Bulgaria’s Nu Boyana Studios, Home of ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard,’ Launches Crew Training Courses (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

K.J. Yossman Nu Boyana Film Studios, the Bulgarian production facility where Hollywood blockbusters including “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” and “The Expendables” were shot, has re-launched its production training initiative Film Forge.The first course, a week-long workshop in production design, launches on March 7 with another one for camera, grip and lighting assistants set to follow (dates TBC).

Nu Boyana’s CEO Yariv Lerner says he plans for Film Forge to offer at least one course a month across all departments including set building, props, sculpting, painting, carpentry, and design.

Although not free (a week-long intensive course starts at around €150 ($166) and runs to €8,000 ($8,800) for a full short film course) Film Forge’s courses are intended to give participants real-world, practical experience to get people into the film industry including training on real sets. “They are designed to get students working ASAP,” Lerner tells Variety.

Nu Boyena also recruits heavily from the courses, which are run in association with The Bulgarian Film Commission and B2Y Productions.Lerner is keen to emphasize that the courses are open to pretty much anyone interested in working on a set and that long resumes are not a requirement. “Anyone with a heartbeat and a negative COVID test,” he says jokingly.The courses are based at Nu Boyena’s production facility in Bulgaria but international students are welcome.Nu Boyena, which is owned by LA-based Millenium Media, first launched Film Forge in 2015.