VCE Season of Excellence
VCE Season of Excellence Events 2010
Top Screen
We would like to inform all schools that Top Screen reflects the creativity and complexity of vision of VCE Media students in 2009.
As such it contains themes, styles and cinematic conventions ranging from whimsy and humour to adult themes including language and violence, and material that is strong in impact.
No person under the age of 15 years shall be admitted to the screenings of the said films unless in the company of a parent or adult guardian.
Top Screen presents films including short fictions, animation and documentaries created by VCE Media students, plus associated education sessions with the filmmakers and state reviewers. Selection for Top Screen is by application. Application for Top Screen 2011 are due on Thursday 21 October 2010.
Top Screen 2010 will open on 2 March 2010. The films are also presented as part of Top Designs.
- Top Screen Program (PDF - 36KB)
- Top Screen Synopsis of Film (DOC - 46KB)
Ticket prices
Screenings only
Tickets $8
Regional concession (100+ km from GPO) $6
Teachers free with pre-booked groups
Film Showcase plus Education Program
Tickets $10
Regional concession (100+ km from GPO) $8
Teachers free with pre-booked groups
Top Class
Top Class presents eleven concerts by outstanding VCE performing arts students who have completed VCE Dance and VCE VET Dance, Drama, Theatre Studies, Music Solo Performance and Music Group Performance. Performances are compered by the Chief Assessors and some are followed by Q and A sessions. A participant performer speaks at the Dance, Drama and Theatre Studies concert advising about the preparation of their solo work from the student perspective.
Top Class Sound was introduced in 2008. It features performances (acoustic, digital and/or screen based) of original musical works composed by students undertaking VCE Art, Media, Music Group Performance, Music Solo Performance, Music Styles, Studio Arts and/or Visual Communication and Design who have created original music as part of Unit 3 and 4 Assessment tasks.
Top Class Sound time change
Top Class Sound on Friday 26 February at the Melbourne Recital Centre will begin at 2 pm (not 2:30 pm as advertised in Season program).
The concert features original musical works composed by VCE students and the 2010 concert also includes a work created to accompany a film created by a media student.
For bookings and further details contact the MRC on (03) 9699 3333 or visit www.melbournerecital.com.au
The Top Class concerts run in March and April.
Who is invited to apply?
Selection for all Top Class concerts (except for Sound) is by audition, held in January and February.
The audition offers to Top Class are sent out to those students who receive a final score in the upper level of the A+ range in the performance examinations. They are invited by mail to audition after VCE results are made public in mid-December. The deadline to accept the invitation is 4 January 2010.
Student results are confidential and cannot be disclosed or discussed over the phone. Examination Grade scaling ranges are published on the VCAA website after results are released in December.
Each year up to 35 performers are selected from Top Class to appear in Top Acts. Top Acts performers will be announced by mid-May 2010. Top Acts 2010 is on Friday 28 May 2010.
- Top Class Program (PDF - 492KB)
- Top Class Music Program (PDF - 518KB)
Ticket prices
|
Ticket per concert |
A Reserve |
|
Metro |
$13.50 |
|
Regional concession |
$11.50 |
Guests attending three concerts on the same day, that is three Music concerts on 13 March and two Drama and one Theatre Studies concerts on 16 April can attend all three concerts for a reduced amount (see below):
|
3 concerts/day |
A Reserve |
|
Metro |
$35 |
|
Regional concession |
$30 |
Top Designs 27 March - 27 June 2010
Top Designs is an annual exhibition presenting work created by students who completed VCE Media, Design and Technology, Food and Technology, Systems Engineering, Visual Communication and Design and VCE VET Multimedia. The exhibition is held at Melbourne Museum and is part of the Museum designed to inspire initiative.
Works include furniture and objects made using wood, metal or plastic, garments and articles using fibre, yarn and fabric, graphic and product design, short films (also shown in Top Screen), interactive media, print layout, photography, food, mechanical and electronic projects. Works are accompanied by folios, work briefs, production plans, client feedback and evaluation, storyboards, scripts and design plans.
