CLAYTON COUNTY — Dreams for a career behind the scenes in the business of television and film usually require investing in upfront costs. But a local program in Clayton County pays its students and designed to get them in the entertainment workforce.
“WE SHOW UP” launched its first pilot entertainment workforce and business development program in September, in Clayton County, GA (located within the Metro Atlanta area).
The apprentice program is designed to provide jobs and business opportunities in the multi-billion dollar entertainment industry (film, TV, music, digital entertainment).
The program provides resources, training and development to high growth-potential businesses and agencies to help them secure entertainment industry contracts, accelerate their annual revenues, expand and create jobs. Following the implementation in Clayton, the program is expected to expand to other counties around the state.
“One of the most important things we can do as an entertainment center in the U.S. to ensure we have trained talent to to fill the workforce needs of our film and television infrastructure,” said WE SHOW UP CoFounder/Executive Director LaRonda Sutton. “Clayton County was among the first camera-ready counties in Georgia, so it is only fitting that we pilot this program to their unemployed and underemployed residents who want to be a part of this thriving industry.”
“We are excited to pilot this new workforce training program with Clayton County Community Services Authority,” said Georgia STAND-UP Founder and WE SHOW UP Co-Founder Deborah Scott. “The goal of WE SHOW UP is to provide a pipeline of workers — that have a understanding of the culture and work environment of the industry — and provide vendors the opportunity to grow their businesses by tapping into a workforce that sees this as an opportunity to learn and grow in an emerging industry and economy.”
Scott continued, “It’s an added benefit that the Georgia Department of Labor and Work Source invested in work experience funds to be able to support the trainee ‘Show Stoppers’ in this endeavor.”
“With the continued growth of Clayton County’s on-location filming portfolio that includes Baby Driver, Spiderman: Homecoming, “The Walking Dead” and “Stranger Things” — among 50 other productions in 2017,” said Clayton County Film Office Director of Film and Digital Entertainment Tamara Patridge. “I look forward to the members of our community having the opportunity to obtain the skills they need to be a part of the robust film industry in Georgia.”
“The focus of the Clayton County Community Services Authority is to get people introduced into the world of entertainment,” said CSA Director of Operations Sharon Myles. “We know the opportunity to work in this industry offers a lifetime of benefits for county residents and their families.”
"WE SHOW UP" identifies the employment needs of the entertainment industry and makes connections to a trained and motivated workforce supporting the industry’s infrastructure. It taps into a film ready atmosphere that brings direct equitable economic benefits to the community of residents, talent and businesses.
The next classes for "We Show Up" begin Dec 3. You must be at least at the age of 18 and a resident of Clayton County. The program will be expanding to other county. Apply here.
