Rob Gray, a qualified engineer started his career in radio with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as a sound engineer. He then joined television at the pioneering stages of SABC Television Broadcast. Rob has directed, produced and developed many programmes for television broadcast, which include sport, magazine, documentary, music videos and commercials, as well high end corporate
programs. In 1994 Rob founded the CityVarstity Film, Television and Multimedia School in Cape Town, now a listed company through Educor. Rob is also qualified through the education department as an Education, Training and Development Practitioner (OD-ETDP). He is registered with SAQA & MICT SETA as assessor for the National Diploma in Film and Television Production. His immersive courses in Digital Film Production have gained popularity in South Africa due to the practical nature of the learning. “My goal is to ready the learner for immediate entrance into the film industry. Key modules are recognised by the Department Of Education And Training. Rob is a recognized photographer and integrates all his skills into modern day digital cinematography. “The digital revolution has made it possible for anyone with a dream to make movies. One is not limited to the traditional broadcast platform for exposure”. Rob started writing scripts for radio in the early 70’s and has is energised by the sudden explosion in digital films. “I enjoy creating characters and the words they speak, as one can draw on everyday life experience”. Rob is co-writing the Rhino Wars Script and is also the Director Of Photography (DOP). Rob Gray well known for training within the broadcast industry has been awarded the National Cer- tificate OD-ETDP (Occupation Directed Education, Training and Development Practitioner), issued by the ETDP SETA on behalf of SAQA. The qualification was acquires through studies at Peoples Development Africa (PDA)
Rob has been training learners in the industry long before he founded the CityVarsity School of Film, Television & Multimedia. Rob believes the industry needs targeted training and development with an emphasis on skills shotages. While at the same time taking into consideration the needs of the learner in terms of accreditation, skills transfer and self esteem. Rob Gray ventured beyond just designing training material by offering delegates within the industry the opportunity to gain recognition through prior learning (RPL). This means that a cameraperson for example, can be guided through the RPL process towards gaining a qualification, or part of a qualification. The learner is helped to align his experience with the unit standards set out by SAQA, related to her or his field of expertise, and how to go about filling in the necessary gaps so that they are assessed as competent. The RPL process is very structured and aims at giving the learner a fair and transparent opportunity to gain recognition for accreditation. This process of accreditation is part of creating a learning culture in many other industries and is integrated with organisation and business skills development plans (SDP). Rob has designed modules that carry traditional headings (Camera assistant, Editor, Vision Control ETC), which differ by including the required embedded knowledge and Critical Cross-Field Out- comes required by SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority). These are designed and mapped to the unit standards which make up a degree, certificate or diploma. The units standards are trans- ferrable across various qualifications. Rob is registered with the MICT SETA as an Assessor and Moderator for: National Diploma Film and Television Production, National Certificate Film and Television Production and National Diploma Radio Production. The Gap Year Course places emphasis on feature filmmaking where students are taught skills relevant to the film industry. The Academy’s intake is limited to small groups with a strong emphasis on practical filmmaking. The student’s time with equipment is up to eghty percent more than traditional film schools. The Academy has close links with the big players in the South African Film Industry. Students will rub shoulders with experts in their field who are willing to give valuable input that will benifit film project outcomes. The Academy’s main goal is to gear the student for immidiate entry into the industry. The course is intensive and will require a dedicated approach by the student. IMMERSIVE FILMmaking approach
The one year courses is based on the premise of total immersion, with the lessons learned applied directly to original film production that students will work on. The core of our filmmaking course includes the Director’s Craft, Writing, Editing, Hands-On Camera/Lighting, Production, Sound Capture, and Cinematography. Skills learned are applied to a variety of different film projects that will help students develop the technical and creative skills needed for visual and dramatic storytelling. Students’ efforts at the Film Academy will culminate in the pre-production, production, and post-production of an original short and feature-length film. At the end of the Year Film Academy Course, students’ hard work and commitment are celebrated with an industry screening of the films. POST LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
The Academy’s philosphy of collaboration reaches into the real world of filmmaking. The Academy will help students who have valid projects ready for filming. After evaluating the script and associated logistic, the Academy will formulate a way forward to help get the project done. The Academy will make available resources that would otherwise be too expensive to hire.
