Performing Arts - Sunway College

Performing Arts
THEATRE+FILM CURRICULUM
Roof Top Theatre
Department of Performance & Media
A DYNAMIC & INNOVATIVE PROGRAMME
On-stage, behind-the-scenes, in front of the camera, behind the camera.
•
Imparts rigorous training and education
in two inter-related fields: theatre
and audio-visual production using
professional video tools.
•
Stretches students with our challenging
team of lecturers who are established
professionals and scholars.
•
Gets our graduates geared up for work
and further studies, locally and abroad.
•
Has arranged one-year pathway to BA
degrees for our graduates.
The Diploma in Performing Arts (DPA) at Sunway University offers a unique curriculum that
covers both theatre and audio-visual production while maintaining a fine balance between
hands-on and academic classes. As a result, our graduates end up with comprehensive and
cross-disciplinary skills, knowledge and abilities – many doors are open to them where
work and further studies are concerned.
Diploma in Performing Arts: Theatre+Film Curriculum
A number of our Diploma in Performing
Arts (DPA) graduates have chosen to
continue their education. They usually
make use of the no-fuss, one-year
transfer pathway to one of our affiliated
universities in Tasmania, Melbourne and
Wales, to study drama, performance,
film and digital media. Many of those
who opt to start working get involved
in project-based freelance work. The
spectrum of jobs available to them is
broad, ranging from performing on
stage, television and film to behind-thecamera and backstage work. The latter
includes production crew, production
management,
editing,
writing,
producing, office administration as well
as teaching drama. A smaller number of
our graduates work at full-time jobs with
media production houses and theatre
companies, while several enterprising
individuals have started collaborative
and commercial ventures in audio, music
and theatre production.
This diverse after-diploma scene is
reflective of the diversity of individuals
who come into our two-in-one DPA
programme. Many already have an
interest in performance and/or film.
They want to act, direct or write. Others
who come in with music and dance
backgrounds may want to sing, dance,
choreograph, compose and perform
their own songs, or perform in musical
theatre. Yet others may be the shy and
quiet types who want to be involved
in the arts but behind the scenes.
Whatever their entry points, all students
get exposed to new ideas, skills and
knowledge on the DPA programme.
They acquire new abilities and interests
while developing the ones they already
have. Because the programme covers a
wide variety of subjects in theatre and
film, it helps them to form a clearer
perspective of what they want to do
eventually, especially after they have had
a taste of the ‘real world’ through a 12week internship stint.
While the DPA can open the door to a
bright future, it is only the starting point
to a long career. Creativity researchers
have come up with what they call the
“10-year rule” which indicates that no
truly great creative contributions can
come without at least 10 years of intense
effort and preparation. Therefore, to
give them a head-start, our students are
taught by a dynamic team of lecturers,
comprising established theatre and
film practitioners and scholars. Besides
sharing their well-seasoned skills and
knowledge with students, they also
provide invaluable networking and
artistic and professional insights.
Single Intake
March 2014
Entry
SPM/O-Level
Requirements Minimum 3 credits
(including English)
UEC
Minimum 3 Grade B’s
(including English)
Duration2½ years
MediumEnglish
of Instruction
Enquiries
Call Information Centre
at 03-7491 8622
Visit ourwww.sunway.edu.my/
website university
JPT/BPP(U)(R/212/4/0020/ A 4657) 4/19
SOLID FOUNDATION FOR WORK & FURTHER STUDIE
DIPLOMA IN
PERFORMING ARTS
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM
All stages of audio-visual production
• How to use professional equipment: camera, lights and sound
• Pre-production, production and post-production: story
development, concept, production planning, shooting,
recording, directing, editing, mixing, test screening
Performance and theatre production
• Performance: warm-ups, script analysis, improvisation
and acting exercises, how to create characters,
scene-work, rehearsal techniques
• Theatre production: conceptualisation, production
planning, devising, rehearsals, stage and production
management, performing for a public audience
History and theory classes
• Malaysian arts and culture
• Theatre practices across time and cultures
• Function of media in society: film, TV, internet
• Film analysis, development of modern cinema
Transferable skills and knowledge
• Critical thinking and writing
• Communication and presentation skills
• Career management
Public showcase of senior students’ works
• Short collaborative theatre projects
• Short collaborative video projects
Additional MOE compulsory General Studies subjects
For Local students:
• Malaysian Studies 2
• Community Service
• Moral Education/Islamic Studies
• Bahasa Kebangsaan A (applicable to students who did not sit for SPM
or did not obtain a Credit in SPM Bahasa Melayu)
For International students:
• Malay Language for Communication 1
• Community Service
• Moral Education/Islamic Studies
ES
Diploma in Performing Arts: Theatre+Film Curriculum
GEARING UP FOR JOBS & FURTHER STUDIES
Internship, 12-week attachments in the industry
Theatre
Arts ED (Arts Education Programs for Young People)
Dama Orchestra
DramaLab
Enfiniti Vision Media
Electric Minds Project (EMP)
Five Arts Centre
Gardner and Wife
Instant Café Theatre Company (ICT)
Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC)
Musical On Stage Productions
PJ Live Arts (PJLA)
Film & Television
Astro Shaw
Da Huang Pictures
Diversified Design Media Consult
Juita Entertainment
Kino-i
Red Communications
Skop Productions
Audio/Music
Monsoon Records
R Records
Runningscript
Shugar Studios
Wake The Baby
Media & Advertising
AIC Exhibitions
Cosmo Talents
Homegrown Productions
Kleo N Tony
PopDigital
Dance
Dua Space Dance Theatre
Others
Changi General Hospital
Kakiseni.com
Penang Office for Human Development
Pentas Seni Pusaka
One-year degree pathways
Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
University of Tasmania, Australia
Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama)
Bachelor of Contemporary Arts
Bachelor of Film and Digital Media
University of Glamorgan, Wales, UK
Bachelor of Performance & Media
DPA graduates can apply to any other university of their choice. Transcripts and referral letters are provided upon request for this purpose.
