Film student Jess Fuller is living the dream.
The Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production student recently travelled to New York to represent Griffith Film School at the Australian Screen Forum, where she rubbed shoulders with Australian screen luminaries like Baz Luhrmann, Toni Collette and Miranda Tapsell.
Jess was given the opportunity to visit the Big Apple for the North American premiere of award-winning documentary, Jill Bilcock: Dancing the Invisible, made by Griffith Film School graduates Axel Grigor and Faramarz K-Rahber.
“I ran into Fara in the halls at GFS and we struck up a conversation about the premiere he had coming up in New York for his new film,” she said.
“I told him how much I love Baz Luhrmann, and it turned out he had a spare ticket to the Australian Screen Forum, and next thing I knew I was on my way to New York.”
Jess said the week-long experience was “amazing”.
“I was able to meet and listen to some amazing industry professionals, watch great Australian films and make some fantastic industry contacts,” she said.
“A lot of what I learnt over the week was how many different paths can lead to your dream job.
“After listening to a range of different industry professionals and meeting people from different sectors of the industry, I’m so excited to start charting my own path.”
Jess credits her time at Griffith Film School with providing a solid foundation for a career in the industry and giving her the chance to expand her horizons.
“I have loved all the different experiences I have been offered at GFS,” she said.
“One of the most amazing and unforgettable experiences I was part of was the Vanuatu immersion exchange in January.
“Along with 20 other students, I took part in the international filmmaking course and to this day it’s one of the best experiences I’ve had as an emerging filmmaker.”
The trip to New York has paid unexpected dividends for Jess, who has been offered a job at A&E Networks, whose stable includes the Lifetime, History and Biography channels.
“At this stage I am keeping my options open, however I’ve been offered a job at A&E based in New York, so I am hoping to try and work in as many different departments as I can.
“I’m hoping to experience as much as my industry can offer!”