CSB has been working for months on an exciting project with film journalist Andrew Urban of Urbancinefile. We’re interviewing film and television practitioners about their business experiences.
Our aim is to develop a deeper understanding about the history of business decision-making in film and television and to share with our audience the wisdom from the accumulated mistakes, experiments and achievements of the contributors.
Sandra Levy - biography
Sandra Levy is the CEO of AFTRS. She has had an outstanding career in the creative world of feature film and drama producing, and as an executive at the highest levels of the industry. During her time as Director of Television at the ABC (2001 – 2005) she was responsible for a 24% increase in audience, and for a slate of programs that revitalised the public broadcaster, including Kath & Kim, New Inventors, Spicks and Specks, Enough Rope, The Chaser, Catalyst, Strictly Dancing, Operatunity Oz, We Can Be Heroes, Outback House, MDA, Answered by Fire and many more.
Sandra was appointed as CEO of AFTRS in mid 2007 following on from her roles as Head of Drama, Zapruder’s Other Films (2007), Head of Drama, Channel 9 (2006), Director of Television, ABC (2001 – 2005), Head of Drama, Southern Star (1989 – 1998) and Head of Drama, ABC (1987 – 1989). In addition to her television producing credits for Police Rescue, Palace of Dreams, Secret Men’s Business, True Believers, A Difficult Woman, Come In Spinner, Bodysurfer, G.P., Edens Lost, Secret Weapon and A Dangerous Life, Sandra Levy has also produced a number of feature films, including The Well (selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival) Serenades, and High Tide. Sandra has been a Board member of the Australian Film Finance Corporation, the Australian Film Commission, the Australian Film Television and Radio School and is currently a Board member of the Sydney Theatre Company and the NSW Cultural Management Committee.
Audio download
Chapter 1 - AFTRS: challenges and opportunities - 14 minutes
- Drawn to work at AFTRS - to give something back and also as a challenge
- School was perceived by the industry (especially TV) to be narrowly focused
- The physical move to new premises was also a chance to rethink the school and reposition it in relation to the industry
- Setting up industry advisory groups and looking for feedback
- The school is a creative hub for the industry
- Launching Lumina in June 2009 - a serious bi-annual journal
- Instead of having four students in each discipline, the new structure offers several levels, and caters to a greater number of students - all of this achieved within the same budget
- School’s achievement can’t be measured simply by graduates’ awards
Video downloads
Chapter 2 - The role of producers - 13 minutes
- Producers are offered a variety of course modules, from creative to business (via the Centre for Screen Business)
- Role of producers is central and essential in film and TV – they are the drivers of projects
- Number one role for producers is to spot good talent
- Yet producers are invisible – the media ignore them
- The students we have here now are risk takers and think differently
- AFTRS seems to be leading the world with its flexible courses
- Preparing our students for a creative life
Video downloads
