When Whitney Faigle steps into a classroom at the Georgia Film Academy (GFA), he brings more than two decades of live event expertise, a lifelong love of video games and a deep appreciation for how entertainment connects people. For Faigle, teaching courses in live production, streaming and esports is more than an academic exercise – it’s workforce development in real time, a chance to prepare Georgians to step directly into a rapidly evolving industry.
Faigle joined GFA in early 2022, but his path into teaching started long before. A self-described lifelong gamer, he grew up during the rise of home consoles. But games were only one part of the story. Comedy and improv shaped him, too. Years ago, he trained at Whole World Theatre, a flagship improvisational theatre group in Atlanta, and eventually co-founded StriKing Marketing, an Atlanta-based, experiential marketing agency focused on bringing brands to life.
Faigle spent those years producing events of every size and for a wide-ranging list of clients. He produced Red Bull’s high-energy Soapbox Races for 90,000 Atlantans, major conferences for Samsung and BlackBerry, and events for Coca-Cola, Kaiser Permanente and Major League Soccer. He worked stages, managed permitting, built attendee experiences and learned the technical side of live productions from the ground up.
“I got to see live events from every angle,” he said. “Stage shows, conferences, big events. It gave me a full view of what it takes to make something feel seamless to an audience.”
That background is what led High-Rez Studios to bring Faigle and his company into the world of esports in 2014. Their team helped produce large-scale live events for the games Smite, Paladins, and Realm Royale, connecting online audiences with in-person excitement for crowds of up to 3,000. When former Hi-Rez leaders Todd Harris and Nabil Ismail launched Skillshot Media, Faigle continued collaborating with them.
In 2021, when Skillshot began working more closely with GFA, Harris and Ismail encouraged Faigle to consider teaching. The timing aligned with GFA’s vision to expand training in Digital Entertainment, Esports & Game Development. The pathway now known as Live Production, Streaming & Esports gives students hands-on experience in broadcast roles both in front of and behind the camera. This spring, Faigle will teach two classes: Introduction to Live Production, Streaming & Esports and Event Design for Live Production & Esports.
Faigle’s classes attract a wide variety of student backgrounds, from career changers and nontraditional learners to those pursuing degrees in Georgia State University’s Sports Administration program. Some students arrive as seasoned gamers, while others have never picked up a controller. Regardless of their experience, Faigle uses video games as a dynamic medium for learning, leveraging esports as a powerful tool to engage and educate. “Live Production is broad,” he said. “If someone wants to work in sports broadcasting, stage production or streaming, the same fundamentals apply.”
What sets Faigle apart is his commitment to connection. He opens every semester admitting to students he doesn’t know everything and is constantly learning himself, but he’ll share everything he does know and encourages them to bring their knowledge and experiences, too. He stays accessible, gives career guidance and often connects and recommends students directly to employers. Skillshot, which continues to expand its production roster, frequently turns to Faigle for referrals as it sources talent for projects and live events. That student-first approach is the heart of why he teaches.
“I love empowering Georgians to step into entertainment careers,” he said. “If I can open a door for someone or help them figure out their path, that’s the best part of the job!”
GFA certification equips the next generation of film, television, streaming and esports crews through coursework and on-set experience. The academy, a unique, statewide initiative operated under the auspices of the University System of Georgia, has resonated with leading Hollywood studios and production companies such as MGM and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society. For more information, visit georgiafilmacademy.edu.
