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An Equity-First Students as Partners Podcast.
Student Stories in Higher Education.
Audio file
siennaep.mp3
Transcript
00:00:01 POPPY
You're listening to Voices from the Classroom, the podcast that bridges the gaps between
students and educators. I'm Poppy.
00:00:07 PIERS
And I'm Piers.
00:00:08 POPPY
And we're your hosts for today's episode. Thanks for being here.
Today we're joined by Sienna, a Bachelor of Film, TV and Animation student, passionate
about highlighting the unique challenges creative students face when navigating university.
She's here to talk about the struggles of finding relevant internships, the needs for tailored
industry support, and why personalised feedback and mentoring from lecturers are
essential for student success.
[Sienna, we've touched on a lot of topics, but what do you wish your lecturers knew?]
Welcome back to another episode of the Voices From the Classroom podcast. Our
mission is to amplify the lived experiences of students, especially those from equity
cohorts who face unique challenges and offer valuable insights into university life. We aim
to spark conversations between students and educators to deepen understanding of the
diverse realities shaping student engagement, motivations and success.
Please note that while this is a Students as Partners project supported by the Equity-First
team, the views shared here are our own and based off personal experiences and stories
from fellow students, not on behalf of any institution or group.
Today we're joined by the wonderful Sienna. Sienna, can you start by telling us a bit about
yourself and what you're studying?
00:01:22 SIENNA
Yeah, of course. So I am currently studying a Bachelor of Film, Television and Animation
and it's been really, really fun. So I'm a second year and I'm currently working on lots of
films, lots of production design. It's been really great.
00:01:35 POPPY
And is this your first experience in tertiary education?
00:01:38 SIENNA
Yes, so this is my first time at uni.
00:01:40 POPPY
Yeah, awesome. So what's your experience being like trying to secure internships as a film
student here at Deakin?
00:01:48 SIENNA
So my first time trying to secure an internship was last year for the first semester of this
year. So I had that five-month gap, which I was very excited about because I'm like, that
gives me heaps of time to get all the things I need to get done. I applied to probably 10 or
more different internships through applications through Deakin, applications on their
websites and even just emailing the companies. I heard back from one company I emailed
who then disappeared from me and the rest of them I just didn't hear back from. So it's
been really difficult trying to get one.
00:02:21 POPPY
Would you say that's the most frustrating process with like essentially people ghosting you
or just not responding whatsoever?
00:02:28 SIENNA
I think it's definitely one of the difficult things. I think the other difficult thing is just even
trying to find one because they're not that like obvious or popular because it's not as easy
just to get someone be camera operator because you might not be filming something. But
social media campaigners and people doing stuff online is more popular, but that's not
something that I actually focus on. So finding the internship is really difficult. And then
when you do finally find one, the fact that they then disappear on you is just heartbreaking.
It's really tricky.
00:03:01 PIERS
Are there like any like film websites that are, like specific to your degree that can help you
find an internship, or do you mainly just go on DeakinTALENT or something?
00:03:09 SIENNA
I mainly go on DeakinTALENT. There are film companies that you can contact because
they've also got different sponsorships or Deakin also kind of works with them, but they
don't always actually have internships. Sometimes it's just like you try your luck with them.
But the only websites that I kept running into that was really annoying were ones that were
advertising for film internships, but it was a company you had to pay for them to go then
find you internships. But it meant that you were like, hey, paying them to find it. And then if
they didn't find it, you basically paid for nothing. And then internships also aren't usually
paid. So you were basically paying to not get paid.
00:03:48 POPPY
I was about to say that's so frustrating, especially as a uni student, because like, it's very
well-known that we're all poor. And as you said, like internships are not paid, you're usually
taking weeks or months of your time to put into this effort. And then you're having to pay
someone to find an unpaid internship. Yes. I get kind of paying someone to find jobs
because it's going to work out long term, but paying someone to find an internship feels
like...
00:04:13 PIERS
Kind of a scam, almost, because you're getting that for like, how long, like 3 weeks?
00:04:18 SIENNA
Maybe a semester at most? It's usually 100 hours, 100, 120 hours. But they were also like
the way it was written, it was you were joining the company slash like signing up for a
membership. So it also wasn't like you're just paying them to find you an internship. It was
like you were becoming a part of the company. It just, the way...It was weird, it sounded a
little bit like, I don't want to get myself involved in that by accident and then something bad
happens.
00:04:43 POPPY
Yeah, wouldn't be putting my credit card details into that personally. So why do you think
film students face different challenges compared to other degrees?
