IN THE NEWS
Watch interviews, read the latest about the MFA Film program and stay up to date on the latest industry news involving Georgia productions.
Program Director Marty Lang wrote an article “The Evolution of Film Education” in the second edition of Georgia Entertainment to discuss how today’s filmmakers are getting the skills they need to adapt.
Summer/Fall 2024 Edition of The Creative Economy Journal Released, Features 200 Most Influential
Georgia Entertainment • June 13, 2024
This edition features the 200 most influential leaders shaping the state’s creative industries. Their recognition stems from a meticulous process involving nominations, extensive research, and insightful interviews with key figures, including Marty Lang, Director/MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media at University of Georgia.
MFA Student Emani Saucier is one of the creators of THE GIFT, a documentary about billionaire Robert Smith’s commitment to pay the entire student loan balance of the 2019 graduating class of Morehouse College. Saucier, a member of the Class of 2019, is teaming with his Morehouse classmate Joshua Reed to learn how their peers have begun their lives – without student loan debt.
Saucier said, “This is what happened at Morehouse: They got the debt cleared and they were able to have this exponential effect. What happens when we clear the debt for millions of Americans?”
Jobs IRL: A look at how Georgia is training up production crews for its expanding film industry
Marketplace • June 10, 2024
Ashlynn Henderson, a student at the University of Georgia MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media program, needed craft job people to help her shoot her master’s project, a sci fi film called “Do Not Go Gentle.”
The Georgia Film Academy had a crew of apprentices trained up, ready to go, “which was phenomenal and [we] got to use this set,” Henderson said. “We repurposed it. It was a ‘Stranger Things’ room.”
First Collaborative Feature Film Coming Out of the University of Georgia to Finish in May
Georgia Entertainment • March 24, 2024
The first collaborative feature film coming out of the University of Georgia will finish shooting in May. Writer/Producers Di Quon Wilms and Sofía Ruiz are joined by producer Suzan Satterfield, Atlanta co-chair of the Producers Guild of America who has come on board.
Directed by UGA Professor Sanghoon Lee, Classics Undone takes place in a small town, where a very special bookstore owned by “Sammy” (Di Quon) is the place where our character’s lives intercept. The characters, all based on classic theater plays, exist in the modern world dealing with race, class and gender issues.
“Black Butterfly,” a thesis film written, directed, produced and edited by Kelvin Summerhill (MFA ’22), has been selected as one of the narrative short films to premiere at the 47th Annual Atlanta Film Festival.
“This is a huge accomplishment since more than 10,000 of filmmakers submitted films to the festival and only 40 or so narrative shorts have been selected,” said Neil Landau, executive director of the MFA Film, Television and Digital Media program at the University of Georgia. “This is a big milestone for Kelvin and our program.”
The Backlight Student Film Festival, presented by the University of Georgia Entertainment Media Industries Club, known as The Industry, and the University Union…Submitted student films were reviewed by a selection committee of 23 UGA students, and finalist films were judged by a panel of 12 professors, alumni and industry professionals at the festival.
“Queue” by Mary Goodwin won Best Mid-Length Film, Best Sound, Best Screenplay and Best Production Design in the festival…“Transitioning” won Best Score and its director, Xavier Brown, was awarded Best Director. Elise Kimple won Best Actress for her performance in “Look At Me.”
Film sets are hubs for creation. They are where concepts and ideas turn into visual, captivating works of art. But, unfortunately, television shows and movies aren’t the only thing created on film sets. Historically, film sets have also been notorious for creating tons of waste, pumping plastic water bottles, plates, utensils, coffee cups and more into landfills.
The UGA Master of Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media program, however, is on a mission to make sure that on its sets, waste is as minimal as possible.
UGA MFA In Film, Television, And Digital Media Brings Sustainability To Set
Grady Newsource • March 2, 2023
University of Georgia master’s of fine arts student Matt Hudgins just received a sustainability grant for his project “And…Action! Bringing sustainability on-set with the MFA in Film, Television, and Digital Media.”
The project was devised to “help reduce the environmental footprint of UGA student film productions, as well as enhance sustainability for the future of film in Georgia.”
Inside UGA’s burgeoning MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media program, with Neil Landau
Grady Research Radio • Feb. 2, 2023
In this episode, we speak with Neil Landau, the executive director of the Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media program, about what the program has to offer. Landau explains the growth of the program, the new partnership with Athena Studios, which includes a 14,600-square-foot student studio space, the advantage for students provided by Georgia’s bustling film industry, the impact that the program’s many mentors, who are legendary producers, A-list screenwriters and award-winning show runners, have on students enrolled in the program, and more.
