2010 International Undergraduate Prospectus nts. u.au

Bachelor of Film and Television
61
Virginie Tetoofa is a third year
student in the Bachelor of Film
and Television. An international
student from French Polynesia,
she is the first AusAID
scholarship recipient to study at
the VCA.
Virginie discovered a passion for Film
and Television when she worked for
production companies in Papeete, Tahiti. In
February 2006, she moved to Melbourne
to commence her Bachelor of Film and
Television, where she majors in Directing.
During the three-year course, Virginie has
directed six short films. “Wax” was the
fourth short film she wrote and directed at
the Victorian College of the Arts. It won the
2007 National KODAK Cinematography
Award – Australia, and was included in
the KODAK Asia Pacific Cinematography
Competition.
In 2008, Virginie was fortunate enough
to receive a grant from the Tahitian
government that allowed her to shoot her
graduating film on location in Tahiti for
two weeks, along with her crew from VCA.
Lecturer Nicolette Freeman worked in
collaboration with local crew.
“It was a great new experience for us to
shoot overseas. And we were lucky enough
to have the support of the VCA and the
University of Melbourne staff.
“Back home, we also had a lot of support
from the population. People were proud to
be involved in the project because it was
about them and furthermore it was made
by a Tahitian woman. This film was about
our history, our ancient customs and our
culture.”
Virginie is now finishing her short film
E Arioi Vahine: a 15-minute period piece set
in Tahiti before European contact. The film
focuses on a tribe of Polynesian artists who
were not able to bear offspring.
“I’m exploring my own culture… it makes
me feel a little closer to home”, she says
while sitting at the edge of her Melbourne
apartment window.
Virginie Tetoofa
Third Year, Bachelor of Film and
Television
Tahiti