Work in career-entry positions
Theatre
Film & Television
Media & Advertising
Others
Actor
Administrator
Drama teacher
Director
Director’s assistant
Producer
Production assistant
Production crew
Stage manager
Actor
Administrator
Director
Director’s assistant
Editor
Producer
Production assistant
Production crew
Actor
Administrator
Editor
Production assistant
Voice-over talent
Emcee
Events management coordinator
Marketing & publicity coordinator
Reviewer
Singer
AN OUTSTANDING TEAM OF LECTURERS
The Diploma in Performing Arts teaching team comprises full-time and contract lecturers, all of whom are active and
noted practitioners and scholars in their own fields – and sometimes across fields as well. Our faculty includes a pool of
guest lecturers whose expertise is called upon as and when needed.
Highly committed as teachers, our lecturers bring with them particular skills, theoretical and experiential knowledge,
ways of seeing and articulating viewpoints to share with their students. Their combined qualifications, experiences and
accomplishments make them a truly outstanding team in the field of arts education in the country today.
BRENDA DANKER is a producer
and director, passionate about
telling human-interest stories
arising from a keen interest in
social issues affecting women,
youth and the marginalised. Her
honest yet biting portrayals of
these issues in both film and
television have won over many
critics and garnered her much recognition from the
industry. Outstanding production credits include 3R
(Best Magazine Award 2003, Best Social Awareness
Program – Silver 2005, and Asian TV Awards). Recent
projects include the feature film Gadoh (2009) and
a documentary Selepas Tsunami (2010). Brenda
has more than 10 years of professional experience
in TV production for local and regional channels. A
co-partner of Big Pictures Production, she holds a
Masters with distinction in Screen Drama Direction
from Goldsmiths College, University of London,
under a UK Chevening scholarship, and a BA in Mass
Communication from Universiti Sains Malaysia.
LEOW PUAY TIN is a published
playwright whose major plays
Three Children, Ang Tau
Mui and Family have been
produced in Malaysia, Singapore,
Tokyo, Berlin, Cairo, Adelaide,
Melbourne, and New York.
Inspired by Hokkien street opera
and Shakespeare, Puay Tin’s
writing has tended to be experimental in content,
form and performance, incorporating naturalistic
and non-realistic dialogues and monologues, as
well as songs and chants. Her theatre projects have
made use of or included pre-existent non-dramatic
texts from diverse sources (such as magazines, the
Constitution, memoirs, etc.), the creation of modular
pieces of performance text, and the use of chance
(tikam-tikam) to determine performance sequences.
In recent years, she has moved away from writing to
participation in collaborative performance projects
with other arts practitioners and non-practitioners
on projects such as Tikam-Tikam: Merdeka with a
law professor, an economist and a historian (2008),
Emily of Emerald Hill with film director Saw Teong
Hin (2010) and The Baling Talks, curated by arts
activist Mark Teh for the 2011 Singapore Arts Festival.
A recipient of the UK Chevening and US East-West
Center scholarships, Puay Tin holds an MFA in Theatre
from the University of Hawaii, and currently heads
the Department of Performance & Media at Sunway
University.
ZALFIAN FUZI is the associate
director of The Instant Café
Theatre Company (ICT) and has
worked in theatre for the past
13 years as an actor, director,
dramaturge, and teacher. He
holds an MA in Theatre Directing
from Middlesex University,
London under a UK Chevening
scholarship, and a BA in English & Drama from Temple
University, Philadelphia. As Associate Director of ICT,
he assists in planning the company’s strategy and
implements the overall artistic vision. He is tasked
with creating new content for new comedy revue
shows, plays and corporate shows. As a facilitator,
dramaturge, and director he jointly runs ICT’s
FIRSTWoRKS programme with its founding member
and artistic director, Jo Kukathas, to develop new
writing for the Malaysian stage. He uses his skills in
dramaturgy and scriptwriting to conduct workshops
for writers and mentors the programme’s writers
through discussion and one-on-one sessions as they
create their original scripts. Notable achievements
arising from this include award-winning original scripts
Air Con and Hero which he dramaturged. Zalfian’s
most recent directing credits include Air Con and Hero
(both nominated Best Director, BOH Cameronian Arts
Awards), The Girly Show, and Sex Money Scandal.
DR. NILOUFER HARBEN holds
a PhD from Royal Holloway
College, University of London,
and was a recipient of the
American Council of Learned
Societies/Fulbright Fellowship
and Harvard/Yenching
Fellowship. Specialising in
English drama history and
literary criticism, she is the published author of
Twentieth Century English History Plays: From
Shaw to Bond.
