Columbia State’s Film Crew Technology Program In Franklin Helps Students Get Work With Local and National Film Companies
Have you ever thought about working in the exciting world of Hollywood film production making big budget movies with well-known stars or perhaps working on smaller independent films? Well, Columbia State could help give you that chance because of a program that provides exciting opportunities for training.
“Columbia State has an exciting program in Film Crew Technology,” said Stu Lenig, Interim Humanities Division Chair at Columbia State. “The program takes one year, and classes start on June 28 at the Williamson County Campus. Students can take three classes worth five hours credit and be done with the initial semester of the program by August, 2010. This leaves only three semesters of course work until students receive a certificate. The three starting classes are Introduction to Entertainment Technology, Stage and Set Etiquette, and Stage and Set Safety. By Summer 2011, students can be graduated and working in the film field somewhere across the nation.”
During the program, students will work with local and national film companies making films. Upon completion of the one-year certificate program, students can apply for jobs in the industry with the confidence that they have been professionally trained and actually worked on the film crews of several independent projects.
“Students enthusiastically engage in the program, and much of their work is hands-on training using sophisticated and modern equipment not only from Columbia State but also in state of the art film studios and in live shoots around the area,” said Read Ridley, program director for Film Crew Technology at Columbia State’s Williamson County Campus. “This year, students in the program have produced documentaries while volunteering at the Nashville Film Festival, shot footage for Columbia State promo videos, and worked with various businesses crafting exciting productions that feature performers from across the country. Students make valuable contacts in the industry, learn crafts, skills, and camerawork that can net them valuable jobs in the industry, and have fun building friendships with other workers who can help students find jobs in the profession. “
“Students in the program rave about it,” graduating student, Daniel Johnson said. “The program is great and Mr. Ridley is the best!”
Entering student, Jeffrey Dickenson added, “I’ve already learned a lot from my class in set design.”
To get started, contact Stuart Lenig at 931-540-2877 or slenig@columbiastate.edu, or Read Ridley at 615-790-4410 or rridley1@columbiastate.edu. Or drop by one of the Columbia State Community College Campuses in Columbia or Franklin for more details.
For more information on the program, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/filmcrew.