Meet Michael Philips – your Key Educator for this course.

Hi, I’m Michael Phillips. I’m a Production Design lecturer at AFTRS, and I’ve always loved films. I became a film maker simply by being in the right place at the right time, which happened to be Zimbabwe » in the 1980’s. I was working as a freelance architect in Harare when a film production called, asking if I’d like to draft some sets for them. » And when the camera turned over on that very first film set, I remember my heart thumping with excitement. From draftsman I moved on to set designer and then worked my way, film by film, up the Art Department ladder. I was listening, watching, and learning through apprenticeship.

I worked on fine films like Cry Freedom, and A World Apart, but also on many lesser productions. » And it didn’t matter. I loved them all, because every day on a film is unique. Every problem and solution brand new and challenging. So every day I learnt more about the craft. » I designed a few films in Africa before migrating to Australia where I’ve lived ever since designing dozens of features and hundreds of shorts and commercials. » But even now today, when someone on set calls ‘turnover’, I feel that thrill, that little flutter in my chest because I still love films and I feel privileged to have made them my living.