Today the next generation of filmmakers will begin training on the campus of New Millennium Studios in Petersburg, VA.

Legacy Media Institute, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization founded by award-winning producer and director Tim Reid, will begin their inaugural media arts training program. This rigorous four-week training program will provide these students with the skills to excel in the artistic craft of filmmaking while providing them with the essential business aspects of media production. Another feature of the program is that the students will train in a state-of-the- art media production facility on the 57-acre campus of New Millennium studios.

The key aspects of the LMI program include documentary film production, feature film production, and the products of the students will be featured in the upcoming Legacy Film Festival scheduled for summer fall 2011. With the workshop beginning on July 6th, these future filmmaking hopefuls will receive workshop instruction from both regional and national media production professionals, as well as practical shooting experience on location in historic Central Virginia.

This very selective program is being funded by a combination of support from Virginia State University’s Department of Mass Communications, a grant from the Cameron Foundation, as well as a contribution from the Virginia Film Office. Tim Reid, a Virginia native who made his name in Hollywood in numerous TV and feature films, including “WKRP in Cincinnati” and “Sister-Sister,” and is the co-founder of New Millenniums Studios, with his wife Daphne Maxwell Reid, said “The Legacy Media Institute was created to expand my initial efforts to develop the best-in-breed media arts incubation center on the east coast. Our mission to provide independent artists with a unique opportunity to learn and grow in their chosen field of media arts.”

While this summer’s session has the majority of participants coming from Virginia State University, future sessions will include students from an expanding number of colleges and universities that are signing up to participate in the Institute’s seminar and training programs. The Institute continues to raise additional funds through special cultural events to expand and offer more training opportunities in media production, and would welcome any organization or individual who would like to join the list of supporters for these programs.