Hollywood CPR Entertainment Industry Union Career Pathways

Access to tech and creative industry employment

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

We aim to address the critical need for comprehensive "soft skills" support, technical and experiential training, traineeship placement, which is essential for overcoming barriers to employment and career success in the entertainment industry. Despite 95% of industry jobs being technical, behind-the-camera roles, BIPOC workers make up only 5% of the current workforce. This disparity is exacerbated by the high costs of a 4-year degree, which have become prohibitive for many. As a result, tuition-free education and training at the community college level have become more compelling options.
Entertainment is a significant source of employment in Los Angeles, however, access to these opportunities is often limited for individuals from historically underrepresented groups due to a lack of industry connections, and practical training. Hollywood CPR addresses this problem by focusing on providing a more representative, union-trained workforce with the skills and confidence to succeed.

Hollywood CPR has a 27-year history as a purveyor of career opportunity and economic mobility in an industry that has traditionally been very hard to enter. Our program offers on-the-job training, trainee and job search assistance, and traineeship placement, effectively addressing industry needs.
We currently work with LACCD to leverage their infrastructure to train students at top notch facilities such as our Watson Center Sound Stage at WLAC. We are expanding to LATTC to increase accessibility of the program to a diverse student population in different areas of the city. These partnerships facilitate efficient outreach, enrollment, and access to support resources. Our connections to prominent studios also make for a full service approach as we connect students with traineeships. Our trainee support coordinator helps students source opportunities to meet a 640 training hours requirement. Trainees learn to communicate, network, and pursue opportunities, which are essential for long-term success in an industry where personal referrals are important.
The grant will support these components, to allow Hollywood CPR to expand its reach, enhance its technology, and strengthen industry and educational partnerships. Our commitment to leveraging technology, increasing diversity, and providing soft skills training positions us as a leader in entertainment production training. This grant will help us scale our impact on our students' lives and the industry.

IA union membership is key to career longevity, however the need for production services is not limited to the Hollywood movie and television industry. Each graduate leaves with a specialized skill set, foundational base of production knowledge and know-how to work on events at faith-based venues, college campuses, convention centers, Parks & Recreation events, and the recording and broadcasting of local and regional government meetings. Hollywood CPR alumni are prepared to pursue a variety of non-union endeavors as employees, freelancers, entrepreneurs, or by establishing their own production businesses.
As our alumni has said, “I have encountered fellow alumni on every set I've worked on, which speaks volumes about the network and community that Hollywood CPR fosters.” The presence of top-notch below-the-line talent will boost the local economy and be able to better support themselves and their families, increasing their contributions to the overall economic health of LA County.

While our industry and workforce were severely impacted by the strikes, our success is measured by the perseverance and achievements of those we serve. Our program has advanced the careers of 62 individuals, with 95% of graduates self-identifying as underrepresented. We submitted over 60 student resumes to major studios and facilitated 21 paid traineeships on high-profile productions such as Bel-Air S3, The Rookie, The Oscars, and a Lucasfilm project. Studio partners like NBCUniversal trust Hollywood CPR to provide candidates with specialized skills and the drive to succeed.
To measure impact, we have comprehensive tracking systems and aim to develop our alumni program to track career progress. Observing the importance of traineeships in career success, we seek to streamline the traineeship process with in-person interview workshops, virtual resume workshops. These tools will help us scale the traineeship process, as our success is measured by the accomplishments of our participants.