By Melanie Watson
Retired teacher Wendy White was looking for the next phase in her career, and Georgia’s booming entertainment industry sounded exciting. She needed an affordable option to develop skills to work in the industry, though. White chatted about participating in new fast-track training programs offered by Clayton State University’s Film and Digital Media Center.
Q: Why did you choose to study film at Clayton State University?
A: I needed something new and fun to do. I’m 59. I own an art studio and things weren’t selling like they were before the recession. I saw an AJC article about a film class at Clayton State and it was affordable, so I tried it.
Q: What is Clayton State’s digital media program like?
A: If money and time is the issue, then Clayton State is perfect. There are two classes you must take in order to earn the Digital Film Technician certificate – Digital Film Tech Training I and II. It’s only two semesters, so you’re not a full-time college student, which makes it affordable. It’s easy to balance life around these classes because they’re offered in the day and night. Once you finish, you’ll be able to walk intelligently onto the set of a production.
Q: What type of work are you doing in the industry?
A: I’ve worked with independent films, webisodes and pilots for various reality shows. I was recently accepted into the film union and I’m looking to work on bigger productions. Networking is crucial because that’s how you find jobs.
Q: What is the pay like?
A: In the beginning, you go from $0 to $70 a day. The pay almost triples once you’re in the union.
Q: Why would you recommend this career path to others?
A: It’s so fun because it’s not your traditional 9 to 5. In this field, you can work 21 days straight or eight months straight and you can take a break before starting up another project if you want.
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