Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal earlier this year stated his intention to establish the Georgia Film Academy to meet the needs of the state’s growing film industry. The film academy is now a reality, one that will be located at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Fayetteville.
The new film academy will open its doors in January and, according to Executive Director Jeff Stepakoff, the intent is to offer for-credit courses in conjunction with the University System of Georgia (USG) and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) along with continuing education course work.
“There is tremendous support and interest in the film academy,” said Stepakoff, a professor of film and television writing at Kennesaw State University, who has been involved in producing, writing and content creation for both television and motion pictures.
Stepakoff said industry partners, such as Pinewood Atlanta, are integral to the film academy’s goals and intent.
“We’re very excited about the potential,” Stepakoff said. “We’re excited about putting Georgians to work on soundstages and on the set.”
As for the film academy, Stepakoff said a letter on intent for the Georgia Film Academy shows approximately 10,000 sq. ft. in the Pinewood Production Centre, directly across Sandy Creek Road from the 288-acre Pinewood Atlanta studio lot.
Stepakoff said the potential exists for the construction of a 15,000 sq. ft. soundstage building. The location of the soundstage, whether on the production centre property or across the street on the studio lot, is not currently known.
“We are in talks for that kind of facility. We do not have a start date. My understanding is that construction would take four to six months,” said Stepakoff. “We think of a facility like that as (similar to) a teaching hospital where people are trained to work in a real-world environment, and a quick-start model where people are trained to work with strategic partners.”
With the opening of the film academy in Fayetteville, Pinewood Atlanta Studios will become the first industry partner in a joint venture between the Board of Regents, USG, TCSG and industry partners, Stepakoff said.
“The intent is to have pilot classes with our academic partners (USG and TCSG) in January for the spring semester,” Stepakoff noted. “The intent is to offer courses for credit and those for continuing education.”
Georgia Board of Regents Marketing and Communications Coordinator Sonja Roberts noted that the film academy is still a work in progress. The academy is looking to achieve a number of goals in spring 2016, she said.
“This is a collaborative effort,” Stepakoff said of the arrangment, one that opens the Ga. Film Academy to all Georgians.
USG and TCSG are also working with other industry partners in other areas of the state.
