(WXIA) -- With plenty of lights, a single camera and lots of action, students at Clayton State University are working to prepare for future careers in Georgia's movie and film industry.
Interest vary among students, but they've all got one goal in mind...making a place for themselves in the business.
For some it's about a first career, for others...a chance to reinvent themselves with the school's two 12-week film and digital courses. The school also offers a program for Post Production Film Editing, and is testing out 5-week programs for set building and story boarding.
Students get instruction from teachers with experience in the industry and hand-on training in the school's film studio.
It's a program that John Principe says helped him join a union and land some work on the show Sleepy Hollow, now filming in Georgia.
"I wouldn't have known," Principe said. "I wouldn't have known as much a year and a half ago when I first started. Wouldn't have known people. I wouldn't have known how to get it."
But Clayton State won't be the only place training for Georgia students. The state is working to create the Georgia Film Academy.
Lee Thomas, Deputy Commissioner of Georgia Film and Digital Entertainment Office says it's not a physical building, but an offering of certificate programs to quickly train people looking to jump into TV and film -- through a partnership of the state's technical college and university system.
"People come up through the ranks, but they do need the basics and that's what this film academy is meant to do," Thomas said. "Really get them so they're set ready, so they can go in there and know what they're doing and have the basic skills to be successful in it."
And while these students could end up vying for the same jobs, they're hoping for more options for students hoping to learn the qualifications for working behind the camera.