ABOUT THE GFA MINOR
Additional Information for the Georgia Film Academy Minor
WORK IN GEORGIA’S FILM/TV INDUSTRY
The Georgia Film Academy (GFA) was created by legislation supported by Gov. Nathan Deal to make film and TV industry training available to every Georgia citizen. Georgia State is a core university partner of GFA training programs and students have access to GFA training programs at Trilith (formerly Pinewood Atlanta Studios), south of Atlanta in Peachtree City, and at a newly opened Northern Hub, located at the site of OFS (intersection of I85 north and Jimmy Carter Boulevard).
With average salaries at $84,000 per year and many in the industry making more than $150,000, certified on-set production employees are in high demand. The GFA curriculum starts with a two-course sequence, both of which generate six credit hours accepted by Georgia State degree programs in the School of Film, Media, and Theatre and CMII. The first course provides professional training for participants seeking jobs as production assistants. The second invites the most accomplished graduates of the first course into on-set internships. Other courses, including classes in lighting, set design and other craft specializations, provide students with a basic level of on-set film production skills, knowledge of the film industry’s standard organizational structure, professional equipment and on-set procedures.
Upon completion of 18 GFA credit hours, a student will have earned a GFA certificate, which assists in earning union certification to work in the film and television production industry.
In 2019, GFA partnered with AVID to offer a series of courses that result in AVID technology certification, and those courses are also available to full time GSU students.
Students can register for the first two classes, offered every fall, spring and seven-week summer session, through GoSolar. Because these classes do not require any prerequisites and are open to any GSU student, there is a strong competition for a seat, and so interested students should seek to register as early as possible:
GFA 1000 – Introduction to On-Set Film Production (6 hours)
This course provides an introduction to the skills used in on-set film production, including all forms of narrative media that use film-industry-standard organizational structure, professional equipment and on-set procedures.
GFA 2000 – Georgia Film Academy Internship (6 hours)
This course is provides students with a practical experience as a two–day internship course. The course is a competitive program, based on performance in the introductory course and availability of opportunities.
Other elective courses are also available to GSU students through the Georgia Film Academy GoSolar (GFA) prefix, but all require GFA 1000 as a prerequisite.
The GFA On-Set Film Production Certificate was designed by Hollywood “insiders” and can prepare you to enter the workforce after this two-semester sequence. Upon completion of this coursework, you will receive a Certificate in Film Production and Georgia Film Academy Certification and will be placed in the GFA workforce database.
For more information about the Georgia Film Academy and its certification, visit the website: http://georgiafilmacademy.org/.
Contact Us
School of Film, Media & Theatre
25 Park Place, Suite 1016
Atlanta, GA 30303
Hours
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Contact Staff
Ly Bolia, Graduate Director and Associate Professor
[email protected]
404-413-5614
Jess Barish, Administrative Coordinator
[email protected]
Mailing Address
Mailing Address for Standard USPS Delivery:
School of Film, Media & Theatre
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 5060
Atlanta, GA 30302-5060
Mailing Address for Federal Express, UPS and Other Ground Courier Delivery:
School of Film, Media & Theatre
1000 25 Park Place NE
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA 30303