A coalition of leading trade and professional groups have formed a non-profit organization to provide mentoring services to young people seeking behind-the-scenes careers in the media and entertainment industry. The Entertainment Industry Professionals Mentoring Alliance, or EIPMA, plans to nurture the industry’s next generation of talent by offering expert guidance to high school and college students, military veterans and others seeking to launch their careers, and by hosting job fairs, panel discussions and other public events.
EIPMA’s focus is to help young people get started on career paths in an array of craft and technology roles involved in entertainment media production. Its member organizations include groups associated with sound and picture editing, visual effects, recording, engineering and technology development. Among them are American Cinema Editors (ACE), Audio Engineering Society Los Angeles (AES), Avid, Cinema Audio Society (CAS), Hollywood Professional Association (HPA), Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE), the Recording Academy and SoundGirls.
“The future of the entertainment industry depends on the continuous influx of bright, young talent,” said Bernard Weiser, an award-winning supervising sound editor who is EIPMA’s elected president. “Our members have accumulated a lifetime of knowledge, experience and insights across a diversity of specialized crafts and vocations, and they are eager to share their expertise with young people who want to follow in their footsteps.”
EIPMA plans to partner with high schools and universities to increase student awareness for career opportunities in the entertainment industry. The organization will host job fairs, provide speakers and sponsor panel discussions. It will also connect schools with mentors with specialized expertise to help improve media-related educational programs and attune them with current industry practices and employment needs. Mentors will also serve as guest lecturers and advisers for student projects.
Additionally, EIPMA will provide individual mentoring to students at or near college graduation, military veterans and others ready to embark on industry careers. “Our mentors will help young people navigate the often-daunting transition from the classroom to the professional work environment,” Weiser explained. “We also plan to offer company tours and shadowing opportunities so that students can experience firsthand how work is carried out in professional environments.”
EIPMA will host an open house for educators this fall at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City. Details will be posted to the group’s website here.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More