The PA Academy with Linda Burns will Prepare You For You First Work On-Set

Georgia Production Partnership, in association with the Atlanta Film Society and Production Consultants & Equipment (PC&E), are proud to present The PA Academy.

CLASS DETAILS

What: (2) 12-Hour Workshop Days (see below)
When: November 14-15, 2015 | 8AM to 8PM
Location: PC&E (Overflow parking along DeFoor Hills Rd)
Cost: $150 Non-Members | $120 GPP & ATLFF Members
Registration Deadline: November 12, at Midnight

Catered hot lunch and craft services provided. Space LIMITED.

CLASS SYNOPSIS

This two day, bootcamp-style Production Assistant workshop is perfect for those just starting their career as a PA as well as those looking to advance their knowledge of what it takes to succeed as an office or on set production assistant working on commercials, industrials, music videos, independent films, television series and studio features.

Training includes, but is not limited to:

• Production Terminology and Paperwork
• Film Crew Titles & Job Descriptions
• Production Assistant Duties & Responsibilities
• Set Etiquette » Dos & Don'ts
• How a Typical Set Day Proceeds (on music videos, commercials, feature films, etc.)
• Locking Up the Set, Distribution, and Petty Cash
• Walkie Protocol, Terminology & Sign Out
• Setting Up Video Village, Extras Holding, and Supporting Your AD Team

We discuss must have PA gear and kits, provide hands-on equipment training, and share resume tips and where to find experience as well as paid work. Learn how successful office and set PAs as well as DGA assistant directors got into the business, what they look for when they hire PAs, their tips for success, and how to avoid their pet peeves. This bootcamp simulates a typical day on set to prepare new PAs for their first job, and more experienced PAs the knowledge and training they need to up their skills and compete in the fast paced and growing Georgia film industry. All students who finish the two day workshop are listed on the GPP member only website database, and offered internship and paid work opportunities for at least two years through a secret FB page that only these students and Producer Linda Burns can access for networking and mentorship.

The PA Academy is a bi-annual fundraiser for GPP and ATLFF, supporting GPP’s lobbying efforts on behalf of the industry as well as providing continuing educational opportunities and outreach to the community through ATLFF’s year round programming. To learn more - www.ThePAAcademy.org.

Price includes hot lunch & craft services.

INSTRUCTOR

Producer Linda Burns runs the PA Academy with the volunteer assistance of Georgia’s best DGA ADs, and Office and Set PAs working full-time in the industry. Former PA Academy attendees return to the workshop to share how they got their start, what’s been successful for them, and how the PA Academy helped jump start their careers. Additionally, Linda invites crew members from other departments to speak to the group, to show the range of job opportunities the film business offers, and the different paths people take to successful careers in the industry. Each workshop offers a fresh and unique perspective to the students, with an ever-changing group of instructors and guest speakers.

TESTIMONIALS

I have never attended a workshop that was more thorough and comprehensive. Your sharing of your knowledge and experience was invaluable. Each speaker brought another facet of the movie business into focus. I learned more about the industry and movie making process in two days than in years of research. 
– Kim

I just want to say thank you for a very informative and exciting PA Academy. I really appreciate you and your guests for giving me a better understanding about being a PA and how the film production process works. Your candor and honestly made me laugh and help me forget about the discomfort in my knees (from all that standing). 
– Nathan

 I find being on set is a lot of hard work and always long hours but I genuinely enjoy myself every single time.The PA Academy was an invaluable stepping stone for me so, a million times, thank you. 
– Krystle

Thanks to the connections I made at the PA Academy I got my first job in the industry.
– Alex

Linda Burns’ PA Academy gave me an internship opportunity that developed my career with the camera department as a consistently working 2nd AC. The workshop is educational and serves to prepare individuals to work on set, whether it is the film, television, or commercial industry. I recommend Linda’s courses to anyone wanting to expand their interests in the field of production.
– Chad

 I've worked four jobs now in the office and on-set and I am IN LOVE with PA work and production life in general. Every time I set foot on-set PA's with more experience than me are asking questions and looking to me to take the lead because of all the knowledge and materials you gave us! Everyone on the crew is always shocked at how green I actually am. I cannot thank you enough for this head start, I finally found my niche in this world and can't wait to see where I end up! 
– Lauren

The PA Academy was a good starting point for me. It gave me a roadmap with the guidance of industry folks sharing their expertise in different departments. The accessibility to resources and job leads was/is great! I don’t think I would have gotten that same exposure under one roof anywhere else. What I appreciated the most was the no-nonsense and realistic approach to the nature of this industry. Linda Burns and her panel of industry experts gave us what we needed to hear, not what we wanted to hear. There are many people who enter the industry for the wrong reasons. The PA Academy does not promise you a job nor a glamorous tv/film life, but it gives you a sense of direction and it’s up to you to make it happen.
– Marge

