In Alicante, the City of Light unveiled the foundations for a new Cinematic Professions Training School this Monday, marking the launch of the first training courses for technicians across all stages of the film and audiovisual workflow. This professional program, housed at the Old Study Center, draws from the renowned Escac, the Cinema and Audiovisual Higher School of Catalonia, which brings three decades of expertise to the initiative. The University of Barcelona supported the effort by providing lecturers for the initial four courses, with ten more planned to run in 2024.
“Our aim is to form teams of well-prepared professionals who can meet the immediate demand from productions that will begin arriving soon,” stated General Manager Fermín Crespo during the presentation of Escac Fast Forward, the program that anticipates a surge in projects following the resolution of the actors’ strike. After completing the screenwriting program in Hollywood, both national and international shoots are expected to follow.
The four entry courses are designed to train lighting and camera technicians, production coordinators, audiovisual assembly technicians, and drone and aerial operators. A total of 170 students registered today and had the chance to tour the facilities. All courses are offered free of charge; deposits ranging from 150 to 350 euros are required in advance and refunded upon completion. The program is financed by European funds through Next Generation, under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.
“Like Americans”
“Let them fly free. For students, this is a miracle because these courses can cost anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 euros. After this year and a half, a decision will be needed on whether the Generalitat or the student will cover the costs,” noted Sergi Casamitjana, director of Escac. He added that Ciudad de la Luz did not become a reality without a partner school enabling the establishment of a local training ecosystem. He emphasized the need to build a workforce of high-quality technicians, similar to the American model, including focus pullers, sound engineers, and riggers who will be in demand for future productions. “There is little point in bringing lighting technicians or carpenters from Madrid when shoots are here,” he said.
Casamitjana recalled that cinema is learned through practice and described a semi-voluntary tradition in Spain that now requires structure, organization, and form. He noted that the City of Light is thirty years ahead of other regions that have built film studios, such as Galicia or the Canary Islands.
Fermín Crespo highlighted the importance of education recovery after a period of waiting. He thanked Escac for its role as a European and global reference and as the main supporter in revitalizing the educational space and covering all needs of audiovisual productions. He described the center as a cornerstone for a future skilled trades hub in the film industry, complemented by the province’s strong locations, good transportation links, and hotel services.
The courses, starting today, amount to 15 ECTS credits and include internships with Escac certification. The format combines face-to-face and hybrid methods, totaling 150 specific hours and 300 general hours. It is anticipated that around 600 students could be trained annually, but the current plan targets about 150 participants per year, with updates and additions to be made over a three- to five-year horizon.
Regarding future filming activity, Crespo did not disclose new details and suggested that national productions may not begin until the Hollywood strike concludes. He emphasized that visits to studios, facilities, and local manufacturers will continue, and he noted the ambition surrounding the first national project, Bad Influence.
Attribution: Escac and the City of Light initiative are cited as key partners in advancing audiovisual education in the region. The program aligns with broader European efforts to strengthen local production capacity and workforce readiness.