November 16, 2021 | Filed under: Press Releases, Training
The New Mexico Film Office Launches New Production Assistant Bootcamps
SANTA FE, N.M. - Today, the New Mexico Film Office (NMFO) announced a new series of online Production Assistant (PA) Bootcamps, aimed at training New Mexicans for entry-level positions as production assistants in the New Mexico film and television industry.
The free one-day online PA Bootcamps will run from November 2021 – April 2022 and will prepare New Mexicans to immediately begin a career as a production assistant.
“Working as a production assistant is like a rite of passage and is an excellent way to get to know all the various departments on a film set and figure out what one wants to do and if this is the career for them. This is the job that is the entry point for those interested in pursuing a career in the film and television industry.” Amber Dodson, New Mexico Film Office Director, said. “As New Mexico continues to see an increase in production in our state and a demand for a trained and skilled crew, this new Production Assistant Bootcamp will provide a pipeline of trained New Mexicans for the entry-level PA positions needed by productions.”
A production assistant, also known as a PA, is an entry-level position within the film crew in the film and television industry. A PA’s role can vary and include a range of delegated tasks including, but not limited to, office work, errands, set up, and clean up. Strong organizational and communication skills are necessary.
The New Mexico Film Office has partnered with CNM Ingenuity to provide the PA Bootcamps.
“At CNM, we’re honored to be partnering with the New Mexico Film Office to address the growing workforce need in our state for more production assistants for our prolific television and film industries,” CNM President Tracy Hartzler said. “CNM has been training film production technicians to support New Mexico’s growing film industry for nearly 20 years. We’re excited to expand our workforce development support of the film industry by providing this new opportunity for those who are interested in quickly becoming a production assistant as an entry point to this major industry.”
Participants in the online bootcamps will gain a comprehensive understanding of the basic role of a PA, how to read a call sheet, an understanding of departments and protocols, general terminology, familiarity with equipment, safety training and more.
The Production Assistant Bootcamp will be taught by Alton Walpole. Alton Walpole is a filmmaker with over thirty years of experience, including work on projects such as Crazy Heart, The Book of Eli, Longmire, Godless, and more.
The one-day PA Bootcamps will be held online via Zoom. The bootcamps will be offered regularly from November 2021 – April 2022, with the first session being held on Saturday, November 20, 2021 (see website for schedule).
Participants must be New Mexico residents over the age of 18 and interested and available to work immediately. More information and a link to register can be found on the CNM Ingenuity website. Space is limited and spots will be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis.