From Drama and Entertainment Teacher, Peter Lamb
Year 11 Entertainment students must attend external Work Placement for one week in order to gain Industry experience. The 2017 class went to a diverse range of placements during Term 2 and 3. They included Studio 57 Recording, Crystal Productions, Sydney Props Specialists and The Look. Here is a brief account of what the boys got up to.
Sydney Props Specialists
Sydney Props Specialists is an Australian owned company with a focus on event theming, styling, and prop hire. They have the largest collection of props in Australia and an extensive collection of backdrops, furniture and staging equipment. Sydney Props can design, source and produce an event from the start until the finish.
The main building is a warehouse that is literally filled to the roof with props and is amazing to look at. Trying to navigate through it was a challenge but great fun. The work was sometimes hard as much of the time we were either lifting something heavy or painting for hours on end. We enjoyed our time working there, however, and met many experienced people who were passionate about the Entertainment Industry. We learnt a lot by being around them.
Lachlan Child, Ethan Gillibrand, Matthew Danzey, Thomas Bower
The Look
The Look, located in Banksmeadow, is a business that makes and hires out theatre drapes, and provides rigging for all kinds of Entertainment Industry needs. The company is owned and run by Geoff Newey, who has worked in the entertainment industry for many years and has helped present some big names in that time, such as Elton John! During our weeks of work experience there we were shown the basics of how to clean, fold and pack drapes using the correct techniques to ensure safety and productivity. Overall it was a fun and enjoyable place to go for a week, where we learnt various skills that we will be able to use in the future.
Max Towns, Freddy Felix, Chris Salakas, Hunter Smith, Zachary Bloch, Ryan Bakels
Crystal Productions
Crystal Productions is a production company based in Rydalmere, specialising in audio and lighting equipment. They handle all sorts of events and productions, including business award ceremonies, schools’ events, birthdays, weddings and festivals. They go to their job sites and bump-in lighting, speakers, sound desk, lighting desks, and much more. When the job is done they then bump-out and pack everything away and take it back to the warehouse!
On the first day, they showed us around and introduced us to the people that worked there. David, the person in charge at Crystal, took us out to our first job site – a presentation at a cancer research hospital. On our second day we set up for the Local Business Awards in Liverpool. Our third, fourth and last day were pretty much the same. That was our wonderful experience doing work placement at Crystal Productions.
Simon Finnegan, Johnathan Edwards
Studio 57 Recording
Studio 57 is an independent one stop recording, mixing and mastering studio. It is based at Taren Point and is run by Marc Scully, who is well-known throughout the Australian music scene, as a performer and producer. Students under supervision at Studio 57 assist with session set ups, lifting & moving instruments, generally assisting bands and musicians during rehearsals, using recording software and observing music production. Luca Galeazzi (a musician himself) said he ‘had a real blast!’
Luca Galeazzi
Work placement is an invaluable opportunity for Entertainment students to step outside the classroom and apply their knowledge to the real world. They get to experience what working in the industry is like and most return knowing that they want to be a part of it after graduation. Many report that they are also offered casual/part time work during holidays or when they finish school. Great work, gentlemen.
