by Abhi Parasher
After dabbling in various production gigs within advertising and receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), screenwriter Sami Swilks still found herself pondering unanswered questions about the ins and outs of the Australian film industry.
“After I finished my undergrad, I was still wondering what the pathway into the industry looked like and how to actually go about it,” shares Swilks. “I spent a lot of time hustling and freelancing after UTS, trying to make shorts and whatnot. But as we all know, it can be hard to make anything without money and access to vital equipment. After a while I realised, I just need to specialise and be in an environment that can support that.”
That supportive environment came in the form of the Master in Screenwriting course at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS).
“I knew a few people who had gone through AFTRS, and it obviously has such a good reputation globally,” says Swilks. “It just seemed like the perfect place because the course felt focused and geared towards movement into the industry. The graduate employment rate out of the Master course there is really high, so that was something that was quite desirable.”
With a formidable standing as Australia’s leading film school, AFTRS experiences a relentless demand for its Master courses, making the application process exceptionally competitive.
“I had only written short film scripts beforehand, so I submitted that along with a creative statement and an ‘about me’ video, which, looking back on it, is the cringiest thing ever,” laughs Swilks. “It’s really awkward talking about yourself. I hate it. But people in the industry don’t just want to know what you’ve done, but also who you are. That is the benefit of it.”
As AFTRS Open Day approaches, Swilks imparts sound advice for those looking to apply. “Lead with yourself, as awkward as it is, and speak truthfully and honestly. People will see through the facade.”
Although getting through the various stages in the application process and receiving that much-desired acceptance email is undoubtedly a noteworthy achievement, that really is just the beginning of a rigorous two-year learning process.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” shares Swilks. “I was expecting to be thrust into a situation where I would be meeting a bunch of different people, which is exactly what happened. Beyond that, I sort of thought it would be quite stiff, like the regular university experience, where you become a number and just shuffle about from room to room. The difference was that, at AFTRS, it is such a small cohort and your one-on-one time with people is much greater. From day dot, they encourage you to move around the room and talk to people. What you realise from that first day is that these are the people you are going to be working closely with for two years, and these are the people who will go on to become your network. That is what stood out to me most, realising how different it was to a regular university.”
Another feature that sets AFTRS apart from traditional universities is its emphasis on hands-on learning.
“I was expecting to be eased into it, but we were writing from week one,” says Swilks. “That was quite confronting. Before then, when I had tried writing, it was a well-thought-out process where the idea had to stick with me for a month before I actually wrote anything. But the best thing about the screenwriting course is that, from week one until pretty much the last week of the course, I was writing. The only way to learn is to do it. You’re also sharing your writing with your peers, so you’re constantly reading other people’s work and getting feedback on your own.”
Following her graduation, Swilks secured a position at Curio Pictures as a Development & Production Assistant.
“As a part of the course you can do an industry placement, or you can do a report on an experienced screen practitioner,” says Swilks. “I did an internship with Curio Pictures in their development team where I was doing lots of coverage reports and observing writers’ rooms. Luckily, I was offered a job pretty much in the last week of the Master program, which was awesome.”
With a Master in Screenwriting under her belt and now well on her way to a successful career as a filmmaker, Swilks imparts invaluable advice gleaned from her AFTRS journey.
“A major thing for anyone going into the Master course is getting as much out of the mentors at AFTRS as you can. The best thing about AFTRS is that the people who are teaching you are also working within the industry. You are literally able to get personalised advice from expert filmmakers.”