00:04:54 SIENNA
It's definitely not something that is super common. So like making films and the film
industry, it's like a massive, massive thing, but it doesn't mean that there's lots of
opportunities, unfortunately. So we face a lot of different challenges because for
education or for medicine, it is very much a very needed kind of experience. Like we need
more teachers, we need more nurses, and we don't really need more film people because
there's already so many people that want to do that. So it's just tricky because one,
everyone's trying to get it. So if you do find one, there are thousands of people trying to get
it. But it's also because no companies are really about that, no one's actually going to be
needing someone to film or direct something. And a lot of the jobs that I do find, they end
up just being other uni students that are just needing help on their own films.
There's no actual job to be on a film set as an internship. It's like you're editing for social
media or making social media posts, but there's nothing actual that we actually want to do.
00:05:57 PIERS
So you mentioned with there, kind of the end there, you were like jobs that are more like
filming for social media or filming for this or filming for that. What kind of jobs appeal
mostly to like a film student or to you specifically?
00:06:08 SIENNA
To me specifically, I was looking more for camera operating jobs and editing jobs, but for
film. So ones like for example, there was a YouTuber who does travel guide videos and he
was looking for an editor. So that's definitely something that appeals to me because it
means it's long-term work, you get to work from home, you're editing something, you're
enhancing your skills. But things with social media campaigners and editors and making
that kind of content, that's something that I don't really know anything about. And I also
haven't taken any units on that, although I will be taking one next year. It's after the
internship unit slot. So I don't actually know enough to be able to advertise myself for that
job. And a lot of the time these jobs advertise themselves and they want scroll stopping
content. And even though I've just turned 20, I don't really don't know what that is. I really
don't know what they're going to be looking for.
00:07:01 POPPY
It kind of sounds like when you're trying to apply for jobs and everyone keeps knocking you
back because you don't have experience. And it's like, “well, who's going to give me the
time to actually get that experience that I can have it”? It's so frustrating, especially in such
a niche kind of area like film. A lot of people won't really experience people to create that
content. It's like, “well, someone's got to let me in first to get that experience”, which I can
imagine is so tricky. So how do you think DeakinTALENT, lecturers and the university as a
whole could better support film students?
00:07:36 SIENNA
So I think that DeakinTALENT is doing ,like somewhat well. They do have internships for
things like media, but that's usually graphic design stuff and then also ones for social
media. So it's really great because some film students do do graphic design because TV,
television needs graphic designers, so they're able to do that. As well as social media
people, they're able to know what kind of content to make. So I know lots of girls that are
able to do that. But it's a little bit tricky because that's kind of where it ends. There's no
other option for if you can't find one. So I think one of the, a good thing that they could
potentially do is list some companies or even just some sponsors or people they know that
we could reach out to as well. Because when I had to stop looking at DeakinTALENT, I then
had to do so much research, hours of research on companies that had previous
internships or just that made film close by in Melbourne. And you don't end up hearing
back from them. So it'd be nice to have some resources or a list of people that you could
potentially reach out to. It just makes the process a little bit easier.
00:08:44 POPPY
Yeah. You listed some suggestions, which were great. What do you think is working well, to
flip it? What do you think Deakin is doing well in that area?
00:08:57 SIENNA
I think the lecturers are doing really well because they have been in an industry, which is
something that I really love. They're not just teachers that have studied what we've studied.
They actually really know what they're doing. So it's really encouraging to hear their
experiences and their knowledge And some teachers have been really great where I've had
teachers offer me jobs on their films. And I've had teachers bring in directors and editors
that they know from the industry to meet. So it's really great because they're providing
opportunities. But that's almost not a uni thing. It's actually a them thing. It's the kindness
of their own hearts that they're offering these opportunities. So I really am appreciative of
those lecturers for giving us an opportunity.
00:09:38 POPPY
So what I'm hearing is like essentially that they're just really hiring and training and
providing the right people for those subjects, which is really great to hear because you
really need that good support and that good connection with lecturers.
00:09:54 PIERS
Which is, a good teacher can do so much for you as well. So like, I'm when I'm studying
journalism, it's like so many teachers will be like, oh, like I worked here and here and these
like the connections on how I got to where I am now having something like that, I assume
would be invaluable.
