University program geared to film trade

From closed streets and celebrity sightings to the construction of Pinewood Studios in Fayette County, the Atlanta area abounds with signs of movie production. Georgia’s popularity as the third busiest state for film production has built a $5 billion industry with a strong demand for trained crews. Enter stage south: Clayton State University, armed with a program designed to meet that demand through the Film and Digital Media center.

Clayton State coaxed Barton Bond out of retirement to do for the Morrow school what he did in New Mexico, where the television show “Breaking Bad” was based.

“In 2005, New Mexico had pictures coming in fast and furious - just like Georgia is now,” said Bond. “We developed a program from scratch that put hundreds of people in the [film] union. In the last season of ‘Breaking Bad,’ 40 percent of the credits below the line were our students.”

“Below the line” refers to all the jobs listed below the actors’ credits — jobs filled by crews who manage the details of a set, such as lighting, sound and camera operations. Last year, Clayton began offering a non-cred- it certification program to train workers for those positions, and so far, about 150 students have earned it. Bond estimates that 25 percent of them are working in the film industry, which is supported by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (more commonly called IATSE). Georgia’s IATSE Local 479 is a partner in the Clayton program.

Students sign up for two 12-week sessions, held during the day and evening, at a 10,000-square-foot facility in Jonesboro. A former aircraft hangar, it’s been converted into a sound stage for classes as well as working productions. Each session is capped at 30 students, so everyone gets handson experience with the equipment. The mix of students ranges from teens still in high school to retired adults following a passion to work in film.

“The great thing about this program is that there are no hurdles to entry; you don’t need a high school diploma or prerequisite courses,” said Bond. “Some of our students are not even that crazy about film, but they do want to get good-paying jobs.”

McDonough’s Lanier Ward, 44, is a dad with a sales job, but he’s always been crazy about movies. Even though he holds a degree in radio and TV production from Valdosta State, he signed up for the Clayton class to enhance his skills on the set. He finished in December and has been working part-time on a variety of projects that he hopes will lead to steady set work.

“The program is a great way to network while learning the different crafts,” he said. “The film companies are coming here to spend money, and I want to be one of the people they use. Having taken this course lets Hollywood know I’m ready to work right now.”

The course also covers how to network within the industry - one that doesn’t offer on-thejob training or shadowing opporunities, said Bond. One way students can do that is by working on various independent projects Bond lines up.

“Since July, we’ve lined up 22 projects that use our students in the entire process, and that helps them acquire a level of competency,” he said. “We also teach them to self-market. In this business, you have to be constantly looking ahead to the next project, finding out who’s doing the hiring, getting your references lined up, sending off resumes. That can scare people off, but we’re able to give them the skills to do that, too.”