible.

Not for Profit

AIE is the world’s first non-profit
specialist games and visual effects educator. 

We support industry

We invest in our students, grow the industry and support graduate career opportunities.

Career Placement

Follow in the footsteps of AIE graduates working
on the top games and films worldwide.

Get a Job!

Graduates can be found working in some of the worlds leading games studios, independent games studios and also creating their own digital content through the AIE incubator.

Other graduates are working in serious games/simulations for Defence and simulations for major mining companies.

Industry software you will learn

Your career in Filmmaking starts through the hands-on Advanced Diploma, closely developed with the film industry and leveraging the latest industry software, state of the art equipment and resources including:

  • LED Virtual Production Studio stage on campus
  • Arri Amira 4k, Black Magic 6K Pro, Sony FX-9 & Z Cam 6K cine cameras
  • LED lighting equipment, including battery operation
  • Jibs, Dollies, Gimbals and Sliders
  • iMac editing and sound suites
  • Industry speakers and practitioners as trainers
  • Adobe Premier logo | AIE

    Adobe Premiere

    Video editing

  • DaVinci Resolve logo | AIE

    DaVinci Resolve

    Colour grading & video editing

  • Pro Tools Logo | AIE

    Pro-Tools

    Sound editing and mixing

  • Unreal Engine Logo | AIE

    Unreal Engine

    In camera visual effects

Advanced Diploma

Collaborating with other students across AIE and working in our new LED wall virtual production film studio, you will gain hands-on skills and make creative directorial decisions. You'll apply new cinematic techniques in a virtual capture volume as well as using traditional film methods. You will learn the art of script development, project planning and pre-visualisation, LED wall dynamic lighting, set extension and virtual scouting techniques, optimising pipelines and workflow, editing and post-production, including real time final pixels in camera compositing to combine live action footage and visual effects.

You’ll have the opportunity to develop both your creative practice in filmmaking as well as specialise in a technical virtual production crew role while networking in the social and professional world of film production. AIE graduates have had their short films featured in film festivals around the world and worked on blockbuster films and TV shows, including Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, The Lego Movies, WandaVision as well as AIE’s funded feature films such as Blue World Order, The Furies and Sissy.

Stage One

  • Film Analysis
  • Scriptwriting
  • Project Development
  • Pitching
  • Pre-production
  • Cinematography
  • LED virtual volume film production
  • Virtual sets, costumes and set extensions
  • Sound Recording
  • Editing
  • Colour grading
  • Final Year Projects categories include:
    • Documentary
    • Drama
    • Fantasy (Virtual Production)
    • Science Fiction (Virtual Production)
    • Horror (Virtual Production)
    • Experimental

Stage Two

  • Editing complex scenes
  • Sound Recording
  • Colour Grading
  • Working with Talent
  • Motion Control methodologies and techniques
  • Volumetric Capture
  • Visual effects
  • Live compositing
  • Directing, Producing, Financing
  • Online Portfolio
  • Final Year Projects categories include:
    • Documentary
    • Drama
    • Fantasy (Virtual Production)
    • Science Fiction (Virtual Production)
    • Horror (Virtual Production)
    • Experimental

Advanced Diploma students work in industry-simulated studio environments and complete one subject at a time, building upon knowledge as the learning pathway progresses.

Students in the first year will study two Diploma programs simultaneously through the completion of eight subjects. In the second year students will undertake another seven subjects to complete the Advanced Diploma.

Students complete practical filmmaking tasks and projects based on industry standards and briefs. Accompanying projects students record their process through development journals and other documentation.

  • Director
  • Virtual Production Director
  • Virtual Production Producer
  • Production Supervisor
  • Scenic Supervisor
  • Director of Photography
  • Continuity Supervisor
  • Lighting Supervisor
  • Layout and Previs Artist
  • Visualisation Lead
  • Compositor
  • On-Set Painter
  • Sound Designer
  • Virtual Production Crew
  • Props Master
  • Special Effects Supervisor
  • Producer
  • Creative Director
  • Production Designer
  • Art Director
  • Motion Control Specialist
  • Film Editor
  • Set Dresser
  • Lighting Technician
  • Previs Designer
  • Pipeline Technical Director
  • Concept Artist
  • Production Manager
  • Camera Operator
  • Sound Effects Editor
  • Set Builder
  • Digital Imaging Technician
  • Virtual Production Effects Specialist

Year 1:

Course Name Diploma of Screen and Media
Course ID CUA51020
CRICOS Course Code 106064C

delivered in conjunction with the

Course Name Diploma of Visual Arts
Course ID CUA51120
CRICOS Course Code 106067M

Year 2:

Course Name Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media
Course ID CUA60620
CRICOS Course Code 106065B

Entry for this course is based on an interview to assess your suitability for the course and understand your current skills and interests through looking at your portfolio of related work.

Student need either to have completed Year 12 or achieve an Exit Level 3 score within the Australian Core Skills Framework assessments in reading and numeracy.

For more information, please see our interview and portfolio page.

Hear from our graduates

Game Design Student Casey Thomas | AIE

I will never forget the amazing time and valuable experience AIE have given me, they really helped me shine to be more than who I thought I was, I am now a Game Designer creating fun innovating games for the future generations

CEO
Dark Shadow Studios

Casey Thomas
Damian Lam Student and Alumni | AIE

AIE gave me the opportunities to learn industry relevant skills that made it possible for me to get a job in the industry. The teachers were fantastic and incredibly motivated.

LEAD MODELLER
Scanline VFX (Oscar winning VFX studio)

Damien Lam
Kellie Lautier | AIE Graduate Success

AIE was the best choice I made when deciding my career path, the course structure and the connections I made there is what put me in the position for most of the jobs I've gotten.The teachers go above and beyond for their students!

CHARACTER ARTIST
SMG studio (indie game studio & creators of death squared)

Kellie Lautier
Josh Van Zuylen Monochrome | AIE Graduate Success

What I enjoyed about AIE the most was being taught by people that actually have industry experience. My teachers at AIE really helped me figure out the necessary paths and helped me be the best that I could be when I graduated.

SENIOR ENVIRONMENT ARTIST
Cloud Imperium Games (Creators of Star Citizen)

Josh Van Zuylen
Beverly Crock Monochrome | AIE Graduate Success

AIE provided me with the building blocks to take my art career to the next level. I learned about the industry, made connections, mentors and friends, asked questions, and viewed my work as an evolution rather than a destination.

OUTPUT DESIGNER
Funko Inc (creators of funko pops)

Beverly Crock
Ben Davis Monochrome | AIE Graduate Success

AIE gave me the specific tools to learn what I needed to know to get into the games industry. AIE taught me a valuable skillset which I have been able to apply to my career.

LEAD CHARACTER ARTIST
Splash Damage

Ben Davis
Vinessa Mayer | AIE Graduate

AIE has proved to be an invaluable catalyst for my career. The industry veteran teachers and staff went above and beyond. I would not be anywhere near where I am if it wasn't for my AIE family.

VISUAL EFFECTS ARTIST
Bungie

Vinessa Mayer
Tom Johnstone | AIE Graduate

Game development for many graduates is just a dream. The AIE provided me with the skills and knowledge to realise that dream. With such close ties to industry, AIE is a foot in the door to network directly with game companies to help land that elusive job.

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
League of Geeks

Tom Johnstone

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