ATLANTA – March 31, 2022 – Georgia Film Academy (GFA) today announced it is expanding to partner with Clark Atlanta University to offer Introduction to Film and Television Production to university students. The course will be offered during the 2022 fall semester and will be held at GFA’s facility at Trilith Studios. It is the first class of the Academy’s 18-credit hour certification program for film and television production. Through topical lectures, hands-on learning and equipment demonstrations, students will understand film production organizational structure and job responsibilities as well as protocols within various film crafts. Clark Atlanta is the first private institution to join the 29 others from the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia that comprise the Georgia Film Academy’s partners. “The film industry has become Georgia’s business,” said Jeffrey Stepakoff, executive director at GFA. “Bringing our classes to Clark Atlanta allows us to continue building homegrown leaders within this flourishing, high-demand industry and raise Georgia’s profile as a leader in the film industry.” Established in 1988, Clark Atlanta University is the first historically black college and university in the southern United States. This liberal arts institution is a private, United Methodist university that brings accessible, relevant and transformative education to the heart of Atlanta and offers undergraduate, graduate, professional and non-degree certificate programs. “Clark Atlanta University is proud to become the 29th member and first private university within the state of Georgia to partner with the Georgia Film Academy,” said President George T. French Jr. Ph.D. “Opportunities like this ensure our scholars, particularly our Mass Media Art students, at CAU gain both theoretical and practical hands-on experience needed to land jobs and excel in Georgia’s $4 billion film and media industry.” Since its founding in 2015, the Georgia Film Academy has fulfilled the educational and workforce needs for careers within Georgia’s growing film and creative industries bringing professional training to 29 institutions across the state. In partnering with the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia, GFA provides high schools, technical colleges and universities with film production, post-production and digital entertainment certification programs, allowing students the opportunity to gain real-life experience through internships working on the sets and in the offices of film and television productions and industry post-production facilities. Over the last few years, Georgia has gained significant momentum as a leader in the film industry projecting to create nearly 40,000 jobs in an 18-month period with the average salary of $84,000 for Georgia film workers. With more than 100 sound stages and the largest incentive program in the industry, Georgia has seen a 4,500% increase in economic development since 2007 and is experiencing its sixth straight year of growth. About the Georgia Film Academy The Georgia Film Academy is a collaboration of the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia created by state leadership to meet education and workforce needs for high demand careers in Georgia’s film and creative industries. GFA classes are offered for college credit through more than 25 University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia partner institutions. Classes may also be taken through continuing education programs at several partner institutions. The GFA higher education program offers rigorous professional training, and may lead to union-covered film and television production craft internships and placement in creative industry apprenticeships and jobs. The GFA provides professional training in the form of Post-Production education and AVID editing certification. The GFA also offers high school teacher training in production, content creation, and post-production, in partnership with the GaDOE. These provide professional film and television experiences and training, as well as curriculum and resources for teachers across the state. For more information, visit
About Clark Atlanta University
Established in 1988 by the historic consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869). Clark Atlanta University continues a 150-year legacy rooted in African-American tradition and focused on the future. Through global innovation, transformative educational experiences, and high-value engagement. CAU cultivates lifted lives that transform the world. Notable alumni include: James Weldon Johnson; American civil rights activist, poet, and songwriter (Lift Every Voice and Sing "The Black National Anthem"; Ralph David Abernathy Sr., American civil rights activist; Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia District 4; Kenya Barris, American award-winning television and movie producer; Kenny Leon, Tony Award-winning Broadway Director; Jacque Reid, Emmy Award-winning Television Personality and Journalist; Brandon Thompson, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for NASCAR; Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Recording Academy. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit https://www.cau.edu/.
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