Developing homegrown talent is key for the U.S. in the battle to retain and attract production in what’s become an intensely competitive global market. Past installments of this column have focused on the importance of arts as well as high-tech education to help open up opportunities for young people interested in becoming part of the filmmaking community. That educational priority also holds true for established industry workers who need to re-train and re-tool themselves to remain viable in an increasingly digital environment.
The Entertainment Industry Development Corporation (EIDC) is widely known as the private/public partnership that oversees the joint Los Angeles City/County Film Office. But the EIDC, which was created in 1995, is also proactively involved in education and training as a means of keeping the industry healthy for the long term in Greater Los Angeles.
Last month, the EIDC was awarded $930,000 from the California Employment Training Panel (ETP), for a comprehensive worker retraining program. Counting a $517,000 ETP contract won by the EIDC earlier this year, total funding is nearly $1.5 million.
"ETP recognizes that we know this industry and that we know the skills workers need to be competitive in this global workplace," related EIDC senior VP Kathleen Milnes. "Everyone can talk about this convergence of Hollywood and technology, but unless our workers have the necessary skills, we will continue to be dependent on increases in the number of H-1B visas to fill these jobs, or worse—loss of work to other regions or countries."
As earlier reported (SHOOT, 10/13 and 11/3, p. 1), a bill was recently signed into law that raised the annual allotment of H-1B visas to 195,000 for each of the next three years. The measure was supported by U.S. high-tech firms—including many visual effects and computer animation studios—that depend on recruiting foreign talent to help offset what they contend is a shortage of qualified American workers.
The EIDC projects that by the end of 2001, close to 1,000 current employees from more than 200 Los Angeles County-based companies will benefit from its ETP-funded program. Training is being provided by three Southern California firms—Weynand Training International, Montana Edit and Gnomon Inc. School of Visual Effects—with emphasis in such areas as: video/ broadcast/Web production operations, postproduction, animation, motion graphics and broadcast design, and foundation skills. To date, 300 workers from 105 companies have received training.
Meanwhile, the State of California has also gained educational funding. In November, Gov. Gray Davis (D-Calif.) approved a $1 million grant to the Hollywood Entertainment Museum for an industry job-training program.
"This grant will be used to give high school students the vocational and other skills necessary to prepare them for well-paid, entry-level employment in the entertainment industry," Davis stated.
The Hollywood Entertainment Museum program will expose pupils to possible careers in the entertainment sector. The program is designed to encourage 11th and 12th graders to stay in school, seek continued education, and understand the link between education and job opportunities.
"Using the exciting field of entertainment to motivate kids to hone their English skills so they might write a script is a great way to improve basic skills," said Davis. "This program recognizes the importance of linking learning reading, writing and math to jobs like building sets and designing costumes."
The Hollywood Entertainment Museum currently serves at-risk youth through its Education Center and Academy For The Entertainment Arts programs. The museum also offers "Entertainment On The Go," a project that travels to local schools to share information with students on how to prepare for careers in entertainment-related professions.
