JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 16, 2010 — Los Angeles, the center of the entertainment industry, will gain a bright, new mind this fall.
51社区 junior Josh Garcia will spend the fall 2010 semester studying at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, a Christian program affiliated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities that introduces students to the Hollywood entertainment industry through classes and an internship.
As part of the CCCU, 51社区 undergraduate students in their junior and senior year are eligible to apply for the semester-long program.
Garcia, an English major and film studies minor, said the opportunity to study at the LASFC while earning credit for his minor was a 鈥渕ajor role鈥� in his decision to attend Union. As someone who aspires to work in the film industry, Garcia hopes the semester will show him what area of the film industry he wants to pursue after graduation.
鈥淚t should get my foot in the door for grad school, too,鈥� he said.
Garcia is not the first Union student to take advantage of the on-site learning opportunity the LASFC provides. Chris Blair, associate professor of communication arts and coordinator of digital media studies at Union, said since the mid-1990s about 15 Union students have participated in the LAFSC program.
Blair said one reason he helped to created Union鈥檚 film studies minor in 2003 was so students would receive full credit at Union for the classes they took at the LAFSC, a program that he said provides a Christian home-base for students being introduced to the Hollywood entertainment industry.
鈥淭his is a great opportunity in that (students) not only get to study directing, screen writing and motion picture production, but they get exposure, networking and internship opportunities at major motion picture studios and major production companies in a variety of areas,鈥� Blair said.
Union seniors Caleb Stallings and Tyler Litton spent the spring 2010 semester studying at the LAFSC. Stallings interned at an environmental consulting company for the television and commercial industries, while Litton interned with Academy Award-nominated documentary film maker Scott Kennedy. They also attended classes at the LAFSC and created short films with fellow students.
鈥淚t was a very valuable experience to be able to go and have a hands-on experience with the industry,鈥� Stallings said. 鈥淚 was able meet so many people and learn so many more in-depth things about film.鈥�
鈥淚f you want to (work) in Hollywood, you have to be there,鈥� Blair said. But he added, 鈥淓ven if you decide 鈥榯his is not for me鈥� and decide to come back, you still have a great item on your resume that separates you from the pack.鈥