UCOL student San Francisco bound

UCOL Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging student Nicole Baker has scored a video production internship in San Francisco.

Nicole has been selected to travel to renowned video production studio, Lobitos Creek Ranch at the end of January for a three month visit.

The internship was conceived last year by Lobitos Creek Ranch owner Steve Michelson, and Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival Director Brent Barrett and Warren Jones. They approached UCOL Video Lecturer Mel Edmonds to seek suitable applicants for the internship, “and it grew from there,” she says.

Brent Barrett says "Reel Earth is pleased to facilitate the student Video Internship with Steve Michaelson of Lobitos Creek Ranch in California and UCOL in Palmerston North.  Thanks to the vision and drive of past director Warren Jones, the internship has proven to be a successful career launch pad for a talented UCOL BAVI video student each year; providing practical experience and networks in the California film and media scene.”

Joshua Hardgrave was the first UCOL Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging student to embark on the internship. He travelled to San Francisco last year and has since begun work at WETA Digital in Wellington.

Nicole’s living expenses and accommodation are included in the internship. This year UCOL will sponsor the return airfares.

The Dean of Humanities and Business Faculty Clive Jones says, “UCOL’s Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging degree has a national and international reputation for the very high standard of photography education. Through this internship we hope to further promote the standard of the other creative streams within the BAVI degree, and in particular the video strand.”

Nicole is very excited at the prospect of learning and “seeing how it’s done over there.” She says, “I’m looking forward to making contacts and learning from those much smarter than me.”

The Darwin born 23 year old moved to Palmerston North to pursue her love of visual arts and learn about her father’s Maori culture and ancestry.

The discoveries she made of her Maori heritage formed the theme of her short film Whangai Girl. The documentary explores the concept of adoption within Maori families and was an integral part of Nicole’s application for the internship.

UCOL Video Lecturer Mel Edmonds says Nicole has a great talent for scriptwriting.

“I love the whole film making process,” says Nicole. “But it is especially exciting to see the actors bring your script to life. Up until filming begins, the script is just words.”

Nicole wants to become heavily involved in the film industry on her return and admits she cannot stop developing film ideas.“I have a couple of short films in mind and also a feature length story line,” she says. “I’ve even cast the actors to the roles in my head.”