“MADE IN NEW YORK” PRODUCTION ASSISTANT TRAINING PROGRAM
An Amazing Program Builds Success Stories for Productions and Students
by Christine Purse

When HD EXPO NY launched on September 25^th, 2008, it was a new city, a new venue, and the team arrived armed with an endless list of things to do. It was obvious there was a need for reliable, short-term local staff that understood the industry. A call to the New York Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting led HD EXPO to an innovative program supporting production in New York, the “Made in NY”Production Assistant Training Program. 

The program was developed in a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting and Brooklyn Workforce Innovations, a nonprofit organization.  Katy Finch is the program’s director.

HDE: The HD EXPO team called upon the young men and women that were part of the “Made in New York” PA Training Program and it paid off handsomely.  They were bright, polite, on-task, and ready for the real world. 

Katy:  Being a PA is hard work; the sooner our trainees know that and the better prepared they are, the better PA’s they will be.  The same punctuality, attitude and responsibility are expected from the students as if they were paid production assistants.  There’s no hand-holding and no coasting in these programs.

HDE: Can you give us an overview of the PA Training Program?

Katy: The “Made in NY” Production Assistant Training Program provides free job training and career development services to unemployed and low-income New Yorkers who are committed to starting a new career in TV and film production. Trainees receive over 160 hours of classroom and field training that’s immediately applicable to working as a production assistant, on set or in the production office.  The month long, full-time training curriculum starts early and ends late just like production does.  During the training, PAs must master walkie-talkies, petty cash, lock-ups, filling out location permits and most importantly problem solving, set etiquette, and being of use on a set.

HDE: The force behind the PA Training Program is Brooklyn Workforce Innovations.  What is that, and how does it interface with MOFTB?

Katy: The “Made in NY” PA Training program was developed in partnership between BWI and the MOFTB. Brooklyn Workforce Innovations (BWI) is a nonprofit organization that helps jobless and working poor New Yorkers establish careers in businesses that offer good wages and opportunities for advancement.  The mission of the PA program is to promote diversity in New York’s production industry and create new career opportunities for New Yorkers in need.  Since the PA Training Program’s launch in 2006, BWI has trained more than 149 production assistants who have gone on to work on more than 22,000 days of local area productions. Our programs are free to participants and include at least two years of job placement and career development services.  BWI currently trains New Yorkers in four sectors: commercial driving, telecommunications cable installation, skilled woodworking, and TV and film production. The MOFTB trains the “Made in NY” PA’s in the permitting process and engages them in community outreach exercises. The agency also rigorously promotes the program to the industry so that the PA’s can have as many employment opportunities as possible.

HDE: Working on a production, especially as a PA, is often a fast moving target.  How do you train young people to be flexible and able to think on their feet?

Katy: Constant role-playing keeps them abreast of the many different circumstances they may encounter on set.  They also have hands-on experience reading road maps and navigating NYC streets and subways, which can be a big part of a PA’s duties. During the third week all trainees are required to intern on an actual production.

HDE: Who are the instructors for the PA's?

Katy: Our instructors are all working industry professionals.  They include Assistant Directors, Production Coordinators, Location Managers, Gaffers, and Producers who instruct students on a variety of department skills and key crew roles.  PA’s also receive training from MOFTB staffers.  I am the Lead Instructor and Program Director, and I was a former A.D.  My goal is to run the classroom the way a set is run.

HDE: How do you work with the MOFTB and the community to deliver the best opportunities to your trainees?

Katy:  BWI partners with a variety of nonprofits, corporations and public agencies.  The New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting was a founding partner and active since the launch of the “Made in NY” Production Assistant Training Program; that affiliation has been crucial to the program’s success.  “Made in NY” is a registered trademark of the City of New York and is used to promote the incentive program and other initiatives in NYC. Among its many contributions, the MOFTB helps promote the PA program through a variety of media, brands the certification that graduates earn, trains students in permitting procedures, and (as with HD EXPO) connects BWI staff with productions that may want to hire graduates.  In addition we have been fortunate to partner with both Silvercup Studios and Eastern Effects during training.  Both companies host the trainees and give them a tour of their facilities as well as provide hands on grip and electric equipment training.

