Goodwill and Urban League launch new film academy

OPENED IN. 1998. GOODWILL AND THE UPSTATE URBAN LEAGUE HAVE STARTED A FILM ACADEMY HERE IN THE UPSTATE. IN FOUR WEEKS, STUDENTS WILL LEARN THE SKILLS NEEDED TO EXCEL IN THE FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY. OUR ISABEL, MARK IS LIVE IN GREENVILLE WITH WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE COMMUNITY. ISABEL. DESTINY. GOOD AFTERNOON. NOW, THE PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO TODAY SAY IT’S REALLY ALL ABOUT LETTING PEOPLE FIND THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THEIR PLACE IN THE WORKFORCE, THAT IS. BUT IN A CREATIVE WAY. IT’S A FOUR WEEK PROGRAM THAT SETS UP INDIVIDUALS LOOKING TO REENTER THE WORKFORCE WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN THE FILM INDUSTRY. WE HAVE THIS GEM HERE IN THE UPSTATE. WE HAVE BRONX STUDIOS, WHICH IS THE ONLY VIRTUAL LED WALL IN THE TWO CAROLINAS. THERE’S A REAL NICHE FOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT SKILLS THAT COMBINE CREATIVE AND SORT OF TECH SAVVY, AND THAT’S WHERE WE’RE REALLY LEANING INTO THE CLASS MEETS WEEKLY IN GREENVILLE AND PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE A TRAINING STIPEND. IT’S THE THIRD ADDITION TO GOODWILL’S INNOVATION INSTITUTE. WE’RE OFFERING PLACES WHERE WE CAN TAKE YOU TO NOT ONLY SAY, HEY, HERE’S SOME TRAINING AND EXPERTISE, BUT LET US LEAD YOU TO THAT NEXT CAREER. BUT THESE CLASSES ARE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND. THERE’S A MIX OF BOTH LECTURE AND HANDS ON WORKSHOPS. UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE’VE DONE SOMETHING THAT WAS THIS, UH, MULTI-WEEK, YOU KNOW, THIS LONG. THOSE WHO COMPLETE THE COURSE BECOME ELIGIBLE TO JOIN STAGE 32, WHICH IS AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORKING SITE FOR FILM, TV AND THEATER PROFESSIONALS. DAVID ESTRADA HELPS LEAD THE CLASSES FROM THE MARKETING GROUP CARGO. HE SAYS IT’S THE RIGHT WAY TO INTRODUCE THIS INDUSTRY TO PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT KNOW WHERE TO START. KIND OF WALKING THROUGH WHAT THE THE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE KIND OF CAN HELP GIVE PEOPLE A GROUND, A SENSE OF GROUNDING TO SAY, OKAY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A GOAL, I HAVE SOMEWHERE I WANT TO GO AND I CAN I CAN ENVISION MYSELF DOING IT THE FIRST COHORT ENDS THIS WEEK, BUT THERE ARE PLANS TO START ANOTHER ONE UP SOON. WELL, THAT SOUNDS EXCITING. ISABEL, WHEN CAN PEOPLE JOIN THE FILM ACADEMY? YEAH. DESTINY. SO SPOTS ARE CURRENTLY OPEN, BUT REGISTRATION IS LIMITED DUE TO THE SMALLER CLASS SIZES. LIVE I