ZAHIM ALBAKRI directed the
multiple awarding-winning
musicals Puteri Gunung
Ledang: The Musical and
P. Ramlee: The Musical. He
has produced a string of
outstanding works as a stage
director and actor whose talent
is sought after and celebrated in
both Malaysia and Singapore. A founding member
and artistic director and executive producer of
the theatre company DramaLab, he trained as an
actor at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in
London, and holds an MA in Theatre Directing from
Middlesex University.
ANNE JAMES was trained
in theatre at Universiti Sains
Malaysia (Penang) and
Northwestern University (Illinois,
USA). A much-respected and
award-winning actor who
has performed locally and
internationally, she has had
the privilege of working with a
number of famous directors and theatre companies
including Krishen Jit (Five Arts Centre, KL), Richard
Schechner (New York), Ong Keng Sen (TheatreWorks,
Singapore), Joe Hasham (The Actors Studio, KL),
William Gluth (Playbox Theatre Company, Australia),
Hiroshi Koike (Pappa Tarahumara, Japan), Ivan Heng
(WildRice, Singapore), Zahim Albakri (DramaLab, KL),
Edwin Sumun (Sumunda, KL), Jo Kukathas (Instant
Café Theatre Company, KL) and Natalie Hennedige
(Cake Theatre, Singapore).
IMRI NASUTION is a versatile
filmmaker. His skills include
cinematography, sound
recording, editing and acting,
but it is directing that has
always been his core strength.
Graduated with a diploma
in filmmaking, Imri has been
directing documentaries,
music videos, business programmes and TV series
since 1999. He is also a co-founder of Kino-i, a
production company that has been playing a key
role in nurturing talents by conducting certified
trainings and workshops on new film techniques
for young people. Together with his team in Kino-i,
Imri believes in productive growth through effective
knowledge-sharing.
MARK TEH is a researcher,
educator, performance director
and organiser whose diverse,
interdisciplinary projects
are particularly concerned
with the issues of history,
memory and participation
in the Malaysian context.
Recent projects include artistic
directing The 1955 Baling Talks (Singapore Arts
Festival 2011), directing Gostan Forward (touring
2009-present), co-curating the Emergency Festival
(2008) and Save Our Placards! (Hyde Park and
Museum of London, UK, 2011), and co-producing
PopTeeVee. Mark began his involvement in
theatre as a member of the ARTicle 19 and Akshen
collectives, and was the inaugural recipient of
the Most Promising Artist Award at the 2002 BOH
Cameronian Arts Awards. He is a member of Five
Arts Centre, and graduated from Goldsmiths,
University of London with an MA in Art and Politics.
Diploma in Performing Arts: Theatre+Film Curriculum
AZMYL YUSOF a.k.a.
AZMYL YUNOR holds a MA
(Communication) from RMIT
University, Australia. As a
singer-songwriter and touring
musician, he has been recording
and producing his own albums
on his own independent record
label since 1997. Unusual
for an underground/independent musician, he
has shared the stage with acts as diverse as punk
pioneers Carburator Dung and mainstream icon
M. Nasir. An artist with a multi-disciplinary streak
and strong aversion to being pigeon-holed, he
regularly collaborates with filmmakers and theatre
practitioners as a music composer and performer.
He extends his art to non-governmental agencies to
support worthy causes and awareness campaigns.
As an academic, his published works include
research into the stereotyping of music subcultures
in simulated media moral panics and the use of
‘pop scoring’ in contemporary cinema. A co-artistic
director of Troubadours Enterprise and co-founder of
the Experimental Musicians and Artists Co-operative
Malaysia (EMACM), Azmyl is a noted presence in the
local arts scene for showcasing and promoting local
original music and fringe music genres.
ISAZALY MOHAMED ISA
a.k.a ZALEE is a certified Apple
Pro trainer, award-winning
filmmaker and editor, and digital
technology advocate and is
involved in film and television
production in Malaysia and
Singapore. A former child
actor who practically grew up
on production sets in Singapore, Zalee also heads
the research and development department at
production house Kino-i in Kuala Lumpur.
LEE JIA PING started work
backstage in 1995 as an
assistant stage manager for
The Bodyguards, a show
produced by British Council
together with key artistic and
technical personnel from the
UK. Subsequently she worked
as an operations trainee under
the Cambridge Arts Trust in the UK which was
responsible for the running of the Cambridge
Arts Theatre and the Cambridge Arts Cinema.
This posting introduced her to a wide spectrum
of theatre-related operations which included
the renovation of a heritage building, staffing,
equipping the theatre and day-to-day running of
shows. Upon her return to Malaysia, she worked as
a stage and production manager with distinguished
companies such as Straits Theatre Company under
Huzir Sulaiman, DramaLab under Zahim Albakri
and Five Arts Centre under Krishen Jit. Jia Ping is
a keen advocate of arts education. In 2005 she
conceptualised an education project for PS The
Children called Listen to the Voice Within to help
educate children on the sensitive issue of child abuse
and abusers. Together with designers from McCann
Erickson, she was nominated for a Silver Pencil at
the D&AD award UK and won a Silver Award at the
AAAA’s Kancil Awards. Jia Ping is currently a brand
consultant with The Listening Tree and can be heard
on BFM 89.9 as a branding coach on Up the Ante.
DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATOR
Sharmila Subramaniam
BA in Mass Communication, UKM
TECHNICAL ADMINISTRATOR
Rajesh Subramaniam a.k.a. Raje
Rajesh is a qualified sound engineer with extensive
experience as front-of-house engineer for local
and international concerts, as well as a professional
touring drummer who has performed with local and
international artists at international festivals and events.
In the field of media production, he has engineered,
mixed, and produced commercials for television and
radio. He has recorded and served as a mixing engineer
for local artistes such as Siti Nurhaliza, Mawi, Zainal
Abidin and Ning Baizura. In 2008, Rajesh received the
Green Award from AdAsia for Best Musical Director for
a Green Product, in recognition of his work on a public
service announcement video. Most recently he won
the Astro Vellithirai Best Short Tamil Movie 2010 contest
with his production team Indian Kung Fu. Rajesh is
also the founder of video and multimedia production
house, ZigZag Productions.
GUEST LECTURERS
MARION D’CRUZ
A founder member of Five Arts
Centre (est. 1984), and a pioneering
dance-maker in Malaysia, Marion now
teaches, produces, choreographs
and performs. Her focus as an artist
has been to create a contemporary
Malaysian identity in dance and to
make works that speak of what she is
passionate about.
GREY YEOH
A trained multimedia designer who
collaborates in socially-engaged arts
projects. Holds a full-time job as the
Arts Manager with the British Council
Malaysia. Former producer for online
information portal for Malaysian
youth, PopIN and online satire show
That Effing Show. Asia Society’s
Asia21 Young Leader Awardee.
NIKI CHEONG
Digital media advocate, one of
Malaysia’s top bloggers and Twitterers,
former editor of The Star’s youth
platform R.AGE and columnist of
The Bangsar Boy. Now pursuing his
masters at King’s College in London,
under a UK Chevening scholarship.
DR. SUSAN PHILIP
Academician specialising in teaching
drama, and active researcher of
Malaysian and Singaporean theatres;
holds a PhD from Australian National
University.
YEE I-LANN
Trained as a visual artist, I-Lann’s practice
seeks connections between landscape,
perception and cultural identity. Her work
as a production designer can be seen in the
following feature films: Karaoke directed by
Chris Chong, Senandong Malam directed by
Dain Said and Al-Jafree Yusop, and Rain Dogs
directed by Ho Yuhang.
HEMA BALASUNDARAM
Director of photography whose work
spans various media and formats, including
theatrical film, television drama and
documentaries, both in Malaysia and Los
Angeles. Hema holds an M.F.A in CinemaTelevision Production from the University of
Southern California, where she also received
the Leon & Toby Gold Fund Production
Award for her documentary film, Human
Scale (2006).
ZHI LI AND THE GIRLS
Grace Lee
I interned with Da Huang Pictures at
Kampung Tungku SS1 in Petaling Jaya
as a production assistant dealing with
paperwork, accounts, on-set shooting and
video-editing.
Next, I will be looking for work at production
houses. I will also be working on my own
event management company.
Negar Daghighi Masouleh
I interned with Musical On Stage
Productions company from March 2010 till
June 2010. I was a production assistant for
the musical ‘Kita’. It was fun and I learned
a lot about production management and
a stage manager’s work. I am glad to have
the opportunity to work with a very big
production in Istana Budaya.
I am applying to Deakin University
in Melbourne to study drama. In the
meantime, I will be looking for work to get
more experience in the industry.
Lynn Loo
I did my internship at Da Huang Pictures
as a production assistant. I helped out
whenever there was a shoot. I also did data
entry and assisted with the preparation of
materials needed for submitting short films
to film festivals.
After this, I will be going around looking
for jobs especially in places like Kino-i, Da
Huang Pictures, and so on.
Siti Nur Aishah (Shasha)
My internship was different from the
others’. I interned at Changi General
Hospital in Singapore under the Corporate
Communication Department. I was a
coordinator/facilitator. My work was to
coordinate corporate photo shoots and
video shoots. I never expected that the skills
that I have acquired throughout my years
here at Sunway would allow me to end
up in a different industry. This internship
has proved that not only can we make a
difference in the arts industry; the arts can
be used in any other industry. Performing
Arts does not bind you, it gives room to
grow and explore.
I plan to pursue a degree in producing at
the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
(RMIT). My interest lies in producing.
Diandra Arjunaidi
I interned under Monsoon Records, a new upand-coming boutique recording company
under the supervision of Hardesh Singh,
Mario Wehle and Petrina Roach Reddy. My
main tasks included handling marketing and
publicity online, scouting for talents, helping
to organise monthly shows, and recording
audio and video footages of the events.
Having just completed my diploma
programme, I will be spending the next
year focusing on my music career before
hopefully going to the UK to pursue a
degree in film. In the past six months,
Diploma in Performing Arts: Theatre+Film Curriculum
I interned at Changi General
Hospital… This internship
has proved that not only
can we make a difference
in the arts industry; the arts
can be used in any other
industry. Performing Arts
does not bind you, it gives
room to grow and explore.
