Published By The Gisborne Herald
A screen production diploma course made possible by a partnership between international production company Target3D, its new company Rangai, and EIT Tairawhiti is now taking registrations.
With studios in London and Spain, Target3D specialises in motion and performance capture.
While expanding to New Zealand, Target3D recognised an opportunity to grow talent in Tairawhiti and put in place a strategy to achieve this, says Rangai founder and co-owner Shannon Dowsing.
Rangai is a pastoral care and pathway provider that will create a shared production facility; negotiate paid learning opportunities for students, and will create long-term industry relationships.
“We wanted to replicate the practical educational experience gained in trades and apprenticeships, but deliver this in creative and technology-driven industries alongside tertiary education.”
All components of the production industry will be brought into one location. EIT Tairawhiti will provide 400 hours of education time while Target3D will design original content specifically for students, said Mr Dowsing.
“We're not here to do this as a piecemeal approach but as a sustainable career pathway. We'll support recruitment programmes once students graduate from their 12-month diploma course.
“During 2021 we will assess whether there is sufficient demand to introduce years two and three of a degree programme, which would enable students to pursue a Bachelor of Creative Practice in Screen Production in Tairawhiti from 2022.”
As a pathway provider, Rangai have approached the Ministry of Social Development to line up funding for students.
“Through Target3D and EIT, a producer can find a student to work on a production project. Their company gets the benefit of a freelance worker, thanks to the subsidised income support from MSD (Ministry of Social Development.”
While primary industries such as farming, fishing and forestry are essential to this region's economy, the problem remains of youth not in employment, education or training because they do not want to go into those industries, Mr Dowsing says.
“What can be done to catch the hearts and minds of those rangatahi?”
The name Rangai translates to “elevate”, “flock together”.
“We're elevating the opportunities.”
This is an exciting time for the New Zealand film and screen industry, says Head of EIT's IDEAschool, Professor Matthew Marshall.
“We are very much looking forward to developing our partnership with Rangai to provide real-world training and experience for our students in the Tairawhiti region so they can contribute to New Zealand's burgeoning film and screen industry.”