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originally published: 01/21/2022

(PISCATAWAY, NJ) -- The NJ Motion Picture and Television Commission invites New Jersey residents interested in pursuing a career in film and television production to apply for the upcoming Production Assistant Bootcamp scheduled for February 5 and 6 at Rutgers University in Piscataway.

The diverse Production Assistant (P.A.) Bootcamp training program is a two-day thorough, intensive, real-world, work-based job training program that provides trainees with an opportunity to gain skills, knowledge and understanding of film/TV production. The program trains individuals from diverse backgrounds for the job of Production Assistant, which is the entry level gateway into the entertainment industry as it has been for many highly successful producers, directors and crew currently working in the industry.

The workforce training program is provided free of charge to accepted participants, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Sony Pictures Entertainment. This will be the sixth P.A. Bootcamp to be held in New Jersey since 2018. So far, 136 New Jersey residents from diverse backgrounds have participated in the bootcamps.

Following his successful completion of the program, Brandon Leventhal, a resident of Matawan, was hired as a production assistant on the upcoming Zach Braff feature “A Good Person,” which filmed in New Jersey in 2021.

“I learned so much useful information and applicable skills at the P.A. Bootcamp that boosted my confidence in my ability to be a competent member of a production. Consequently, I hit the ground running as a production assistant on my first feature film, and I can point back to the foundation and exposure I received at the bootcamp, which I will carry with me throughout my career journey.”

 

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The two-day weekend training program is designed to train Set and Office Production Assistants. Participants will learn everything necessary to walk onto any film or television set and do the job right from day one. Although a job after the Bootcamp is not guaranteed, with the rapid increase in film and television production in the State, the demand for qualified P.A.s is high.

Participants are required to be fully vaccinated and wear face masks at all times, and social distancing must be maintained throughout the duration of the program.

Interested residents can learn more at www.pabootcamp.com and apply via email. Write to: pabootcamp@gmail.com and place Rutgers-Piscataway Bootcamp in the subject line. The email should include your name, email, phone number and a short paragraph explaining why you want to attend.

Email registration is not an automatic confirmation of attendance. You may receive a request for a phone interview. Acceptance into the training will be confirmed by email. Applicants MUST be able to attend training on BOTH February 5 and February 6 and be able to accept Production Assistant work in New Jersey in the next several months. Space is limited, so residents are encouraged to apply immediately.

The New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission, formed in 1978, is staffed by industry professionals and serves as a resource for production companies. New Jersey currently offers tax incentives for film/television productions including a diversity bonus.  

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. Sony Pictures Television operates dozens of wholly-owned or joint-venture production companies around the world. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, 3000 Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, Sony Pictures International Productions, and Sony Pictures Classics.