A first in Georgia: Academic credit for dramatic writing course for film, digital art content creation
The Fayette County School System has partnered with the Georgia Department of Education (DOE), Georgia Film Academy, Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia (USG) to create a new English Language Arts course in dramatic writing for Georgia high school students that focuses on digital art content creation.
“This is the first arts-integrated course that also counts as a fourth English Language Arts unit for high school graduation, and counts as an English unit for USG admission purposes,” said DOE representative Meghan Frick, noting that the Georgia Board of Education approved the course on May 3.
“We are extremely excited to partner with the Georgia Film Academy (GFA) to help create and be the first school district in Georgia to offer this exciting new course,” said Fayette County Superintendent Jody Barrow (photo above). “In partnering with GFA, the State Board of Education, the Georgia Department of Education, the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia and film industry leaders we have developed the first ‘above the line’ course for Georgia’s new film and fine arts industry. We think in order to make the industry sustainable for Georgia, and also to help our young people prepare for workforce development and college, opportunities of this nature are essential. We see this as the first course in perhaps a three or four course pathway sequence that will help to lead to an industry certified credential and/or college and career readiness for the film and fine arts industry.”
State School Superintendent Richard Woods also commented on the new course.
“This brand-new course in dramatic writing, developed in partnership with the film and television industry, is a great example of the direction we’re moving here in Georgia,” said Woods. “We’re working in collaboration with higher education, business leaders, and communities to prepare students for future employment and respond directly to industry needs.”
In 2017, the film and television industry was responsible for $9.5 billion in economic impact to the state. High school students with aspirations of becoming tomorrow’s Emmy and Oscar winning writers, can now begin their preparation when this program rolls out statewide as early as this August for the upcoming academic 2018/19 school year, Frick said.
“Georgia is moving like no other state to support the creative industries,” said Jeff Stepakoff, Executive Director for the Georgia Film Academy located in Fayetteville. “No other state has invested in creating the infrastructure for content producers.”
This dramatic writing course joins a growing catalog of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) pathways that respond directly to business and industry needs for the future, said Frick.
