New Training Program Prepares Los Angeles Students for Television Careers

The Television Academy Foundation is starting a new ten-week training program for high school students in the Los Angeles area to help them get entry-level jobs in television. The project is a partnership with the retail company Best Buy, which is providing funding to make the after-school classes completely free for students.

Program Details

Students will learn skills for jobs like production assistants, production coordinators, assistant directors, production managers, producers, location managers, and production accountants. The course also includes field trips to see live television productions in person. Tina Perry, who chairs the Television Academy Foundation, stated that the program gives students practical training, mentorship, and real-world exposure to enter the entertainment industry. Donny Hugo Herran, a Television Academy board governor with twenty years of industry experience, will serve as the first instructor. Herran has worked on shows like Yellowstone and The Challenge, and he wrote a book titled The Production Guru.

Locations and Impact

Classes will take place at YMCA facilities located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles and in Long Beach. Herran noted that opening doors to these jobs helps create a more representative entertainment industry. The initiative aims to support local underserved communities and build connections for young people starting their careers behind the scenes.

Context

Programs like this bridge the gap between education and the entertainment workforce by giving students direct access to industry professionals. Training local youth in practical production skills helps diversify the talent pipeline in major media hubs like Los Angeles.