Class of March 2008, from left to right: Grace Lee, Negar Daghighi Masouleh, Lynn Loo, Siti Nur Aishah (Shasha),
Diandra Arjunaidi, Sally Ann Chan, Melinda Wong, Lee Zhi-Li, Joanne Ooi & Nagisa Nair.
I have managed to make a name in the
local singer-songwriter scene. So, I plan to
pursue that even more now that I have the
time. I also hope to dabble in some film
acting. Hopefully post-degree, I will be an
established musician and filmmaker.
Sally Ann Chan
I got to meet a lot of people in the arts
through helping to organise events at
Instant Café’s House of Art and Ideas (CHAI),
and learned to make tea from Jo Kukathas
while interning as a production assistant
with theatre company Instant Café Theatre
Company in Petaling Jaya.
I wanted to apply for a BFA (in acting) after
college. However, it is very pricey. So, I got
a job with Singapore Airlines as a flight
attendant, to create funds for the future. I will
be leaving a week after finishing my studies.
Melinda Wong
I interned with music producer Hardesh
Singh and was mainly based in R Records.
But I helped out in Monsoon Records as
well. I helped with video and sound editing,
recording and music composing. I also got
to help to produce my first single.
Joanne Ooi
I interned with a company called Musical
On Stage Productions, and worked on the
production of the musical ‘Kita’ at Istana
Budaya in Kuala Lumpur. My role was
as assistant stage manager. I was also a
backstage crew.
I will be working part-time in R Records and
also pursuing music as a career.
I am happy to get into the film and theatre
industry. I am not planning to further my
studies at the moment. I am planning to
work for experience.
Lee Zhi-Li
I interned in the Instant Café Theatre
Company (ICT) for three months, under
the supervision of its associate director
Zalfian Fuzi.
I plan to have a personal syllabus that I tailormake for myself. I want to delve deeper into
expanding my skill set for knowledge. After
that, the pursuit of happiness.
Nagisa Nair
I did my internship at Kakiseni (which was
then winding down) as a general assistant.
I helped my bosses with that process
and learned a lot about permits and the
technical side of the business.
I hope to further my studies as a theatre
practitioner. My target at the moment is to
study drama at Deakin University, Melbourne.
WHY I CHOSE IT
Enrolling in this programme has helped
a lot in helping me decide what I really
like and what to do in the future. Being
exposed to theatre, film, musical theatre,
writing, media etc, has really widened my
options. Also, one of the biggest benefits
I have gotten from DPA (Diploma in
Performing Arts) would be self-confidence
and self-esteem. Prior to DPA, I couldn’t
talk to a crowd. And last but not least,
DPA has taught me most of everything I
know about the arts. Two-and-a-half years
here taught me life, fun and survival!
Diandra Arjunaidi, 2008 intake
I have had no regrets having chosen this
programme over a normal Pre-U course
even though my SPM results (10A’s) invited
scholarship offers. I chose this programme
because I believe in doing what I love.
The arts is a very broad field and all the
experiences and things I have learned at
the department and outside came to be
of use in surprising ways. And the skills
I have developed here, from writing to
management, can be applied to any other
fields. For example, I used my improvisation
and acting skills to get a job with SIA.
Sally Ann Chan, 2008 intake
Besides performing, with its wide
range of classes, it has also equipped
me with skills to be a writer,
producer and even filmmaker.
Amelia Chen, 2005 intake
I chose the DPA programme because it
covers both filmmaking and theatre. It
gives students a chance to truly explore
both fields. We are taught by professional
practitioners in the industry, which allows
us to not only learn theory but also from
our lecturers’ real-life experiences. The
toughest thing about the programme for
me is the long hours we are required to
spend on assignments and projects, but
doing this work forces us to be creative in
ways that are outside our comfort zone.
Inez Caryan Eng, 2011 Intake
If you are interested in acting, stagemanaging, directing, designing, theatre
and film, it’s a good place to enrol
yourself because the programme
introduces you to many different
various subjects. Then, your job
scope will be very wide.
Joyce Tay, 2007 intake
I have always wanted to be an actor,
but now, instead of acting only, I would
also like to be a professional stage
director and stage manager and work
in different kinds of productions in
different places with different people.
Olivia Kang, 2007 intake
I have been acting professionally since
2002 being involved in sitcoms, dramas,
tele-movies, commercials and films. I
loved what I was doing but then I started
to think that acting just wasn’t enough.
I wanted to learn more. What goes on
behind the camera, how to produce,
how is a screenplay written, what are the
acting methods? I wanted to know it all.
Sharifah Sofia, 2005 intake
This diploma has set me on a path where
I now know where I stand in the world
and where I go from here. It has also made
me more worldly and empathetic, with
a more knowledgeable, understanding
perspective of our universe. In other
words, I have become more human.
Lee Zhi-Li, 2008 intake
Diploma in Performing Arts: Theatre+Film Curriculum
It takes perseverance and a lot of hard work
to finish this programme as the lecturers,
who are also industry practitioners, are
passionate and take their job very seriously.
Truth be told, it is a painful process BUT
you’ll be glad with the end results.
Adrian Teh, 2006 intake
We so-called artists tend to want to
create things which are very personal
to ourselves rather than for the public.
Fortunately one of the things we
learn on the DPA programme is to
balance art with entrepreneurship.
