Rate My Professor Bernard Madill

Bernard Madill is a Senior Professional Practice Fellow in the Media, Film and Communication programme, School of Social Sciences, Humanities Division, at the University of Otago. He coordinates the MFCO251 Television Studio Production paper, which provides an introduction to the practical elements of studio-based television production. In this course, students apply film theory to develop practical filmmaking skills, communicate ideas through production, and enhance critical and creative thinking. The curriculum covers sound design, visual composition, lighting, single and multi-camera cinematography, script development, editing, and location filming. Assessments include group-based creative projects—a non-fiction short film and a fiction short film—along with analytical written and video assignments, enabling students to gain familiarity with professional studio elements and production workflows.

Madill completed a Master of Arts at the University of Otago in 2013, submitting the thesis 'Soundscaping New Zealand: An Aural Perspective of a Cinematic Geography' under the supervision of Davinia Thornley. He contributed to the open-access textbook 'Media Studies 101: A Creative Commons Textbook' in 2014, led by Erika Pearson, serving as project manager during the collaborative texthack process involving contributors from the University of Otago, Massey University, University of Canterbury, and others. In 2019, he acted as Assistant Research Fellow on a University Teaching Development grant pilot project with Associate Professor Catherine Fowler in the Department of Media, Film and Communication. His roles underscore a commitment to practical media education and innovative teaching resources at the institution.