As SHOOT gears up for its 15th New Directors Showcase at the DGA Theatre in NYC next week (5/25), opening up opportunities for promising talent, there are other relatively new programs gaining traction which are designed to create paths into the industry for those who aspire to something better.
One such initiative is the nonprofit Film2Future (F2F), launched in 2016 by Rachel Miller, founding partner of Haven Entertainment, a management and production company. In its first year, F2F gave 19 underprivileged diverse high school students across the Los Angeles Unified School District the opportunity to learn about the film industry through an intense production workshop. As part of its program for disadvantaged and at-risk youth, F2F provides healthy meals, transportation and computer access for every class session and event.
Via F2F, students from the ages of 14-18 learn life skills such as self-advocacy, confidence, teamwork, budget preparation and resume writing. F2F provides one-on-one mentorship and, upon graduation, work to create a direct connection for its students into higher education or into a paid entry-level industry position.
This year F2F has partnered with Deutsch to host a two-week intensive program on animation in Deutsch’s new production studio, Steelhead, located across the street from Deutsch LA. Twenty-five students will participate in the program, which is slated to run from June 12-23. The students will gain hands-on animation experience working with Deutsch specialists and industry experts on state-of-the-art equipment. By the end of the program, each participant will have built a portfolio of work for their own academic and professional use.
“This is a great chance to expose kids to all of the opportunities Hollywood has to offer,” said Vic Palumbo, president of Steelhead, who added, “We’re excited to mentor the Film2Future students and explore the talents of the next generation of creatives in film and entertainment.”
Miller observed, “We are elevating young people and working to diversify the workforce in Hollywood. In order to have more women and minorities in creative roles, we have to start in high school to develop a real pipeline into the entertainment business.”
F2F relies on fundraising and partnerships to keep the program alive. For more information, visit Film2Future.com.
