GFA Certification | Georgia Film Academy

Introduction to On-Set Film Production is the first of an 18-credit hour certification program which will provide an introduction to the skills used in on-set film production, including all forms of narrative media which utilize film-industry standard organizational structure, professional equipment and on-set procedures. In addition to the use of topical lectures, PowerPoint presentations, videos and hand-outs, the course will include demonstrations of equipment and set operations as well as hands-on learning experiences. Students will learn: film production organizational structure, job descriptions and duties in various film craft areas, names, uses and protocols related to various pieces of professional on-set film equipment. Students will also learn how the various film crafts relate to one another on a working set, as well as how and why they all must operate in sync. In addition, students will learn skills related to networking and self-marketing. This course is the pre-requisite for ALL GFA courses.

GFA 2000: Film & Television Production Internship (6 Credits)

Upon successful completion of GFA 1000: Introduction to On-Set Film Production and one GFA specialty craft course, the GFA Film & Television Production Internship course is a 6-credit hour option as part of the 18 credit hours needed for the Georgia Film Academy Certification Program. The course is designed to provide students with a basic level of on-set film production skills, knowledge, and experience with film-industry standards, organizational structure, professional equipment, and on-set procedures by giving students hands-on experience on the sets and offices of working film productions and businesses. Students will also have an opportunity to network and build resumes in order to help market themselves with the intention of integrating into the film industry as entry-level workers. This course is by application only and is not guaranteed to anyone.

GFA 2010: Set Construction & Scenic Painting (6 Credits)

Set Construction & Scenic Painting is designed to equip students with entry-level skills and knowledge of set construction for the film and television industry. Students will participate in goal-oriented class projects including mood-boards, drafting, reading blueprints, architectural models, set safety, use of power tools, carpentry, and scenic paint. Students will ultimately work on a final team project that will give them hands-on experience from concept to completion, solving real world problems. Emphasis will be placed on set etiquette, including but not limited to, attitude, professionalism, and technique on and off set.

GFA 2020: Lighting & Electric (6 Credits)

Lighting & Electric is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge of electrical distribution and set lighting on a motion picture or episodic television set in order to facilitate their entry and advancement in the film business. Students will participate in goal-oriented class projects including power distribution, set protocol and etiquette, properly setting lamps, how to light a set to feature film standards, motion picture photography, etc. Upon completion of this course, the student will have a very solid and broad base of knowledge that includes, but is not limited to, the equipment, techniques, communications, specifications, department lingo, etc. used in the set lighting department. The student will also have an understanding of the behavior of light and how to manipulate and control it to feature film standards.

GFA 2030: Grip & Rigging (6 Credits)

Grip & Rigging is an introduction and orientation to the practice of rigging and supporting grip equipment, cameras, vehicles, and other physical/mechanical devices. This class is designed to move cameras from beyond sticks and lights from beyond stands. In addition to gaining a thorough knowledge of the equipment used in grip and rigging, students will engage in on-set exercises in inventory, maintenance, set-up, trouble-shooting, teamwork, set protocol, and safety. The purpose of this course is to prepare students to work on a motion picture production set. As such, student responsibilities are matched to the responsibilities of a team member on a production set as closely as possible.

GFA 2040: Fundamentals of Editing with Avid Media Composer 100 (6 Credits)

Fundamentals of Editing with Avid Media Composer 100 introduces students to post-production utilizing Avid’s video editing software. This course will implement Avid’s MC101 and MC110 curriculum and students who successfully pass Avid’s two certification exams will earn the credential of “Avid Certified User” in Media Composer, recognized worldwide as an industry standard for assistant editors in feature film and broadcast television. The Avid curriculum will be supplemented with elemental post-production information including a historical overview of the editing process and tools; current processes, procedures, and terminology; project organization, digital file codecs, audio sample rate, introduction to concepts and tools of color grading, and introductory troubleshooting. Emphasis will also be placed on understanding industry working conditions, employer expectations, as well as the student’s expectations, attitude, and professionalism.

The tools, techniques, and concepts of the editor’s craft are presented through lecture, demonstration, and hands-on exercises. Introductory and intermediate Avid Media Composer tools and techniques are introduced relating to editing, audio mixing, audio effects, visual effects, color correction, and digital file delivery. Technical operations are covered, including ingest, output, and media management, edit bay procedures, protocol, and best practices. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will develop the skills needed to enter the film industry as a post production PA, in assisting with preparing dailies, or as an assistant editor.

GFA 2050: Introduction to Special Makeup Effects (6 Credits)

Introduction to Special Makeup Effects is designed to provide students with entry-level skills and industry-standard based knowledge in practical Special Effects (SFX) Make Up for major film and television production. Students will participate in goal-oriented hands-on class projects including fabrication, material safety, use casting materials, professional make-up, sculpting, airbrushing, and design. An emphasis will be placed on set etiquette including, but not limited to, attitude, professionalism, and technique on and off set. Students will also attend open lab sessions to participate in repetitious practice in order to refine their special FX make-up creation skills.

GFA 2060: Production Accounting & Office Management (6 Credits)

Production Accounting & Office Management is designed to give students a broad understanding for working within the Production Accounting and Production Office departments in the film and television industry, including the ability to identify the key players in each department and define their responsibilities. The Production Office component of this course will focus on the relationship between the Production Office and the overall production and the importance of the communication hub that exists between the Office, Set and Post. The Accounting component of this course will focus on the guidelines and reporting practices that are used to track and manage the finances of a production. Practical elements will be created through the use of actual production software and scenario simulations.

