A group of TAFE NSW students have taken out top prizes in a major Illawarra short film competition.

Led by director Tamia Herrera, the group’s film, Dear Ocean, I Love You, took out the award for Best Film Ages 12 – 24, and the Best Performance prize in the Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition.

“To win these awards at the Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition is something I’m so proud of. Our production team worked incredibly hard to bring the project to life and to create a film that resonated with the audience,” Ms Herrera said.

“When we started our Diploma of Screen and Media at TAFE NSW Wollongong, my peers and I were encouraged to develop a short film for this competition.

“I already had a story in mind that I’d written when I was in school, so we collaborated and re-worked it into what we eventually produced - a story set in the 1990s about coming of age that follows a young woman reflecting on her first love and being queer.

“To make the film we launched a crowd funding campaign and bake sale so we could hire actors and use equipment that ensured it was high quality.”

TAFE NSW Media, Arts, Design, and Entertainment Head Teacher John Kilbey said TAFE NSW’s screen and media courses provide students of all levels of experience with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue their career goals.

“We have a long history of delivering a pipeline of talented cinematographers to the industry through our courses like the Certificate IV in Screen and Media and the Diploma in Screen and Media,” he said.

“To see Tamia and her production crew of other TAFE NSW students succeed in not only producing a powerful and emotive short film, but also being recognised for their talents by winning these awards, is testament to their ability and the skills they’ve gained while studying at TAFE NSW.”

Drama production in NSW is booming, with $1.2 billion spent producing features in 2022/23 according to Screen Australia. This comes at a time when Jobs and Skills Australia reports only 9% of cinematographers are women.

Ms Herrera’s journey to become a cinematographer started with a passion for movies.

“Film is my love language; I think it’s a really beautiful way to showcase different perspectives. It brings people together, and it’s such a great way to connect with others and share stories,” she said.

“Originally, I wanted to be an actor and I auditioned for theatre roles, but then I decided that being a cinematographer would be just as rewarding, as it would allow me to use my creative skills while still meeting my need to share stories and connect with people.

“You need hands-on experience to work in the film industry, so I enrolled at TAFE NSW because it is more of a practical education and would give me the skills I need to launch into my new career.”

Ms Herrera studied TAFE NSW’s Certificate IV in Screen and Media before enrolling in the Diploma of Screen and Media this year.

“Studying at TAFE NSW has opened doors for me into the local film industry and has helped me to build strong professional connections,” she said.

“I’ve gained practical skills like scriptwriting, storyboarding, using cameras, and lighting, but also the knowledge of how to professionally approach projects and adhere to permits and shooting location permissions.

“I love directing, creating, and sharing my vision on a screen, and collaborating with my talented peers on this film has been an amazing experience. Studying at TAFE NSW has reinforced my hope that I can make it in this industry.”

Media contact: Rob Virtue, Communications Specialist, rob.virtue@tafensw.edu.au

​​​​​​​Film credits:

Crew:

Maika Shiine James - 1st AD/producer/writer (TAFE NSW student)

Raina Shelton - 2nd AC/producer/writer (TAFE NSW student)

Dylan Deleflie - DOP

Joshua Townsend - executive producer/gaffer/grip (TAFE NSW student)

Chloe Heartsch - sound recordist (TAFE NSW student)

Benjamin Woodard - boom op (TAFE NSW student)

Lily Piper - set design/wardrobe/producer/writer (TAFE NSW student)

Jovan Sekulovski - runner/BTS photography (TAFE NSW student)

Joel Simpson - camera B operator/PA (TAFE NSW student)

Seth Kingma - 3rd AD/camera B operator (TAFE NSW student)

Cast:

Sabina Salas - Fleur

Ashley Fraser - Cordelia

Jago Field - Scotty