HDE: How do trainees and potential trainees learn about the program?

Katy: We recruit our trainees from all five boroughs of NYC through many different methods of outreach.  We attend community events, post the opportunity on the web, place ads in newspapers and on the radio, do online job postings, directly reach out to the community through flyers and posters and have a network of organizations which refer people to us.  MOFTB also provides bus shelters throughout the five boroughs that advertise the program and utilizes its electronic newsletter.

HDE: Does everyone who applies to the PA Training program get in? 

Katy: We have a rigorous selection process, less than 10% of applicants who apply are accepted.  We choose individuals who demonstrate outstanding motivation, commitment and financial need.  Last year, for example, we received more than 1,000 applications and accepted fewer than 80 students.

Our selection process is intense. Trainees must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver’s license and be unemployed or low income.  They must attend an informational open house, complete a multi-page application that includes a personal statement in addition to work history, income, etc.  The candidates are selected after we review these materials, they are called, screened for need and desire to work in the industry.  After that, if they are deemed eligible, they are invited in for an interview with me and with staff member Mara Prater.  These interviews can be quite intense and have sometimes lasted as long as two hours.  If all goes well, we ask the candidate to do a free day of outreach under the supervision of a graduate of the program; as a sort of a “tryout.”  If all continues to go well through the tryout stage, the candidate is offered a place in our program.

HDE: Do you see interest in entertainment technology in your trainees?

Katy: Unlike university film and television studies, the “Made in NY” PA Training Program trains people to be stellar Production Assistants, not to be creative filmmakers.  Our graduates are committed to beginning their careers; they are prepared to work as PA’s, not to have their reels seen or their scripts read.  They are 110% committed to the production.  That said, every grad comes to us with a passion for the film & TV industry.  Their curiosity and eagerness to learn all aspects of the industry includes a desire to become familiar with the newest equipment and techniques.

HDE: What has been the production community’s response to the program and its graduates?

Katy: The NYC film community has been extremely supportive. We’ve had great success getting the word out that our PA’s are hard working, punctual and positive crewmembers.  When we sent an entire graduating class to intern on “I Am Legend” last fall, the 2nd AD, Joe Aspromonti emailed to say this, “Things are working out great with the graduates we have on our film. It’s a wonderful group of people you've sent us and so well trained. The entire production is very impressed with your group. We're ready for the next group.....let me know when I can have them all.”

HDE: Could you share with us any individual success stories?

Katy: As our grads have worked and moved up in the industry they have been hired as Camera Assistants, Best Boys, Wardrobe Supervisors, Production Coordinators, Assistant Location Managers, Boom Operators, Script Supervisors, Assistant Directors and more.  Recently one of our graduates from the fifth class, Nelson Quinones, was accepted into the DGA Trainee program and is on his way to becoming a union AD.   Nelson said that this experience "became more than a PA training program to me.  I was grouped with 13 individuals who shared the same goals and aspirations as I did.  The biggest thing would have to be a bond that I share with my fellow classmates."

Another one of our grads from our third class, Tsahai Wilson, has just field produced her first segment for cable TV.  Tsahai had worked for Law & Order as a production secretary and as an assistant coordinator on features after graduation.  When asked what advice she has for people who aspire to work in production she said, “What I tell (them) is the same thing I learned from the program: to ask the right questions, to not be afraid to ask questions, to take notes, and to simply use common sense and good judgment.  We struggle with long days and long hours, but you have to stay focused if this is really what you want.”

HDE: How can businesses and productions take advantage of this program?

Katy: Hundreds of productions and companies have taken advantage of BWI’s PA placement services.  Simply call our Production Hotline (718-757-5816), it’s answered by a staff member 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  You can give us a week’s notice or a moment’s notice.  Either way we will act on it immediately, and ask all the questions that will help us find the right person for the job.  A list of productions that have hired “Made in NY” PA’s is available on BWI’s website: www.bwiny.org.
 
Our goal is to find the best candidates to fill your open positions.  We will put the PA’s in contact with you, or you can contact them directly – whatever works best for the production.

HDE: Thank you Katy, congratulations on an outstanding program and a great group of PA’s.  We’ll be calling you on September 17^th, 2009 when HD EXPO returns to New York!

 

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