Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) played host to Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown, who visited SFCC’s filmmaking programs located in the state-of-the-art sƛ̓x̣etkʷ Fine and Applied Arts building. Mayor Brown had the opportunity to speak with faculty about how these programs and facilities support Spokane’s vibrant and growing film industry.
The visit was coordinated by Photography and Filmmaking instructor Ira Gardner and City of Spokane Director of Community and Economic Development Steve MacDonald. In addition to his instructional role at SFCC, Gardner is a member of the board of the Spokane Film Project, which works to advance both the artistic community and creative economy around digital filmmaking. In its publications, the Spokane Film Project has identified the Spokane area’s strong production history, with 45 feature films, three television series, several national advertising campaigns, an award-wining music video, dozens of unscripted and reality TV shows, and numerous regional and local commercials produced in the region.
College arts programs are not always associated with driving workforce and economic development, but SFCC’s digital filmmaking programs offer a clear counterpoint to that conception. Digital Filmmaking integrates fully with SFCC’s drama program, providing exposure to the rigors of work in the multidisciplinary film industry. Study of and exposure to cinematography, acting, directing, and writing also prepare students to pursue careers in a variety of related fields such as commercial advertising, corporate video production, social media marketing, broadcast television, and filmmaking.