The Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) has added three industry changing courses to the organization's professional training program, AFCI University. The new courses include the Hotel/Hospitality Liaison and two first-ever Spanish language courses: Film Commission Fundamentals (FCF) and Film Commission Professional (FCP).
Offered exclusively through AFCI, the three courses will be administered through AFCI University, the org's online education program that provides educational and training opportunities tailored to film commissions and those in the general public interested in gaining a basic understanding of film commission work.
The Hotel / Hospitality Liaison course is apart of AFCI University’s Community Training program and is intended to train key individuals on marketing their hotel or lodging location as “film friendly”. The course is designed to provided instruction on how to secure and successfully service a production that is being conducted on their property.
Keoki Wallace, J.D., Adjunct Professor in the Business Management School at Brigham Young University, Hawaii and former Film Liaison at Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku, Hawaii developed the hotel course for AFCI University. During his time at Turtle Bay, his efforts resulted in over $6 million in revenue for the resort property during from 2006 - 2012. The resort is most notably known for serving as the backdrop to the 2008 film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall."
The TV and film industry generates large amounts of clean, and in many cases sustainable economic growth through the hundreds of millions of dollars spent annual for “on-location” production. The economic impact generated by productions can positively impact local businesses including hotels and generate sustained growth in tourism when a region or community featured in a successful film as the case with the Turtle Bay Resort.
“I wanted to share what I’d learned so that others could help provide these services as well,” said Wallace regarding developing the Hotel/Hospitality course. “More trained liaisons in a community can attract more film business, which can significantly impact local economies for good,” said Wallace.
Following the success of AFCI University’s first ever-Spanish language course, Film Liaisons at Cineposium 2015 in Barcelona, Spain, the AFCI conformed its Film Commission Fundamentals and Film Commission Professional training sessions in Spanish.
The FCF topics of study include: film commission operations, marketing your jurisdiction, an overview of economic development, film incentive programs, scouting, location photography, working with production and clients, and working within the local jurisdiction. Enrollees of the FCP program are provided in-depth information on key elements involved in film commission work, highlighting the importance of alliances and partnerships including collaborations with crew, guilds, unions and economic development officials.
“As the breadth of the production industry expands, more communities are become ‘film friendly’. It’s imperative that the AFCI service the needs of the hotel/hospitality industry and expand our course offerings to promote and reflect the diversity of our members and the communities they serve by offering our courses in multiple languages,” said AFCI Executive Director, Kevin Clark. “It’s our aim to answer the call for professional training not only to AFCI members but to professionals that support the global production industry."
For additional information about AFCI University visit http://www.afci.org/afci-university/