Top Designs includes associated education forums for each study for students coordinated by Melbourne Museum. The forums include an introductory talk by the State Reviewers and an industry professional.
- Top Design Program (PDF - 35KB)
Top Designs 2009, 2008, 2007 catalogues and CD-ROM are available. Pre-payment is necessary with the Order Form/Tax Invoice (PDF - 102KB). The Top Design 2010 catalogue will be available by mail order on 26 March 2010. It can also be purchased in the Museum Shop after 26 March.
Top Arts 1 April - 20 June 2010
Top Arts is an exhibition of painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, ceramics, film, drawing and printmaking produced by VCE Art and VCE Studio Arts students, held at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. Education programs include introductory lectures, folio viewings floor talks, sessions with exhibitors, education officers and the curator.
- Top Arts Program (PDF - 35KB)
Top Acts 28 May 2010
Top Acts is an evening concert which presents up to 40 performers from the Top Class concert series in one stunning event. Dance, Drama, Theatre Studies, Music Solo and Group Performances and original musical works are blended together into a dynamic presentation at the Arts Centre’s Hamer Hall.
- Top Acts Program (PDF - 29KB)
Education programs
Two-hour skills workshops in Drama and Theatre Studies for VCE students during the afternoon prior to Top Acts performance
Contact the Education Hotline at the Arts Centre on (03) 9281 8582 after 1 February
Workshop and one ticket to Top Acts $20
Top Acts program available at performance, Top Acts DVD will be available in June 2010.
For further information and bookings for workshop program only contact the Education Hotline at the Arts Centre
Tel: (03) 9281 8582
DVD’s of Top Acts 2009, 2008 and 2007 are available for purchase. Prepayment is required with the Catalogue and DVD Sale – VCE Season of Excellence form (PDF - 109KB).
Copyright Clearance for applications
Applicants submitting works for Top Screen, Top Designs and Top Arts should seek copyright clearance on all non-original material used, as works cannot be shown that do not have evidence of clearances.
Tips for taking photographs for applications to Top Design and Top Arts
A successful application relies on you presenting the best possible image of your work. Initial selection is made from your photograph. A poor quality photograph limits your chance of selection. Please note the following recommendations for taking photographs.
- If one work is comprised of multiple pieces it is recommended that you photograph works individually as well as showing the work as a whole. Only one application form is required for this work.
- Place the work of art against a clean, one colour background, preferably a light coloured wall.
- Use the best camera available to you. Use a good quality 100 ISO colour print film. Black and white film is acceptable for black and white images only.
- Make sure the image is sharply focused and fills as much of the frame as possible.
- Don't take the photograph on an angle that distorts the image. Stand squarely in front of it.
- If a flash is used, beware of strong reflections caused by glass and other reflective surfaces. Photograph before framing if you can.
- If the work is generally very dark or very light, it is difficult for a camera to automatically calculate the required exposure. If you can, take a number of photographs using different exposures. Try to bracket the exposure by trying one stop more and one stop less as well as the exposure setting indicated by the camera.
Tips for Food Photography
A successful application relies on you presenting the best possible image of your work. Initial selection is made from your photograph. A poor quality photograph limits your chance of selection. Please note the following recommendations for taking photographs.
- Shoot on white plates if possible
- Get as close as possible, fill the screen with the subject
- Make sure there is enough light on the food, natural light is best
- Try for a good balance of colours in the food
- Take lots of pictures from ever angle to see what looks best
- Shoot it quickly, before it wilts
- Hold still – use a tripod to help you achieve a sharp image – just a slight movement will cause blurring
- Make the food the hero – not the props
- Set digital cameras to an indoor setting to achieve natural colour in the food
- Use a camera with a macro lens
- Frame the photo in the view finder for a successful composition.
There is also some useful information in the text book – Food Solutions.
The following website is also useful. It is commercial, but has some good tips. http://www.foodportfolio.com/blog/food_photography/food_photgraphy.html
