by Abhi Parasher
The journey of becoming a filmmaker begins with a single step. It’s just tough to determine in what direction that step should be taken.
“Before I started at AFTRS, I didn’t know much about the industry,” says Tara Webb, who graduated with her Graduate Diploma in Sound from the Australian Film Television and Radio School. “It was intense but awesome. You get to focus in on the craft you want to learn about and hear from industry people who would come in to talk about their journeys.”
Since graduating, Webb has established herself as one of Australia’s most prominent sound designers and re-recording mixers, with credits such as The Power of the Dog and The King to her name. Her resume is one that has been built on the back of hard work and dedication, however, attaining a degree from AFTRS provided that initial leg up.
“Everyone would say that if you wanted to further your career, you would have to go to AFTRS,” says Webb. “I had completed my undergraduate degree in film studies, which was bits and pieces of everything, and then I went overseas and did a little working holiday. I ended up doing sound on my friend’s feature film in London, but it got to the point where I was getting bored and I said, ‘I really want to focus on sound’. So, I ended up applying for AFTRS, and I didn’t hear back from them for ages. I was just sitting there thinking ‘oh wow, I didn’t even get an interview’.”
Fortunately, Webb was accepted into the film school, which began her year-long journey at AFTRS.
“The facilities are amazing. We had a mix theatre, recording studios, mix studios and editing rooms that we could access 24/7. I knew how special it was at the time, but it became a lot clearer how lucky we were when I got into the industry. To have the mix room, which is now Dolby Atmos, as a student to just go in and play around with was an incredible privilege that would be very expensive nowadays. That sticks with me as a really special thing along with meeting the people there, who were all there to hone their craft and get the best out of the opportunity. The energy is really cool.”
AFTRS is a purpose-built school where you can take creative risks, fail, learn and then repeat the process. That approach helps the transition over to the ‘real world’, where the safety net disappears and the reality of the industry sets in.
“I remember getting to the end of the course, and it was becoming quite daunting,” shares Webb. “We were all stressing about getting into the industry. The one thing that helped us, the sound students especially, was the connection to Australian film. Our tutors were simultaneously working in the industry so there was this seamless flow between AFTRS and the real world. We had a lot of sound designers and mixers come in who we could ask questions.”
Webb found her entry into the film industry through one of Australia’s most distinguished sound designers, Andrew Plain, whom she met at an Australian Screen Sound Guild catch-up.
“I had met Andrew a few times and ended up emailing him, asking him if I could do an attachment. I pretty much said I’d be prepared to get coffee or whatever, I just wanted to see how everything worked.”
Despite all the facilities and access to experts, filmmaking and all its aspects take years, if not decades, to truly master.
“Once you get into the practicality of it, there is a lot to learn,” says Webb. “I’m still learning now. I guess the good thing is you get more confident.”
With AFTRS Open Day approaching, many aspiring students are most likely stressing over application documents and portfolio items. For them, Webb has some words of wisdom.
“I guess the best thing I can say is to be yourself,” she says. “No one is expecting you to come in as this amazing sound designer with all this knowledge. The whole point is that you’re there to grow and learn. I would say that’s probably the thing that stands out most. I mean, before AFTRS I had self-taught myself on Pro Tools. I was by no means great or very experienced, but I assume they got a sense that I really loved sound and wanted to learn as much as possible about it.”
