Sydney Entertainment Promotion & Film Studies Program (Summer)

Scheduled to coincide with the Sydney Film Festival, the coursework of this unique program examines Australian film and filmmaking. Students will gain a knowledge of the Australian film industry—its recent developments, current trends, and influences, as well as the strategies employed to advertise, promote, and market entertainment.

Program Curriculum

Required Courses

Students enroll in both of the following courses. Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.

COM FT 554: Cinema in Australia: The Sydney Film Festival (4 credits)

Taking advantage of the concentration and focus provided by the Sydney International Film Festival (SFF), this course will examine the nature and development of Australian film in an Australasian context. Students will arrive one week before the festival opens and will participate in a series of preparatory classes that will provide necessary historical and sociological background. Students will then attend a series of required screenings and forums at the SFF which provide an immediate experience of current Australian cinema in feature, short and documentary categories, and current New Zealand and Asian cinema, as well as a comprehensive viewing of the work of a featured director or movement. The course and festival place students in immediate contact with a range of significant Australian and international film industry personnel.

The screenings and forums provide the basis for classes which will examine the nature of specific films, developmental influences, and contemporary issues in Australian filmmaking and its relevance and influence in a wider global context. Syllabus

COM CM 561: Entertainment Promotion (4)

This course surveys the strategy, techniques, and communication media employed to market the expanding range of entertainment promotion in Australia. The course examines organizations and people who conceive, create, and distribute video, film, print, and interactive programming within the framework of the wider promotions industry. The evolution of twentieth-century marketing is used as a foundation for analyzing contemporary trends in promotion. Students study target audiences and the most effective methods for achieving the business objectives of event and entertainment management. Topics will include the business relationships between content producers and creators, promoters, and distributors. The organizational structure and personnel of these groups will be understood within the context of event and entertainment management industries.

Students will analyze the expanding environment of media and communication techniques and understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of various kinds of promotional campaigns. Syllabus

Program Details

Requirements
Program Dates
  • Summer Term: May 23 to July 4, 2012
    • Depart U.S.: May 21, 2012
    • Program Arrival: May 23, 2012
    • Program End: July 4, 2012
    • Depart Australia: July 4, 2012
Cost
  • Summer 2012 Tuition & Fees: $8,200

Cost includes tuition, housing, airfare from designated West Coast cities, field trips, and emergency travel assistance coverage. Additional expenses to consider for the summer. Financial aid is available. BU Study Abroad arranges a trans-Pacific group flight that is included in the program fee. It is recommended that students take this flight.
Credits
  • Upon successful completion of the program, students earn eight Boston University undergraduate or graduate credits. Students must enroll for a total of eight credits.
Housing
  • The BU Sydney Academic Center is located in Chippendale close to both the University of Sydney and the University of Technology, Sydney. In addition to classroom and office space, the Center houses a computer lab equipped with wireless Internet service and a program library. Student accommodations are located at BU Sydney Academic Center, which is a short walk from the Center and offers easy access to public transportation, Darling Harbour, Chinatown, and Sydney’s cinema and theater district.
Application Deadlines
  • Summer Term: March 1

Download a one-sheet description of the Sydney Entertainment Promotion & Film Studies Program.

Program Staff

All Boston University Sydney programs are administered in coordination with our Boston and Sydney offices. In Boston, a program manager oversees the admissions and pre-departure procedures, and maintains contact with students prior to their arrival in Sydney. The Boston office also houses administrative personnel who are responsible for everyday operations. In Sydney, the staff comprises a resident director and administrative, academic, and housing personnel.

Staff Profiles

Jeff Conradi, Program Manager

On-Site Staff

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