24/06/2026
Ever wondered if a PhD is for you? ๐ค
For film and screen enthusiast Rebekah Brammer, a PhD has enabled her to follow her passion, change career direction, and find like-minded friends and colleagues.
Having dabbled in an interest in film and TV for decades, jumping into academic conferences as an โindependent researcherโ helped her make the switch from a teaching career.
โI was terrified when I attended the first conference. I was scared of snobbiness and people going, โoh, she has no PhDโ, but actually it was the opposite. People were very, very kind and lovely, and it led to some great things. I met a professor of cinema studies in the US who has become a wonderful mentor.โ
After her second conference, organised by UNEโs Pop Culture Network (PopCRN), conference organisers Associate Professor Jo Coghlan and Dr Lisa Hackett from UNE Sociology invited her to undertake a PhD.
โIt was something I hadnโt really considered at this stage of life, but it has really continued to open more doors. And the first two years have flown by!โ
Now, sheโs preparing to โintroduce Tasmanian Gothic Noir to the worldโ at an international conference in the UK, and visit the British Film Institute archive BFI โ โI was really surprised to find there are documents there related to Tasmanian films that Iโm going to see and handle!โ
For her PhD , sheโs putting together a history and description of a century of Tasmaniaโs film and TV outputs, with a special interest in the โTasmanian Gothic Noirโ genre.
A PhD can be just the perfect fit!
Read Rebekah's story at the link in comments.
Image: locations Rebekah has visited used in Tasmanian TV dramas The Kettering Incident, The Gloaming and Deadloch.