We learn transferable skills which can
be applied in almost every field.
Robin Khor, 2011 Intake
I love movies and I hope to pursue my
career in this line, and in music as well. The
DPA curriculum is very interesting, and the
lecturers are down-to-earth people and
the learning environment is motivating.
Jeremy Gavin, 2012 Intake
I wanted to learn acting and film
theory, and the course has helped
me break my fear of performing in
front of people. My ambition is to be
a wildlife cinematographer. When I
finish my studies, I will continue to
work in the local film industry to gain
more experience in camerawork.
Vibeishwaran Parameswaran,
2010 Intake
It teaches me awareness towards the
world. I now know more and better
understand psychology, politics and
art. Also I have learned to love and
appreciate things that revolve in my
life. I want to be a producer after I finish
my studies and go into advertising.
God willing, I would like to continue my
further studies in business and film.
Ali Alasri, 2011 Intake
What I like best about the DPA programme
are the people. The lecturers are
professionals who truly have experience
in their respective fields; the students are
among the most open-minded people I’ve
ever met. The toughest thing for me are
the assignments. The heavy workload really
tests my patience, pushing me to my limits.
Those with no patience should reconsider
if they want to join the DPA programme.
Jackelyn Foo, 2012 Intake
I personally think that this programme
will help you build self-confidence,
independent and creative thinking,
presentation skills, discipline, time
management and all these will be
essential to any career you pursue.
Aaron Teoh, 2006 intake
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is this programme about?
What are the entry criteria?
What about jobs?
It’s a unique diploma programme that
covers two fields: theatre and audiovisual production. It gives professional
training as well as an academic
education in performance and all aspects
of theatre and film production.
Because the level of difficulty of the
programme is high, we encourage those
with good results in SPM or O-Levels
to apply although the minimum
qualification is a pass in SPM or O-Levels
with three credits. Potential candidates
should have a distinction in English or
at least a strong credit. It doesn’t matter
if their subjects were from the Arts or
Science stream.
The Diploma in Performing Arts makes a
great starting point to where one wants
to go in the future.
What kind of classes do students
attend?
Students take practical classes in acting,
directing, scripting, shooting, sound
recording, editing, production planning
and management. They also take history
and theory classes in theatre, cinema
and media studies, which involve critical
thinking and writing. In a nutshell, they
learn all the fundamental skills and
knowledge related to performance,
theatre and audio-visual production,
and also industry-related skills through
internship and career management
classes.
As they learn, students are required
to apply their skills and knowledge by
participating in projects which include
the production of short videos and
performances. This means they have to
work outside of class for project planning,
rehearsals, shooting, editing, etc.
How are students assessed?
Two types of assessment are practised:
on-going coursework and final essays
or projects. On-going coursework
assessments include tests, quizzes,
in-class assignments, presentations,
participation or contributions to
discussions, journals and written reports.
Project-based assessments include video
projects and performances.
Is it an easy programme?
It’s hard work plus fun. The programme
can be quite a shock to those who
think that the creative arts is easy, just
get up and act or just shoot with the
camera. But actually one needs to be
mentally and physically prepared for the
challenge. Rehearsals, shoots and editing
can be exhausting, taking long hours.
Students who do well are self-motivating,
focused and have self-discipline.
What about internship? And
further studies?
Please turn to ‘Solid Foundation for
Work and Further Studies’ pages for the
information.
Besides SPM and O-Levels, what
about other qualifications?
We also accept students with
qualifications such as UEC, CIMP, STPM
and diploma and degree. Mature
students are accepted, so long as they
meet the entry criteria.
Must potential students have
experience in the performing
arts?
Experience is good but what is most
important is their interest, and their
desire to learn new things. Very often
a student comes in with an expressed
interest in only one area of performance,
such as acting. But because the
programme requires them to take classes
in all aspects of performance and audiovisual production, they may discover,
for example, a new talent and interest
in directing for the camera or theatrestage management along the way. They
find their options for work and further
education gradually expanding.
For this reason, we have students who
have prior training or interest in other
related fields such as music, dance and
writing also joining this programme
precisely because it helps to open up
the horizon for their future. Their existing
skills stand them in good stead on the
programme, because they can make use
of them in their projects.
What about scholarships?
They are available. Please visit the
University’s website www.sunway.edu.my
for updated information.
What about study loans?
Fees can be paid using PTPTN loans and
EPF funds.
Students who want to pursue an
academic career can progress from
the Diploma to a Bachelor’s Degree,
then Masters, and finally to a PhD or its
equivalent MFA (Masters of Fine Art, the
highest level in post-graduate studies
for arts practitioners). The post-graduate
qualifications would enable them to
teach at tertiary institutions of learning.
Those who want to work can also do
so. Usually when students finish their
studies, they are about 19 or 20 years
old. They are young but they can start
work in supporting positions such as
production assistants, production crew,
director’s assistants, junior administrators,
assistant editors, drama teachers and so
on. Where one goes from here is really up
to individual effort and talent.
The performance and creative industries
are open fields with a lot of possibilities, a
lot of scope to do good and worthwhile
things. They may not be the most
lucrative in terms of income, but they
yield a kind of satisfaction and an
understanding about life that can’t be
found in other professions.
