MTSU launches new MFA for film and TV production
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Middle Tennessee State University is responding to an influx of film and television productions coming to the Nashville area with a new academic program set to launch this fall.
Why it matters: Elected officials have worked for years to build the region's film production bona fides. The MTSU program seeks to create a workforce pipeline that can power those productions.
The latest: The new program, a masters in fine arts focused on film and television, recently got unanimous approval from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, clearing the way for the first group of 15 students to begin their studies this year.
- It is the first program of its kind at a public university in Tennessee.
Driving the news: The program arrives during a boom time for productions in Nashville. New TV shows "9-1-1: Nashville" and "Scarpetta" both filmed here.
- Nicole Kidman recently said she and Reese Witherspoon want to bring more productions to town.
By the numbers: Film and TV productions in Tennessee employed more than 6,100 people in 2024, according to a report from the Tennessee Entertainment Commission. That figure has grown over time.
- The report found the workforce had expanded by 11% since 2019, making Tennessee the fifth-biggest state for entertainment production jobs.
Between the lines: MTSU professor Allie Sultan, who is the founding director of the MFA program in film and television, tells Axios the program was conceived as a workforce development initiative.
- Industry pros helped shape a curriculum that would feed into new production jobs.
What she's saying: The goal is "developing the next generation of film and TV creators."
Zoom in: Undergraduate students at MTSU can already hone their skills working with cameras, editing and special effects, among other things.
- The graduate program will build on those popular courses by creating a more immersive, workshop-oriented environment that will prepare students to manage their own productions.
Students will have access to advanced classes such as episodic series production, virtual filmmaking, production design and aerial cinematography. They will work with the same LED technology that was used to produce "Dune" and "The Mandalorian."
The intrigue: The MFA in film and television will also address the growing use of AI in the industry. Sultan says students will learn the practical applications of AI while also considering ethical implications of the rapidly evolving technology.
The bottom line: As film and TV production continues to push outside of traditional hubs like Los Angeles, Sultan sees opportunity for Middle Tennessee.
- "There's a lot happening in Middle Tennessee," she says. "We're really excited about building this here and adding to what's already really a strong outlook for production."