GFA 3010: Production Design I (6 Credits)

GFA 3010 Production Design I details the process of Production Design as it relates to the film and television industry. Students will work on an assigned project from concept to completion while solving real-world challenges. Students will examine the various roles of the Art Department in film and television through assigned reading from various books, web articles, and periodicals as well as participate in hands-on experiences to gain the knowledge they need to succeed in the Art Department. The course will also include video lessons and the use of Vectorworks Student Software. An emphasis will be placed on set etiquette, including but not limited to task completion, teamwork, attitude, professionalism, and punctuality

[NOTE: GFA 3010 is the upper-division version of GFA 2010 for institutions needing upper-division credits for Minors, Nexus Degrees or other programmatic requirements. There is no additional pre-requisite for 3010. Students would take 2010 OR 3010, not both.]

GFA 3020: Motion Picture Set Lighting I (6 Credits)

GFA 3020 Motion Picture Set Lighting I will equip students with the skills and knowledge of electrical distribution and set lighting on a motion picture or episodic television set in order to facilitate their entry and advancement in the film business. Students will participate in goal-oriented class projects including power distribution, set protocol and etiquette, properly setting lamps, lighting a set to feature film standards, motion picture photography, and other crucial skills to work in the set lighting department. Emphasis will be placed on set etiquette including, but not limited to, participation in exercises, attitude, professionalism, and technique on and offset.

This course also introduces lighting on location, providing students with the opportunity to rig and light the most common situations a set lighting crew faces – day exteriors, day interiors, night exteriors, and night interiors. In preparation for lighting a particular location, students will participate in location scouting to ascertain all resources needed – equipment, manpower and time. Upon completion of this course, students will have a broad base of knowledge of the equipment, techniques, communications, specifications, and a complete understanding of the behavior of light and how to manipulate/control it to feature film standards.

[NOTE: GFA 3020 is the upper division version of GFA 2020 for institutions needing upper division credits for Minors, Nexus Degrees or other programmatic requirements. There is no additional pre-requisite for 3020. Students would take 2020 OR 3020, not both.]

GFA 3140: Introduction to Sound Design with Avid ProTools 100 (6 Credits)

Introduction to Sound Design with Avid ProTools 100 introduces students to post-production utilizing Avid’s audio editing software. The course is designed to certify and equip students with a unique skill set and knowledge of the digital audio editorial process in order to facilitate their entry and advancement in the film and television post-production industry. This course will implement Avid’s PT101 and PT110 curriculum and students who successfully pass Avid’s two certification exams will earn the credential of “Avid Certified User” in ProTools, a globally recognized certification. In addition, students will learn industry best practices for digital audio processes and workflows within a professional sound department. Emphasis will be placed on the technical aspects of industry-standard digital audio tools; including attire, professionalism, and technique in and out of the room.

Upon completion, students will have a broad base of knowledge that will allow him/her to integrate with a digital audio team from the first day. This knowledge includes, but is not limited to, the equipment, techniques, communications, specifications, etc. used in the digital audio department.

GFA 4040: Advanced Editing with Avid Media Composer 200 (6 Credits)

Pre-requisite: GFA 2040: GFA Introduction to Editing with Avid Media Composer 100

Advanced Editing with Avid Media Composer 200 builds upon the knowledge gained at the 100-level by implementing Avid’s MC 201 and MC 210 Professional Editing curriculum. Students who pass Avid’s two certification exams will earn the industry post-production credential of “Avid Certified Professional” in Media Composer. With the step-by-step guidance from an Avid Certified Professional Instructor, students will learn the skills needed to optimize editing workflows, streamline the ingestion process and manage media files. Students will also learn advanced picture editing techniques, how to prepare for multi-camera editing, and how to work with graphics and mattes. Additionally, this course introduces compositing with the 3D Warp effect, color correction, and some of the wide range of audio tools and effects included in Media Composer.

Focusing on real-world workflows, concepts, and techniques, Media Composer Professional Editing takes students to a higher level of understanding and editing ability, providing the knowledge to distinguish themselves as post-production professionals.

GFA 3040: GFA Introduction to Editing with Avid Media Composer 100 (6 Credits)

Introduction to Editing with Avid Media Composer 100 is a skills-based course to learn the tools and techniques of post-production editing for careers as assistant editors. The course includes Avid’s certified training in their most recent Fundamentals 1 (MC101) and Fundamentals 2 (MC110) courses. Students will participate in creative, narrative editing projects in order to demonstrate the fundamentals of post-production theory and practice. In addition, they will have the opportunity to certify as an Avid Certified User.

[NOTE: GFA 3040 is the upper division version of GFA 2040 for institutions needing upper division credits for Minors, Nexus Degrees or other programmatic requirements. There is no additional pre-requisite for 3040. Students would take 2040 OR 3040, not both.]

The Georgia Film Academy is a collaborative effort of the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia supporting workforce needs of the film and digital entertainment industries.

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gfa@usg.edu
404-962-3094
University System of Georgia, 270 Washington Street, SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Certification

GFA Course 1

GFA Specialty Craft Courses(Choose One)

GFA InternshipOR1 Additional GFA Specialty Craft Course

GFA Specialty Craft Courses
(Choose One)

GFA Internship
OR
1 Additional GFA Specialty Craft Course