00:10:06 SIENNA
Yeah, it really is. I had a first year teacher, he was amazing and he helped me get my first
camera, my audio equipment, my lens. Like he gave, he just didn't care that I wasn't in his
class anymore, that I'd finished it. He continued to provide that help and that knowledge
and then by the end of it we had, had created such a great connection and he knew the
skills that I had that he invited me onto a film set to be his first AD, which I hadn't even done
before. And when I disclosed that he didn't really care, he was just happy to have an
enthusiastic student and it's just something I'll never forget.
00:10:39 PIERS
A lot of like with the connections, like it's really great that you're having such a solid
connection, not only people around you, but especially lecturers who have got experience
working on film sets.
My question is, do you think there's anything missing when it comes to helping students
make industry connections?
00:10:55 SIENNA
I think something that could potentially be missing is the aftermath of those connections.
Like I know a lot of students that have had really great connections with the lecturer during
the unit and then they just kind of stop that connection afterwards. But that's definitely not
a lecturer thing or a uni thing. It's very much dependent on the person. So for myself, when
I finished my unit with one of my lecturers, I knew he had the knowledge to help me. So I
went back to him and continued that connection. So I think that what's missing is people's
motivation to keep going. Like people complain about not knowing who to reach out to.
They don't know enough people, but it's because they're lacking that continuation and
they're struggling and they're not reaching out properly. And also one of the biggest things
is, like you said, during COVID, we were all online all the time. And I feel like that's really
impacted it because now people are just online all the time and they're lacking that real
connection with people. So I think that people still are able to find film connections and
network and stuff, but they don't always last as long-term as we may want.
00:12:02 PIERS
So it's kind of like a bit of advice, like reach out to the teachers, see who can help you and
where they can take you.
00:12:08 POPPY
Yeah. I'm going off script here, but I'm actually curious as to your journey into the degree
that you're doing now. What sparked that passion and how did you get to where you are
now?
00:12:20 SIENNA
Yeah, well, if you ask my family, they'll always say that I've been a little performer. So when
I was really young, I didn't talk. I didn't speak till I was about two. So I was really, really
quiet. And then it was like something sparked to me and I was loud and energetic. And we
used to go to those like mini, like classes where you get to dance around with the
instruments. So there was always something in me. And it wasn't till bad timing started
COVID that I was like, “oh, I want to be an actor”. So I was doing lots of auditions and I was
doing really well. I was in multiple university short films and I was like, “this is really, really
good”. So I started doing drama in school and I did theater studies. And when I got to
theatre studies, my teacher kept pulling me aside, being like, “you're a great actor, but
you're an even better director. Like, you are so good at directing”. And I was like, “no, I'm
not doing that. I want to be an actor. Like, I want to be on screen”. A little bit of me wanted
to be famous, but I wanted to be on screen. And my teacher was like, “you're a director”.
She even went up to my mum and was like,“your daughter's such a great director. She's
really going to go somewhere”. And my mum was like, “directing? No, you mean acting”.
And I really considered that for a while. So I started making my own short films and I
realized that I did really enjoy directing. And my school was actually really encouraging. We
had a swap in principals from a principal who wanted all STEM and all sciences and ‘don't
focus on the music, don't focus on the arts.’ And we had a swapping principal who loved
music. She loved the arts. Our orchestra, which I was also in, we performed at every
assembly. We were everywhere. And theatre studies was getting to perform lots now as
well. So the school was really encouraging and our counsellor showed me all these
different kind of courses that I could go into. I did lots of auditions and Deakin was my
number one because at the time they were, I think it was either top 1% or number one in
the world for media. So it was like, this course was it for directing. So that's kind of how I
got into it. And then from there I've been spiraling through all the different jobs. So I'm like,
I'm just, I'm just glad to be here.
00:14:28 POPPY
Sienna, what do you wish educators understood about the role they play for you as creative
students? Because you've spoken a lot about that it's a vulnerable state, but that a lot of
the lecturers really get that and really like get into that in a really positive way. And they're
probably vulnerable themselves too, because it's a very specific type of personality.
So, do you think they understand the main role they play or what do you wish that they did
understand about that role?
00:15:01 SIENNA
I think that the lecturers that are in film really know what they're doing and they know how
vulnerable it is and they know how to help us. It's more the compulsory courses you have
to do like the ALW ones that it's like they don't know who you are. They're not there
because you're a film student. You just happen to be a film student in that class. So I feel
like it's those kind of teachers that sometimes they don't know how to talk to us, they don't
know how to schedule us because we're very, very different. So for last year in one of our
classes, we had to do a five-year plan. And unfortunately, as much as I would love to say,
“oh, in two years, I'll have my own film company, in three years, I'll be in Hollywood as the
biggest director”, as much as that would be the dream, it's not as simple as that for us. So
it was tricky because the lecturer didn't understand why our five-year plans were so vague
and why they didn't have really strict steps on how to get there.
