Griffin’s Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) is about to get in on the action created by the arrival of Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Fayetteville. SCTC has been approved to create the Georgia Film Institute (GFI), which will provide technical certificates for use in the growing film industry.
SCTC Director of Marketing and Public Relations Anna Taylor on June 4 said the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia approved the first five film and television technical certificates of credit created by Griffin-based SCTC.
“It is the system and state’s first for-credit curriculum aimed at training workers for Georgia’s growing film industry,” Taylor said. “The film and television production certificates include accounting assistant, administrative support assistant, hair and make-up technician, on-set production assistant and production scenic technician.”
Taylor said other certifications are currently being developed for job categories such as grips, gaffers, electricians, on-set medics and food craft workers.
“SCTC will open GFI this fall offering the initial five certificates with additional certificates available in upcoming semesters,” said Taylor. “Scott Votaw, a former Hollywood producer and Griffin native, has been named the executive director of GFI.”
The college held its first recruiting event for the institute in April with over 80 prospective students attending, Taylor noted.
“Every student who receives a certificate will take two basic courses in film, as well as other courses in specific fields of study,” Taylor said. “The basic courses teach skills of film and television production such as terminology and protocols of the industry.”
Taylor said SCTC also plans to begin offering an associate of applied science degree in film and television production by fall 2015.
Commenting on the new ventures, SCTC President Randall Peters said, “We are thrilled to roll out the first certificates for the Georgia Film Institute and to see this project become a reality. With the recent boom in film and television production in Georgia, we are excited to provide highly-skilled and properly-trained workers for this growing industry. With the addition of several production studios to the state, including Fayetteville’s Pinewood Studios in our own back door, we expect the Georgia Film Institute to be an integral component for successful workforce development.”