Linda, you’ve got some excellent people there. David and Luke were both incredibly helpful on set and off. I’d use both of them again in a heartbeat and recommend them to others. Luke was particularly helpful lending a hand with equipment returns and helping to keep one of our skeleton units on schedule. David was also always right there to help. Neither were ever sitting around or on their phones so kudos to your training!
– Producer

The DP and I were having a conversation at wrap about how great Cate and Vince were throughout the shoot, when my production designer mentioned how helpful Marge was and to ‘thank Linda.’ Ryan was very helpful as well. Really good group all around. We got off to a pretty rocky start and it was a long shoot (on a music video, you say?) but they kept on trucking with a smile. Thanks for sending them our way!
– Producer

The PAs that I got from Linda for Star Trek: First Frontier are the most amazing PAs I’ve EVER had on set.
– Producer

Space is limited and The PA Academy will fill up!

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CANCELLATION POLICY:
(all dates are by midnight)

• By November 7th: 100% Refund
• By November 10th: 75% Refund
• By November 12th: 50% Refund
• No refunds after November 12th.

BECOME AN ATLFS MEMBER

Interested in registering for the PA Academy at a discount? Become a member of the Atlanta Film Society today and, in addition to your member discount on this class, you'll also receive year-round benefits such as: invitations to advanced screenings, free tickets to special ATLFS screenings at The Plaza Theatre, a 20% discount on year-round screenings, events, and workshops, and much more! 

Plus, every membership comes with access to our annual 10-day film festival -- being held in the spring of 2016! 

For more details regarding our membership and festival badge/card options, with a full list of year-round membership benefits, please click here. If you purchase a membership to receive a discount to the PA Academy, please email jessica@atlantafilmfestival.com to receive your discount code.

Atlanta Film Festival Announces New Organization Name for Year-Round Identity as Atlanta Film Society

The Atlanta Film Festival is pleased to announce a new name to reflect its year-round nature—the Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS). The ten-day Atlanta Film Festival will still take place every spring, but the organization will operate as the Atlanta Film Society going forward.

Originally founded as the IMAGE, Inc. (Independent Media Artists of Georgia, Etc., Inc.) in 1976, ATLFS has endured several name changes in the last four decades in order to convey its year-round service to the filmmaking and film-loving community while reflecting connection to its flagship program. 

“This name change represents who we are right now and paves the way for where we want to go,” said ATLFS Executive Director Christopher Escobar. “The change from ‘Festival’ to ‘Society’ better depicts the work and effort showcased all year long through screenings, classes, events and special programs. It clarifies that we are only part of the greater Atlanta film community and reinforces our plan to serve this community in a bigger way.”

For years, the organization has operated several year-round programs under the Atlanta Film Festival moniker, such as the Airport Shorts program, which screens select short films on 15 screens throughout Hartsfield-Jackson Airport’s new International Terminal; Eat, Drink & B-Indie, a monthly film-themed networking and educational mixer at Manuel’s Tavern; Film Festival Collective, an XFINITY Video On Demand channel that showcases short films from several prestigious film festivals across the country; the Filmmaker-in-Residence program, which supports accomplished Atlanta-based festival alumni in a three-year residency; and New Mavericks, a year-round screening and networking program spotlighting female filmmakers from Atlanta and beyond.

Among the most important details of the ATLFS announcement is the A/V Toolbank—a new equipment rentals program that provides audio/visual and presentation equipment for local groups and organizations seeking to host screenings or events. Operating as an arm of the nonprofit ATLFS, the A/V Toolbank borrows the spirit of the Atlanta Toolbank, but the focus on audio/visual equipment makes it the first resource of its kind in Metro Atlanta. This program provides high-quality equipment and technical expertise at competitive rates, creates additional support for the Atlanta Film Society and extends significant equipment discounts to other Metro area nonprofit arts organizations.

“The A/V Toolbank is a crucial facet of ATLFS,” Escobar continued. “We’ve been working with organizations like WonderRoot, GSU Student Film Festival and The Goat Farm Arts Center and aided events like Elevate, Flux Projects and Art on the Beltline while piloting this program. This announcement allows us to formalize the resource and make it more widely available.”

As with any nonprofit, the Atlanta Film Society relies heavily on the support of members and sponsors. For several years, year-round memberships have focused solely on the benefits they provide directly to members—with festival passes at the core—ranging in price from $50 to $750. In conjunction with this new identity, ATLFS has established patron levels ranging from $1,000 - $10,000 to enable community impact and maintain a focus on membership benefits.