Young adults who dream of a career in the film industry should polish up their résumés, as the upcoming “Gila County Film Academy” is right around the corner.

The academy is scheduled to take place in March, said Christian Rozier, assistant professor of Film Studies and Digital Storytelling at University of Missouri.

In its attempt to create innovative programs giving students life skills to take into the professional world, Miami High School partnered with Rozier on a film project set to begin Monday, April 1.

Rozier’s work focuses on stories of social justice within indigenous communities.

“I’ve had the great pleasure of knowing and working with Christian since 2011 and we both feel a great debt to the San Carlos and Miami-Globe communities,” MHS Principal Glen Lineberry told the Silver Belt. “‘Peridot’ is an opportunity to repay a portion of that debt.”

Rozier and Doug Miles, Jr. plan to make the independent feature film on location in Globe, Miami and San Carlos for three weeks in April.

The story was “written to highlight the beauty of Gila County and its residents,” Rozier said.

Unfolding over a single day, the plot centers on Keane, an Apache man in his early 20s. Driven by pressing debt and pressure from his father-in-law, Keane races across the Reservation border to Globe to apply for a job “before it vanishes, along with his hopes for the future.” Keane’s journey “highlights the family bonds and the resilience of the community as a whole,” he said.

Last month, Rozier and Miles made a presentation to Globe City Council on a related film crew training program to begin in March.

With Gila County residents making up to 80 or 90 percent of Peridot cast and crew, “we are proud to contribute to the economic development of the region,” Rozier said.

To provide locals with as many job opportunities as possible, the film academy was created for young adults to develop the necessary skills to get paid positions on the “Peridot” set.

Rozier encourages young adults to apply for training in specific skill sets for film industry employment.

While the academy is “aimed squarely at the 18-30 age group,” older applicants are welcome, Lineberry told the Silver Belt.

“This is a rare opportunity to obtain professional-level vocational training without leaving the Globe-Miami-San Carlos area,” he said. “We have so many residents with real talent and energy, but whose family situations or other obligations make traveling to the Valley difficult.”

Academy participants will receive both professional training and a stipend, Rozier told the council.

When Councilman Freddy Rios asked what would happen if there are more applicants than the academy could accommodate, Rozier replied, “We will prioritize those young people in the best position to benefit,” citing the example of those who are “looking for something that benefits them and also sparks their imagination.”

Rozier is seeking applicants who have the time availability and would be responsible as well as “absolutely committed.”

The upcoming academy will be led by professional film educators who have conducted multimedia workshops around the world, including Gila County, since 2011, he said.

“Everyone completing the training will be hired to join the film crew on the production of the ‘Peridot’ movie, working side-by-side with industry professionals,” Rozier said.

After production, the now-experienced professionals will be listed on the personnel database of the Arizona Commerce Authority’s Film Office.

“They will be qualified to produce commercials for local businesses and get hired by companies seeking to film movies, commercials and other programs throughout the region,” he said.

The production team includes Rozier, director; Miles, assistant director; Lineberry, executive producer and Executive Producer for Distribution Patricia Wyatt.

Rozier has produced films in Senegal and Southeast Asia. His documentary “Racing the Past,” which inspired the “Peridot” film, has won awards at numerous festivals.

A visual artist and filmmaker whose work has “traveled across the globe,” Miles was recently featured in a National Geographic documentary on Apache culture, Rozier said.

Wyatt has served as president of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, overseeing successful completion of hundreds of films and television shows. For many years, Wyatt made the Hollywood Reporter’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment, he said.

Rozier described Lineberry as “an expert at creating partnerships among institutions and communities.”

He talked about the academy’s budget, with $4,800 for program instructors and management; $23,760 for Gila County resident participants; $11,224 for film equipment and $1,875 for administrative costs, for a subtotal of $41,659.

Minus in-kind resources and donations of $10,764, the total outstanding balance was $30,895, he told the council.

Rozier said that $38,600 of the $41,659 “remains right here in Gila County,” making it a 93 percent investment “right back into the local workforce.”

“The more funds we’re able to raise, the more people we can offer this life-changing experience,” he told the council.

Rozier sent sponsorship support proposals to the Film Office, Industrial Development Authority (IDA); Gila County Board of Supervisors; Gila County Superintendent of Education; Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation and San Carlos Tribal Council.

So far, the academy has received a $10,000 commitment from IDA and a $7,500 commitment from the Board of Supervisors, he said.

“We are particularly grateful to supervisors Tim Humphreys and Woody Cline, County Superintendent Roy Sandoval and the Gila County IDA,” Lineberry said.

While enough money has been raised to fund the academy for a small number of applicants, they are continuing to solicit funds as well as in-kind support, he said.

“We need the use of box truck to carry the gaffer supplies and the loan of an RV would create an instant and mobile office and dressing room,” Lineberry said. “The film would, of course, pay for fuel, maintenance and insurance.”

During the Jan. 22 council meeting, Rozier listed additional ways to support the academy, including:

Subsidized or discounted rates on accommodations during the academy (three rooms for two weeks in March) and (six rooms for three weeks in April).

Location permits to film in downtown Globe.

Security for film crew and locations during one week of production.

Meal and food donations during both the academy and filming.

Celebrations around the fall 2019 premiere.

Councilwoman Charlene Giles call the academy “a win-win all the way around.”

For more information, go to www.peridotmovie.com or its Facebook page.

Contact Rozier at peridotmovie@gmail.com or by phone at 323-698-4003.

David Abbott contributed to this report.