New SAE Film Lecturer, Dr Julia Reynolds, is an outstanding filmmaker, with twelve years’ experience as a director, editor, art director and more recently scriptwriter for virtual reality. She has worked in television, music videos, TV commercials, funded short films, animations, international web content, as well as interactive and virtual reality.

As well as having a wealth of industry experience, Julia is an experienced academic. Her career has including time working the University of Waikato teaching their studio and video production courses, and prior to joining SAE she was at WINTEC Media Arts School in the Moving Image department.

Julia holds a PhD in Film from AUT. Her research includes both written and creative work. Her first feature film, science-fiction epic, Shepherd, is due to premier in early 2018. 

Shepard tells the story of Eden, a sixteen-year-old girl struggling to survive in a dystopian future. When Eden comes across an old tourist map she has been dreaming about she is faced with leaving the only life she knows to follow the map.

Julia says of her creative practice, ‘My work and research explores community, DIY film-making, process, empowerment and the environment – all served with a healthy spoon of philosophy.’

SAE Auckland Campus Director, Dr Suzette Major says: ‘We are fortunate to have secured such a seasoned filmmaker and tertiary teacher. Julia’s passion and enthusiasm for all things creative, coupled with her knowledge and experience as a teacher, will be a great addition to the team.’

You can check out Julia’s work at her blog: https://juliaschitchat.wordpress.com/.SAE Auckland’s project-based, practical approach sees students graduate with qualifications such as Diploma in Film Making and Bachelor of Film Arts, which, along with the rest of SAE Auckland’s diplomas and degrees, are eligible for the government’s new ‘fees free’ policy.

Film at SAE Auckland is going from strength to strength. Enrollments into the film programme have more than doubled in the last year. 

More information about the film programme at SAE can be found here http://auckland.sae.edu/courses/film/.