Can I work and study part-time?
No, this is a full-time course. Besides
attending classes, students are required
to spend time outside of class, including
evenings and weekends when necessary,
on rehearsals, editing, research, group
projects and discussions.
I have good results for my SPM.
My family and friends think it
would be a waste if I joined this
programme.
The more A’s the better – your scholastic
skills will be put to good use on our
programme. One of our star students
is Joanna Soh, who scored 10 A’s in her
SPM. She graduated with a Diploma in
Performing Arts with distinction. She
then joined a degree programme in the
UK using the one-year transfer pathway
to enter the University of Glamorgan and
graduated with a BA in Performance &
Media with first-class honours.
Diploma in Performing Arts: Theatre+Film Curriculum
As a matter of fact, many of our students have come in with excellent results and were given entrance scholarships by the Jeffrey Cheah
Foundation (see list below, 2012 - 2007 scholarship recipients).
STUDENT
SCHOOL
A’s
ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIP
Beh Jing Qiang
SMJK Jit Sin Pulau Pinang
8
RM 8,000
Liew Wai Yip
Sekolah Seri Suria, Hulu Langat, Kuala Lumpur
4
RM 4,000
Abiramavalli Karunakaran
SMK Seri Garing, Rawang
5
RM 5,000
Kam Hoe Kei
SMK Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur
6
RM 6,000
Sean Lee Jia Ern
Sapura Smart School, Subang Jaya, Selangor
6
RM 6,000
Aubrey Cassandra Tasha Carlos
SM Sri Acmar, Klang, Selangor
3
RM 3,000
Chew Tze Yi
SMK Kepong, Kuala Lumpur
10
RM 16,100
(equivalent to Year 1 tuition fees)
Khor Yong Kuan
SMJK Kwang Hua, Klang, Selangor
9
RM 16,100
(equivalent to Year 1 tuition fees)
Lakshana A/P Subramaniam
SMK Desa Perdana, Kuala Lumpur
3
RM 3,000
Liew Zi Xiong
SMK Seksyen 4, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong
4
RM 4,000
Woon Siew Yin
SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1, Selangor
5
RM 5,000
Ameer Nazrin Moore
SM Dato’ Abdul Razak, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
4
RM 2,000
Chong Chan Win
SM Chong Hwa Persendirian, Kuala Lumpur
9
RM 8,000
Chang Wing Thai
SM Chong Hwa Persendirian, Kuala Lumpur
6
RM 4,000
Keilly Lim May Harn
SMK Assunta, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
6
RM 4,000
Irena Georgia De Filippou
Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar, Negeri Sembilan
5
RM 3,000
Thong Kar Mun
SMK Seri Bintang Selatan, Kuala Lumpur
6
RM 4,000
Jewel Yip
SMJK Katholik, Petaling Jaya
6
RM 4,000
Sally Ann Chan
SMK Taman Connaught, Kuala Lumpur
10
RM 3,000
Joanna Soh
SMK Sultan Sulaiman, Kuala Terengganu
10
RM 8,000
GOING PLACES
A sampling of what students do after completing their
Diploma in Performing Arts (DPA) programme.
“I am currently producing a weekly talk
show which airs on UK national TV on SKY 201
and Freesat 403 every Friday. It’s called The
Moore Show. You can check it out at www.
themooreshow.co.uk. It looks like I’ll be staying
here now and my plan is to turn this show into a
business by working closely with the University
to get their students on board.”
Joanna Soh
Graduated with first-class honours from
Glamorgan University in Wales, UK, 2011,
with a BA in Performance & Media, via the
one-year degree transfer pathway.
“I am a full-time talent, doing everything from
acting, modelling, emcee-ing, voice-overs,
costume designing, publicity... basically anything
and everything one can and would do to help
myself and my friends put a production together,
be it in theatre, television or independent film.
After graduating with my DPA, I dived straight into
acting gigs in theatre, television and independent
film. My first role was in James Lee’s independent
feature, Waiting for Love, an opportunity
afforded to me by my meeting him through
Sunway’s DPA programme. I’ve also co-founded
a theatre improvisation troupe, AI:IA, Artificially
Intelligent: Improvholics Anonymous, with fellow
theatre practitioner, Abdul Qahar Aqillah. “
Amelia Chen
A freelance production and stage manager who
has worked in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore with
a variety of companies including the Five Arts
Centre, Musical On Stage, Dama Orchestra, Cake
Theatrical Productions, Enfiniti Vision Media,
Pentas Project, the Singapore Fringe Festival and
Rhythm in Bronze. He hopes to travel to other
countries and be a part of many more worldclass productions.
Adrian Teh
“I have been working as a video editor for
Mediacorp in Singapore on shows such as
Channel News Asia, News5 and Current Affair.
After finishing my DPA at Sunway University, I
went on to do my studies in Film and Digital
Media at Deakin University in Melbourne for a
year. I started working at Mediacorp right after
graduating from Deakin. In the next 3-5 years,
I plan to do my masters (hopefully at New York
University) in film & business, or, if that doesn’t
come through, to run my own production house
in Melbourne & Singapore.”
