Production Assistant Training & Work Experience Program

The Production Assistant Training & Work Experience Program is a Production Assistant (PA) training, mentorship, and subsidized work experience (WEX) program that serves participants across Washington state who identify as from historically underrepresented communities.

The program is designed to establish an entry level pathway to the film, television, and creative media industry in Washington state. By providing industry-standard training and identifying aligned WEX Partners that can provide supportive and substantive learning environments, this program aims to deepen the workforce bench to meet the current and future needs of Washington’s film industry.

Info Sessions

Washington Filmworks staff will be hosting virtual info sessions on Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 26. RSVP using the link below.

RSVP

Apply

Applications open February 22. Stay tuned for the upcoming application window and read more about the program below.

Ready to launch your career in Washington’s film, television, and creative media industry?

PA Training

Complete Production Assistant training via an online learning platform.

Job Placement

Join the PA Roster for the opportunity to be hired by film, television, and creative media industry partners.

Support

Take part in monthly professional development sessions and get matched with a Mentor once hired.

Program Details

 
Training - Participants complete Production Assistant training, via an online learning platform. The training will cover foundational skills and topics including but not limited to: film set hierarchy; film departments overview; stages of production; set etiquette; walkie-talkie norms and terminology; typical PA tasks; basic PA gear; safety protocols; paperwork basics, including call sheets, petty cash, timecards, and deal memos.
 
PA Roster & Placement - Once Participants have completed their PA training, they will be placed on the Participant PA Roster. Active PAs may be hired by approved WEX Partners. Each Participant may complete two paid placements during their one year in the Program. Placements will typically be between 40-100 hours of paid PA work.
 
Professional Development - The program will host monthly virtual professional development sessions to those active in the program.
 
Mentorship - Once hired, participants will be matched with a Mentor for additional support, including answering questions, general guidance about the film industry, and networking.

Cost

The program is available at no cost for those selected to participate.

Eligibility

Applicant must identify as an individual from a historically underrepresented (i.e. marginalized) community.

Underrepresented communities definition: Underrepresented communities refers to groups of persons who have been relegated to an unimportant or powerless position such that they are prevented from participating fully in decisions affecting their lives. People may experience further marginalization because of their intersecting identities. They are often communities or populations that face systemic economic, political, social, and cultural barriers, many of them embedded in local laws and norms. The term encompasses communities with a shared experience of marginalization stemming from circumstances beyond their control. Underrepresented communities often include Black, Latino, Indigenous and American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color, members of religious minorities, refugees, migrants, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQIA2S+) persons, rural communities, formerly incarcerated persons, persons experiencing homelessness, and persons with disabilities.

Applicant of record for the program must be a Washington State resident. A Washington State resident is an individual who maintains a permanent dwelling within the state, and spends an aggregate of at least six months each year within the state, and signs a Declaration of Residency certifying that they have been a Washington State resident for at least six months.

The applicant has no more than fifteen (15) days of paid production work (at minimum wage or higher, at time of employment) in the film, television, and creative media industry.

Applicants must be 18 years old or older at the time of application.

Applicant has a legal right to work in the United States. Applicants must be able to complete an I9 form in order to be hired for work experiences within the program.

Applicant of record may not have participated in the Production Assistant Training & Work Experience Program previously.

Application Information

Check out the resources below to get to know the program and application process.

Guidelines & Criteria

The Guidelines & Criteria include all you need to understand the ins and outs of the program.

Preview Application Questions

Curious what the participant application looks like? Check out the preview questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

COMING SOON. Frequently asked questions will be available after the first virtual info session.