EDUCATION
Agnes Scott College By Je s s i ca Ho l thaus Badour
“They hosted the festival on our campus for free last year, one time only, in part because we are a women’s college and because there is a need for more women in film,” Palma explains. “The more we can work with local partners and provide opportunities for students to network with those in the industry, the better. It continues to increase the number of women working in film, and we have a very diverse campus with a lot of underrepresented demographics.” And anytime there is a film project coming to campus, students are a piece of the equation; a formal committee of faculty, staff, and students review all incoming proposals. “Students are very vocal about film content and the representation of women for the production company,” says Tolliver. “Even if a film is fictitious, we want to be proud of our partnerships.” “It’s not a giddy student who only wants to meet Brad Pitt,” notes Demetrice Williams, Senior Director of Special Events and Community Relations. “Our students want to meet the director, the person doing set décor, the person managing the budget—they are very specific about these experiences and where can they get involved, to see if this is a career they want to follow.” Williams, who’s worked at Agnes Scott for 25 years, says the students work on very intentional, targeted, and researched ideas when it comes to film projects they’re involved with. “Our students are very innovative in their passions,” she says. “Year after year, they continue to impress me, which is a testament to the amazing faculty who are preparing them for the world.” Moving forward, Agnes Scott plans to build the minor into a major. Tolliver says adding a film production piece is key. Palma agrees, hoping the college can find a corporate partner to get production off the ground and help with equipment and full-time faculty.
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I t was 65 years ago when Atlanta’s Agnes Scott College hosted its first movie set for A Man Named Peter . Since then, Georgia has come a long way in film—and Agnes Scott has grown right along with it. Nestled just outside downtown Decatur, the campus’s sprawling grounds and picturesque brick buildings provide the perfect setting for current- day filming or period pieces. The campus has been featured in roughly 50 productions, including hits like Scream 2 , Fried Green Tomatoes , and The Blind Side . School staff prides themselves on ease and flexibility for filming crews, thanks to careful (but time-sensitive) planning and campus inclusiveness. Building off that, just over a decade ago, a Film and Media minor was added to Agnes Scott’s offerings. The minor has two required courses covering basic elements and history of film, along with a variety of electives for students. “Our film minor is so inter-disciplinary,” says Willie Tolliver, Jr., who oversees the program as Director of Film and Media Studies. “It’s a very diverse and useful minor to combine with the majors offered at Agnes Scott. Students can even self-direct a pathway to their major, seeing how film fits into the larger theme of liberal arts.” The latest cohort includes eight students out of the college’s 1,000+ undergrads. Agnes Scott is a member of the Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education, meaning students can also attend classes around the city
Photos courtesy Agnes Scott College
(e.g., Emory, Georgia State University, etc.). Many (but not all) are English or Creative Writing majors who have landed successful internships at film festivals, in blogging, media consulting and more. There’s also a very successful rate of students in graduate programs across the country. “Film studies is a valuable place to start if someone is interested in writing, research, filmmaking, or any type of job that might include audio visual,” notes Dr. Shannan Palma, Faculty Director for Graduate Program Writing and Digital Communication, who minored in it herself. “My background in film production allowed me to move into a job in communications and marketing… It’s important to understand the cultural impact and know how to do more than simply take a video with your phone.” Part of students’ education ties into the campus hosting film projects and related events. As a women’s college, Agnes Scott landed the Campus Movie Fest event last year—the world’s largest student film festival—with talks to host it again this fall.
Agnes Scott College is located at 141 E College Ave, Decatur, GA. Learn more about working with the school’s location for a f ilm, or enrolling in the Film & Media minor by visiting www.agnesscott.edu.
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