Howard Law
“I will be graduating with a Bachelor of Fine
Arts, majoring in New Media, with distinction, in
October 2011. I have learned a lot from the New
Media programme. In July 2011, I successfully
completed an internship with Honey Pixel,
a graphic design company based in Calgary,
Canada, where I have had a major hand in some
of the work for their big clients. An example
would be the menus I created for the Hyatt Hotel.
Here at Lethbridge, I have been granted the
opportunity to learn motion capture technology.
Using this technology, and the performing arts
and directorial skills I learned from my Diploma
in Performing Arts at Sunway, I made a motion
capture animation that I then submitted to the
5th Alberta Film Festival. It was shown at the
festival but sadly did not win any awards.
In the next 3-5 years I hope to start my
own game studio. I am fascinated with the
combination of narrative, animation and
interactivity. To that end, I have created several
minor games to better understand game
engines and the flow of a game.
I have also been involved in quest design. Quest
design is the making of usable game design
plots and scenarios to be used as plot advances
in games. I have managed to sell a couple of
these adventures to the avid Dungeons and
Dragons role-playing gaming community here
in Canada.”
Valerie Chai
Transferred to Lethbridge University in Canada after
completing her DPA, with one-year credit waivers for
her four-year BFA in New Media programme.
Production Manager at the Five Arts Centre and
video editor of online satire show That Effing
Show produced by the acclaimed web-media
company PopTeeVee.
Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri
Already working as an actress in the film and
television industry before she joined the DPA,
Sofia graduated in 2007 and immediately
resumed her acting career. Since becoming a
mother in 2011, Sofia has taken a break from
acting and is working from home, writing scripts
and proposals.
Sharifah Sofia
He went into commercial music production
after completing his DPA in 2009, and has since
launched several albums. In 2011, Ballu enrolled
for a business degree programme at a local
university, and is studying full-time while running
his music business.
Balram Tikaram Kami, a.k.a. Ballu
“After my studies, I started working as a freelance
production assistant. Since November 2010,
I have been working as a full-time assistant
producer with Dreamteam Studio Sdn Bhd. My
aim is to be a producer in the future.”
Jojo Lyons
A bank officer based in Jalan Ampang, Kuala
Lumpur. She made a career switch in 2010
following full-time employment as production
assistant in a film production company. Soni
cited people skills, something she learned and
honed on the DPA programme, as the main
factor in getting her a job in the banking sector.
Sarvinder Kaur, a.k.a. Soni Deol
Honours student at Tasmania University in
Australia. Made use of the Sunway-Tasmania
University transfer pathway to enter third year of
the Bachelor of Contemporary Arts programme.
Interested in directing and the use of accents for
the stage, Reuben plans to pursue both areas up
to the masters’ level over the next five years.
Reuben Cheow
DPA students who have made use of the
Sunway-Deakin University transfer pathway
to enter the third year of the Bachelor of Film
and Digital Media and Bachelor of Creative Arts
(Drama) programmes.
Roger Liew, June Wong, Khoo Ee Ping,
Syamsul Azhar Mohamad Azmi, Gabriella
Robinson and Khazmen Shamia
Joyce joined the Victorian College of the Arts
(VCA) in Melbourne, enrolling in the same
three-year degree programme as her DPA senior
Sunitha Nayar, to study stage management.
Joyce Tay and Sunitha Nayar
Diploma in Performing Arts: Theatre+Film Curriculum
Ini Tak Boleh Ini and Bird Flu, two collaborative theatre
projects by March 2008 intake students; October 2010.
Da Bao: Takeaway, a collaborative video project by
March2008 intake students; October 2010.
Crumbling Cookie and The Props of Life, two
collaborative video projects by March 2007 intake
students; July 2009.
Jiwa Hari-hari, a collaborative video project by August
2006 intake students; December 2008.
All in the Timing, a collaborative theatre project by March
2006 intake students; July 2008.
Propping Up Daisies, a collaborative theatre project by
September 2005 intake students; December 2007.
On Peak Hill, a collaborative video project by September
2005 intake students; December 2007.
Trojan Women, a collaborative theatre project by January
2005 intake students; April 2007.
Snapshots from Jiwa Hari-hari, (Final-Year Screen Project)
7, comprising four collaborative theatre projects and four
collaborative video projects on the theme of the seven
deadly sins, by March 2009 intake students; October 2011.
Post-Production 1)
The End?, comprising a multimedia theatre project and
three short films on the theme of the end of the world, by
March 2010 intake students; May 2012.
Snapshots from Insomnia, Electric President, (Audio-Video
Before graduating, DPA students are required to
work in teams to produce short theatre and video
projects. These are the last and possibly toughest
challenges the young people will face on the
programme, by working with limited resources,
tight deadlines and minimal supervision from
lecturers to come up with original works for
showing to a public audience.
Snapshots of Broken (Noir), (Acting and Directing for the Camera)
Public showcase of senior students’
works, 2012 - 2007
PROJECT: DeClassified
Devised multimedia performance by March 2009 intake
sunway.edu.my/university
SUNWAY UNIVERSITY (KPT/JPT/DFT/US/B15)
Owned and governed by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (800946-T)
No. 5, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway,
47500 Selangor, Malaysia.
+6 (03) 7491 8622
+6 (03) 5635 8630
info@sunway.edu.my
This brochure is valid for our 2014 intakes.
All information is correct at the time of printing (Mar 2014).