Netflix and the Handy Foundation have unveiled a collaboration aimed at creating below-the-line opportunities in film and entertainment for underrepresented communities. These career-building programs, which focus on supporting postproduction and production roles, intend to help grow the talent pool at the junior technical and creative level and are the latest initiatives to be launched out of the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity–a $100 million commitment to help build new pathways for underrepresented communities within the entertainment industry.
The Apprentice & Assistant Editors programs provide a springboard toward future Assistant Editor positions, offering invaluable insights into the role’s intricacies and the necessary skill set. The program also equips participants with the experience critical for postproduction.
The Production Coordinator program sets the stage for a career in production management, emphasizing industry operations and the coordinator’s pivotal role within a production team.
The Handy Foundation and Netflix joined forces to pilot these programs in 2022, helping train and identify talent for potential job opportunities on Netflix projects. To date, 17 Handy Foundation trainees have successfully found roles on Netflix projects, including Selling the OC, The Circle, and Perfect Match.
This collaboration is one of several initiatives launched by the Handy Foundation to promote equity and inclusion in the film and television industry. By partnering with like-minded organizations and individuals, the Foundation seeks to empower workers from underrepresented groups and promote positive social change.
Tiffany Burrell-Lewis, director of talent development at Netflix, underlined the company’s commitment to these efforts: “We created the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity to build new pathways for underrepresented communities and support the organizations committed to creating a more equitable environment within entertainment. Our partnership with The Handy Foundation is a testament to this work, with 17 trainees successfully finding roles on popular Netflix shows to date. We’re excited about the progress made so far and look forward to expanding on this work together.”
Ri-Karlo Handy, founder and CEO of the Handy Foundation, emphasized the significance of this joint effort: “Our partnership with Netflix marks a full-circle moment for the Handy Foundation, as our first Assistant Editor trainee secured a role on a Netflix production back in 2021. With Netflix’s support, we are making strides to help provide access to successful careers for people of color and others who have historically been underrepresented in these roles in the content production industry. We look forward to incorporating more tradecraft positions as we continue to expand these programs with Netflix.”
Ciara Ray, assistant production coordinator fellow, shared her experience and the opportunities these programs present: “I love working on Netflix’s Selling the OC and collaborating with a diverse team that produces successful and unique television programming. I’m fortunate to have widened my skills through the Handy Foundation and gained insight and experience in unscripted TV. I’m also thankful to be surrounded by seasoned professionals who are talented, driven, and supportive. It’s truly an honor to be part of this special and evolving partnership that cultivates unity, community growth and success in the visual arts workforce.”
These testimonials underscore the significant impact these programs have in shaping the career paths of individuals from underrepresented communities. More information on these programs and applications are available here.
Sean “Diddy” Combs seeks bail, citing changed circumstances and new evidence
Sean "Diddy" Combs filed a new request for bail on Friday, saying changed circumstances, along with new evidence, mean the hip-hop mogul should be allowed to prepare for a May trial from outside jail.
Lawyers for Combs filed the request in Manhattan federal court, where his previous requests for bail have been rejected by two judges since his September arrest on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with help from a network of associates and employees, while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.
He has been awaiting a May 5 trial at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn.
In their new court filing, lawyers for Combs say they are proposing a "far more robust" bail package that would subject the entertainer to strict around-the-clock security monitoring and near-total restrictions on his ability to contact anyone but his lawyers. But the amount of money they attach to the package remains $50 million, as they proposed before.
They also cite new evidence that they say "makes clear that the government's case is thin." That evidence, the lawyers said, refutes the government's claim that a March 2016 video showing Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend occurred during a coerced "freak off," a sexually driven event described in the indictment against Combs.
They wrote that the encounter was instead "a minutes-long glimpse into a complex but decade-long consensual relationship" between Combs and his then-girlfriend.
The lawyers argued that the jail conditions Combs is experiencing at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn violate his constitutional... Read More