California's Film/TV Career Readiness Initiative   

The expanded Film & TV Tax Credit Program 2.0 includes a provision called the Career Readiness Initiative that helps students from all walks of life gain access to production-related careers. It requires each project in the tax credit program to offer hands-on opportunities ranging from paid student internships and professional skills tours to teacher externships. So far, the feedback from students and educators has been overwhelmingly positive.  

Here are a few Career Readiness Initiative stats (to date): 

• 97 internships 
• 18-49 student age range 
• 30% of students from work-based learning programs
• 70% of students from community colleges
• 4 classroom workshops
• 24 teacher externships
• 48 projects made contributions to underwrite paid internships and scholarships

One high-profile example of the initiative in action is Disney's "A Wrinkle in Time." Director Ava DuVernay made career readiness and access to the filmmaking process a priority. She personally interviewed and selected three community college students for on-set internships and created an atmosphere of inclusiveness that has inspired the students to continue exploring careers in the production industry.

CFC's App Makes it Easy to Find Locations On-the-Go

The California Film Commission's free mobile app (for iOS) makes it super-easy to find locations and access CFC services from the palm of your hand. 

Available for free download in the App Store, it enables users to search our vast CinemScout locations library (more than 6,000 locations with detailed jurisdiction info), use our online permitting system, review incentive materials and connect with regional film offices from across the state.

Friendly faces! (from left) Behunin, Vasquez and Swartz join the growing tax credit program team.

Our team at the California Film Commission continues to grow in order to handle increased production from the state's tax credit program. Please join us in welcoming our newest additions to the tax credit program staff.

Adrienne Behunin (Program Coordinator) has been promoted to coordinator after serving as tax credit assistant. In her spare time she is a horror film buff and founder/executive director of the Horror Haus Film Festival.

Francisco Vasquez (Program Assistant) has worked for the state for four years and joins us from the Department of Motor Vehicles. He is completing his degree in Political Science while working at the CFC full-time.

Jerram Swartz (Program Associate) is the latest addition to the team and brings decades of experience in film and TV production as a 1st assistant director and production manager. His credits include "E.T.," "The Blues Brothers" and "Can't Buy Me Love."    

Please join the California Film Commission in welcoming our newest board members. 

Bonnie Goldfarb is co-founder and executive producer at Harvest Films Inc., which she launched in 2001. She has traveled extensively around the world with many commercial productions, and holds membership in AICP and the Directors Guild of America.

Donelle Dadigan is president and founder of the Hollywood Museum. She's also chair of the Hollywood Historic Trust and will serve as chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce starting later this year.

Ricky Nierva is an award-winning 20-year veteran of Pixar Animation Studios. His character design and art direction credits include "Up" (2010 Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature), "Monsters University," "Monster's Inc." and "Finding Nemo." He also illustrated the Random House children's book titled "'M' is for Monster." 

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