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Training Kentuckians for jobs in film industry

Asbury University introduces Work Ready Kentucky Certificate Program

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WILMORE, Ky. (Sept. 19, 2017) – The film industry in Kentucky needs more skilled workers. Asbury University unveiled today an innovative workforce development initiative that will provide Kentuckians with the training necessary to work in the film industry. This certificate can be earned in a matter of weeks not years. It does not require completion of a two-year or four-year degree program.

“Our goal as we created this training was to make it as affordable as possible,” said Dr. Jim Owens, Dean, Asbury School of Communication Arts. “That means that we’ve tried to design it in a way that a person completing the certification program could easily get their money back within 1-2 weeks of working within the film industry.”

Film makers produced 36 movies in Kentucky last year. The Kentucky Film Office has approved an additional 136 movies this year for production. That growth means the industry needs more Kentuckians trained in the art of filmmaking.

“We’re trying to create an industry here in Kentucky and a much bigger industry than we’ve had before,” said Don Parkinson, Secretary, Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. “It would not be possible without Dr. Jim Owens and the work he has done here. We need more crew. As we build these movies, we need more and more crew. We have 400 people who work in movies now. We need a lot more than that.”

The Kentucky Film Certification Program offers tracks in several areas, including Audio, Camera, Grip, Electric, Production, Set Construction and others.

The program offers two levels of certification. One will be online courses taught by Hollywood professionals, with hands-on classes led by leading industry professionals.

For the second track, participants must work on at least five professional productions in their chosen, job-specific role. This Advanced Certification recognizes the person has both training and experience in Kentucky Entertainment Industry databases.

The program is facilitated by Asbury University, which has shown expertise in the area of Communication Arts for decades.

Asbury offers online Master’s Degree programs in Film and Television Production, Screenwriting and Digital Storytelling. Asbury graduates have worked on over 150 theatrically released films, more than 300 different network television productions, earned nearly 50 Emmy Awards and garnered 60 Oscar nominations.

Additional information is available at kyfilmcertification.com.