Scheduled to coincide with the Sydney Film Festival, the coursework of this unique program examines Australian film and filmmaking. Students will gain a knowledge of the Australian film industry—its recent developments, current trends, and influences, as well as the strategies employed to advertise, promote, and market entertainment.Students enroll in both of the following courses. Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only.COM FT 554: Cinema in Australia: The Sydney Film Festival (4 credits),Taking advantage of the concentration and focus provided by the Sydney International Film Festival (SFF), this course will examine the nature and development of Australian film in an Australasian context. Students will arrive one week before the festival opens and will participate in a series of preparatory classes that will provide necessary historical and sociological background. Students will then attend a series of required screenings and forums at the SFF which provide an immediate experience of current Australian cinema in feature, short and documentary categories, and current New Zealand and Asian cinema, as well as a comprehensive viewing of the work of a featured director or movement. The course and festival place students in immediate contact with a range of significant Australian and international film industry personnel.The screenings and forums provide the basis for classes which will examine the nature of specific films, developmental influences, and contemporary issues in Australian filmmaking and its relevance and influence in a wider global context.COM CM 561: Entertainment Promotion (4),This course surveys the strategy, techniques, and communication media employed to market the expanding range of entertainment promotion in Australia. The course examines organizations and people who conceive, create, and distribute video, film, print, and interactive programming within the framework of the wider promotions industry. The evolution of twentieth-century marketing is used as a foundation for analyzing contemporary trends in promotion. Students study target audiences and the most effective methods for achieving the business objectives of event and entertainment management. Topics will include the business relationships between content producers and creators, promoters, and distributors. The organizational structure and personnel of these groups will be understood within the context of event and entertainment management industries.Students will analyze the expanding environment of media and communication techniques and understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of various kinds of promotional campaigns

Cost includes: Tuition, housing, airfare from designated West Coast cities, field trips, and emergency travel assistance coverage. Additional expenses to consider for the summer.Financial aid is available. BU Study Abroad arranges a trans-Pacific group flight that is included in the program fee.