And it's just, unfortunately, it's not as easy as that. So I wish that those kind of lecturers
kind of did a little bit of research into the students that we're going to have.
00:16:09 POPPY
It's really tricky in that sense too. I've got a few of those classes where there's just so many
students or similarly it's online and there's so many students. And I'm sure they do their
best to try and connect with students. But sometimes when I'm emailing them, I have to
be, “hey, this is Poppy from the 12pm, blah, blah, blah seminar”.
I was wondering if like, it's just so like, it sounds like for a lot of your lecturers, like you're
almost friends, which is so wonderful. So it's not, you know, it's not that, it's not that really
awkward where they don't really get you and you don't really get them. It's just kind of like
they're just there to, to be a lecturer.
00:16:44 PIERS
So a lot of this conversation has definitely been about forming connections with lecturers.
That's been a really heavy focus of your time in university, it seems. I want to know, is there
anything lecturers can do to maybe like help students have that connection in a time where
they're not getting that?
00:16:59 SIENNA
I think a lot of the lecturers, sometimes there's a little bit of favouritism, like, but it's like it's
a little bit tricky because sometimes those students that don't get favoured aren't the best,
they're not the most motivated. So it is really tricky to like try and say what they should do
because it's not as simple as being like, lecturer, be nice to this person. Because it's like,
as art is, it's very subjective. Like they can be like any other human, they can like who they
want to like. I think there should be more encouragement for networking with lecturers
though, because I know that sometimes it was mentioned in first year where it was like, oh,
try and like, get to know them and be nice to them, but it kind of stops there. But like I said
before, it is very individual-specific. Like you can't just be like, “oh, I wish I had a better
connection with my lecturer”, because if you did, you would do it yourself. So like for my
cinematography class, my teacher and I, we were not close at all. Like we barely talked,
but he put in the effort to know who I was and he actually watched my work that obviously
that had been submitted because he has to but he really paid attention to it so much so
that he then emailed me and connected me to Anna, who is one of our unit, or actually
nearly all the unit chairs for all my subjects, and was currently filming a documentary and
recommended me to be first AC. And I got that job through not even, I didn't even have to
create the connection.
So to, long story short, to answer your question, I think that even the lecturers can put in a
little bit more effort to go, not only, oh, has the student talked to me, have they made a
connection, have they asked the right questions, but even just to look at their work
because that was the reason that I ended up getting that small job was because my
lecturer was able to identify the work that I did.
00:18:56 POPPY
So, Sienna, we've touched on a lot of topics, but what do you wish your lecturers knew?
00:19:03 SIENNA
I wish my lecturers knew how hard it is to get an internship, not just in general, but for a film
student and specifically for what we want. And I also wish lecturers knew how important it
is to have one-on-one feedback, because I do believe that lecturers know that, but I don't
think they'll ever take the first step. I think it will always be students, which I agree on, but it
doesn't mean that it wouldn't be nice to have that offer.
00:19:30 POPPY
Yeah, that's a wonderful response. Thank you so much, Sienna. And thank you for sharing
your perspective. Your experiences have highlighted the need for more tailored internship
opportunities, stronger industry connections for film students, and greater recognition of
how personalized feedback can shape success. Thank you so much for joining us today.
It's been a really great conversation and we can't wait for the listeners to be able to
understand. more about film students and your wonderful insight.
00:20:00 SIENNA
Thank you so much for having me. It's been really fun.
00:20:02 PIERS
Thank you again.
00:20:03 SIENNA
Thank you.
00:20:05 PIERS
Thank you for joining us for another episode of Voices from the Classroom. We hope
Sienna's story provided some valuable insights that could potentially be considered as a
part of your education provision.
If you found today's discussion engaging or if you're a lecturer, we encourage you to reflect
on what you've heard today. Could you check how accessible your unit site is or think
about the pace of your teaching for students balancing study?
Don't forget to subscribe so you won't miss our next episode. We also welcome any
suggestions of topics you'd like for us to delve into or experiences to be shared. Please
share them with us through the link in the podcast notes.
Until next time, keep listening, keep learning, and keep connecting. These aren't just our
stories. They're calls for empathy, understanding, and change.