A focus on collaboration: Fostering Australian screen production students’ teamwork skills.

Kath Dooley; Larissa Sexton-Finck

doi:10.21153/jtlge2017vol8no1art642

Authors

Kath Dooley Curtin University, Australia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5235-7250
Larissa Sexton-Finck Curtin University, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2017vol8no1art642

Keywords:

screen production, screen education, collaboration, teamwork, employability

Abstract

Recent research undertaken in Australia and abroad suggests that the development of effective collaboration skills is a significant factor affecting the successful employment of graduate screen practitioners. This article outlines the results of a study that examined student response to the explicit teaching of collaboration skills in an Australian screen production course. The authors report on an empirical research project undertaken in 2015 and 2016 in the Department of Screen Arts at Curtin University, Western Australia. This involved two cohorts of second year screen production students (83 in total), and aimed to foster students’ teamwork skills. The activities and resources shared with students encouraged an interrogation of contemporary models of filmmaking collaboration, the use of group contracts to identify shared values of teamwork and the implementation of activities designed to improve students’ awareness of various collaboration styles. Outcomes were measured by both qualitative and quantitative means through student surveys administered at both the beginning and end of the unit of study. The results of these surveys suggest a change in student attitudes towards collaboration, particularly in regards to the value of communication. The authors aim to disseminate these findings and to encourage further discussion and study in this area. The article builds a case for more attention being placed on the explicit teaching of teamwork and collaboration skills in University screen production courses.

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Author Biographies

Kath Dooley, Curtin University, Australia

Head of Department & Lecturer, School of Media, Culture & Creative Arts, Department of Screen Arts.

Dr Kath Dooley is a filmmaker and academic in the Department of Screen Arts at Curtin University, Western Australia. She recently completed a creative PhD exploring portrayals of the body in the work of contemporary female French directors. Kath has written a number of short and feature length screenplays, and has directed several award winning short films and music videos. Her research interests include screen production methodology, screenwriting and screen education.
Larissa Sexton-Finck, Curtin University, Australia

Dr Larissa Sexton-Finck is a short filmmaker and academic in the Department of Screen Arts and Communication & Cultural Studies at Curtin University, Western Australia. Larissa was shortlisted for the Independent Spirit Award at the Lexus Independent Film (IF) Awards in Sydney in 2003 and was also nominated as the Young Filmmaker of the Year at the Western Australian Screen Awards in 2002. Larissa recently completed her PhD, which examined the representation of female subjectivity and agency in and on screen.

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