The strange story of the Southern town that Hollywood insiders are building from scratch
FastCompany • Oct. 12, 2020
When the British film studio company Pinewood opened a production facility outside Atlanta in 2014, it framed the venture as a one-stop-shop alternative to the mature but spatially fragmented system in Hollywood. With a high-tech media center, soundstages, offices, prop houses, and set builders all colocated, Pinewood Atlanta was a turnkey space for filming.
Trilith Unveiled: Purpose-Built Master Development for Creative Industries
PR Newswire • Oct. 7, 2020
Today, the Atlanta-based founders of Pinewood Atlanta Studios, one of the largest purpose-built studios in North America and home to blockbuster films like Avengers: Endgame, and Pinewood Forest, a 235-acre New Urbanist town, unveiled a live-work concept called Trilith. This new 935-acre master development includes the studio, now called Trilith Studios, as well as a slate of vendor businesses, custom homes and micro-villages, chef-driven restaurants and thought-leading schools, all aimed at servicing the film and creative industries.
Pinewood Atlanta Studios, Home to ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ Rebrands as Trilith
Variety • Oct. 7, 2020
Pinewood Atlanta Studios, production home for Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” is rebranding itself as Trilith Studios as part of a 935-acre master development.
Neil Landau talks with Georgia Hollywood Review
Georgia Hollywood Review • Oct. 7, 2020
Episode 298: Screenwriter Neil Landau (“Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead”) discusses his new role as director of screenwriting at UGA, why he moved to Georgia and gives tips for writers.
Interview with MFA Film director of screenwriting Neil Landau
Atlanta Film Chat Podcast/Cinema Atlanta Magazine • Oct. 5, 2020
Video of Instagram interview. Georgia Hollywood Review Talks Live with writer/author/UGA Professor Neil Landau. Landau shares how his film “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead” was his break into the industry and what an exciting program he is anchoring for The University of Georgia’s new Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media.
Pinewood Atlanta, Home to ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ Plans Major Expansion for 2022
Variety • March 12, 2020
Pinewood Atlanta Studios, production home for Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” has launched plans for a 220,000 square-foot expansion that will be completed in the spring of 2022.
Living in a new urbanist community and up close to a movie studio
Forbes • Jan. 27, 2020
Looking for an environmentally friendly community where you don’t have to drive everywhere? This new community might just be the answer for you. (And it is next to a large movie studio if show biz is your dream.) The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and Franklin College of Arts and Sciences has teamed with Pinewood Forest and the Georgia Film Academy, located at the studio, to create a Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media program. During their second year, students will work on capstone projects and internships at the studio while living at Pinewood Forest.
UGA to show regents plans for movie studio, new dorm
Athens Banner Herald • Jan. 7, 2020
The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication plans a multi-million dollar studio renovation for its new Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media program. The $3.75 million project, including about $2 million in construction, will be paid for with donated funds, according to information UGA officials submitted to the state Board of Regents in advance of the board’s monthly meeting on Wednesday.
Pinewood Atlanta expanding studios with $16.5 million investment
11 Alive • Jan. 3, 2020
Pinewood Atlanta announced a $16.5 million investment in two entertainment companies that will produce content in Georgia, according to our partners at the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
UGA launches Masters in Fine Arts for film and TV
Atlanta Journal Constitution • Dec. 23, 2019
While more creatives are moving and living here, UGA wanted to boost the numbers with a new master program to encourage folks who are interested in writing screenplays or producing TV and film to take that next step.
UGA Partners With Georgia Film Academy On MFA Film Program
GPB Radio • Dec. 24, 2019
Dean of UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Charles Davis said the goal of the program is to grow Georgia’s work force in the film industry beyond just technical professions.
UGA Establishes Master of Fine Arts Film Program
WUGA Radio • Dec. 11, 2019
Interview with Dean Charles N. Davis: “In fact there is a crying need for it. As you know film and television production in the state has very rapidly grown into a six and a half billion-dollar industry. There are quite literally, hundreds of productions shooting at any given moment in the state of Georgia.”
Interview with WXIA-TV with Charles N. Davis, Jeff Stepakoff and Lee Thomas
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