Page 61 - Athens New Comers Guide 2023

Athens native and UGA alumnus Joel Harber Students from UGA’s new Master of Fine Arts
is the CEO of Athena Studios. He is also in Film, Television and Digital Media program
the president of commercial real estate and its Entertainment and Media Studies
development firm Reynolds Capital. With years undergraduate degree program are using
of experience in commercial real estate, Harber Athena Studios’ student space. MFA Film and TV
noticed a defining opportunity to bring the film Production students moved from their former
industry to Athens. 2,000-square-foot space on campus into the
new learning center
“I noticed big sound stage complexes started at Athena Studios.
popping up around Atlanta and I was curious,
why not here in Athens?” said Harber. “The Athena is the patron
building designs, site plan, everything is goddess of artisans
purpose built and is based on several years of and craftsmen.
research. We let the industry guide us on what
they wanted and that’s what we’ve delivered.” “The learning center is a huge recruiting tool
for UGA’s film program. To get the most talented
Promoting higher education in film studies is students, we need to have top-rated facilities,”
another factor that sets this facility apart. Harber said. Real world internships with film
Athena Studios has dedicated a 14,600 square- and television companies will be available
foot soundstage and learning center for and UGA and GFA students will be able to
exclusive use by UGA and the Georgia Film intern close to school – literally only hundreds
Academy, to educate and train their film students. of feet away.

“We’re building the physical assets and
incorporating education as well for the future.
We’re building a full ecosystem for the film
industry here in Athens,” Harber said. He added
that Athena is talking with major Hollywood
studios to be the first ones to utilize the
new soundstages this spring, bringing these
opportunities closer to the people and the
students of Athens.

“It’s such a great opportunity for our students. I can’t find any other
program in the country that has this kind of access that we’re going to have.”

–Jay Hamilton, UGA Entertainment and Media Studies Professor at Grady
College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Source: WSB-TV Atlanta

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