EDUCATION
In the Right Place at the Right Time: The Art Institute of Atlanta By Ca ro l Bada r acco Padge t t
I n 1949, long before Georgia became a multi- billion-dollar player in the film industry, The Art Institute of Atlanta opened its doors. And since that time, reports Newton Myvett, the local Institute’s president, the school has remained at the forefront of prepping graduates for the film industry. Its many offerings; from digital filmmaking and video production to audio production and sound design, motion graphics and animation, graphic and web design, fashion and even culinary arts where students feed film crews with craft services; have historically and naturally intertwined with the film industry. Amid many modifications in higher education across the nation over the years, including The Art Institute’s move to non-profit status, the strong Atlanta system remains a leader in the industry of film. Then came the time period around 2008—and the full-fledged introduction of the film industry to Georgia, spurred by tax credits of between 20-30% for projects that film in the state. With it, The Art Institute of Atlanta found Pinewood Atlanta Studios, a now 700-acre location with its own Home Depot, taking up operations and production in Fayetteville, Ga., south of downtown. And more recently, the opening of the Areu Bros. Studios with some 200,000 square feet of studio space just minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Inter- national Airport. “As the industry exploded,” Myvett says, “we continued to focus on developing important partnerships and providing talent.” Student interest, too, is supporting the industry in a major way and, in turn, enrollment at the Art Institute of Atlanta. Along with the natural fit of digital filmmaking and video production, every creative discipline The Art Institute of Atlanta offers has relevance. For example, audio within the realm of live sound, mix and mastering; animation with motion graphics, storyboarding and animatics; graphic and web design with posters, print, film props, websites and social media; and so on down the line. With the film industry now literally at its back door, Myvett says the institute is mentoring its students on how to take full advantage of networking and the world of business at large. “This is why our message to our students is always ‘collaborate and create outside of the lines’ when possible,” he states. Part of drawing from outside opportunities is the once-in-a-lifetime chance to participate in student internships that provide class credits. “Currently students are shooting a documentary at Areu Bros. Studios,”
The Art Institute of Atlanta’s alliances with local film studios provide lasting impact on and enrichment of students’ future careers, beyond simply class credits and specialized work on individual projects.
The Art Institute of Atlanta’s president, Newton Myvett
get the practice needed to be included in these productions. The goal is for all students to get hired and utilize their skills in their chosen industry.” The pinnacle of what the Georgia film industry will achieve and how it will continue to grow remains on the horizon for the students of The Art Institute of Atlanta. The best is yet to come, as the saying goes. Because Georgia, including Atlanta, hometown of The Art Institute’s state campus, possesses a quality that film production needs to thrive: natural setting, topographic diversity and, ultimately, feel—and the industry has taken note. In a July 26, 2018, in Time Magazine a story by Eliiana Dockterman appeared: How Georgia Became the Hollywood of the South, where she describes Atlanta’s appeal to the film industry: “Los Angeles has the beach. New York City is a concrete jungle. But Atlanta can be Everytown — even a fictional 1980s Indiana suburb,” á la Netflix’s Stranger Things . Everytown and, for budding student creatives looking to work in the film industry, the home of The Art Institute of Atlanta.
Photo by Aaron Romano
Myvett enthuses. “In the very near future, we will have students in the studio with opportunities to be involved in script reading and evaluation, [as] production assistants, camera operators, the full gamut.” He adds, “I am also proud to share that our students are currently working on the redesign of the Areu Bros. Studio logo.” Students also get to see how the studio runs in the background and what it takes to maintain the sizable space, all while gaining invaluable experience for their resumés and brand-building, especially as it relates to their portfolios. The Art Institute of Atlanta’s alliances with local film studios provide lasting impact on and enrichment of students’ future careers, beyond simply class credits and specialized work on individual projects. As Myvett says, “Film production is hands on. Starting with day one, our students are working with equipment and they
www.artinstitutes.edu/atlanta www.time.com/longform/hollywood-in-georgia
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