Lipscomb to offer initiative related to film, TV industry

Lipscomb University announced Monday a certificate program focused on the entertainment industry — and targeting students interested in careers in film and television.

According to a release, the Entertainment, Design & Creative Enterprise Stackable Graduate Certificates Program is the first of its kind in Tennessee and one of the few in the nation. The program will be administered via the Lipscomb University George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts, led by dean Mike Fernandez.

Classes begin in August.

The release notes the program offers a “selection of specialized credentials” that help professionals build their artistic repertoire and grow their industry network through certificates in screenwriting, television writing, animation foundations and 2D advanced animation.

In addition, the certificate programs allow students to gain expertise in components that are less robust than a full master’s degree but nonetheless can provide a pathway to a full graduate degree if desired. Courses are offered in an online format, making the program fully accessible regardless of student location. Courses blend video content and assignments with a synchronous course that meets online each week for three hours, allowing for feedback from professors and additional instruction.

The program will offer students opportunities to engage with industry leaders through guest lectures, workshops, travel study and networking events, with each certificate presented so as to be completed in as few as nine months. Future certificate programs planned will include  arts industry business, music, fashion and design.

Students may complete one certificate at a time in a specific area of interest then combine certificates for a custom Master of Fine Arts degree in entertainment, design and creative enterprise.

Lipscomb Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts faculty members include, among others, former Disney animator Tony Bancroft and Mike Nawrocki, the co-creator (with Phil Vischer) of CGI-animated children's series and franchise VeggieTales (for which Nawrocki provides the voice of Larry the Cucumber).

“The program's online format, coupled with travel courses, ensures that students can benefit from a flexible learning environment while still having opportunities for collaboration and networking with professionals in the industry,” Melissa Forte, associate professor and chair of the Lipscomb University Department of Cinematic Arts, said in the release.

The Tennessee Entertainment Commission reports that the entertainment sector contributes $6.2 billion to the Tennessee economy. The state ranks No. 1 in the nation for total workforce size related specifically to the music industry.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.