Stage 32, the world’s largest online television and film creative talent incubator, has introduced first-of-its-kind certification programs to promote the global production industry’s growth through industry-backed workforce training. The new initiative, now fully open to the public, will provide a path to real-world employment opportunities in television, film, commercials, and digital content in every corner of the globe.
All course graduates will be listed in a new database accessible by regional film commissions and production companies hiring in the hundreds of fast-growing production hotspots worldwide. At launch, 12 international and domestic film commissions and guilds, including Costa Rica, Cyprus, Canacine Mexico, Houston, Nevada, Oregon, Dallas, Montana, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Central Pennsylvania, St. Petersburg/Clearwater and the Location Managers Guild International will officially support the Stage 32 Certification.
With input from education partners and film commissions worldwide, the globally recognized certification program will support workforce training in areas of production and distribution on a localized level. Classes will be taught to develop proficiency for essential jobs, including production accounting, management, cost reporting, call sheets, co-production agreements and more.
Speaking about the initiative, Founder & CEO of Stage 32, Richard Botto, said:
There is more global production happening worldwide, and more qualified people need to do the jobs. Millions worldwide want to work in production and a foot in the door. Still, traditional film school needs to teach the practical skills to make that happen, not to mention presenting opportunities post-graduation to secure work. Stage 32 will offer Certification Courses in multiple production disciplines that will give people the universal skills to work on film or TV production. Film commissions & organizations can easily identify, report on & hire qualified people in their areas to support and work on incoming shows. This program is years in the making and with the input of film commissions, guilds and other organizations worldwide. Today, we launch with a dozen organizations’ support and over 50 more preparing to work with us in 2024.
Stage 32 Certification courses will be taught by highly experienced experts in their fields across the entertainment industry, including Paramount’s Director of Production Maegan Philmore, ViacomCBS Senior Production Finance Manager Shalonda Ware, former head of production at eOne and Carsey Warner Courtney Conte, the legal team at the prestigious Los Angeles-based entertainment firm Ramo Law, Wrapbook’s tax incentive expert Ryan Broussard, film producer and DGA member Korey Pollard and more.
The low-cost courses will start at $299 each, with master certification packages ranging from $1,000-$2,500. The Stage 32 Certification program will continue to expand with upcoming courses in the filmmaking process, script supervision, location management, grip and electric, directing, cinematography, production assistant training and more.
Sam Sokolow, Stage 32 Director of Education & Emmy-nominated producer for Disney/NatGeo’s GENIUS, who has produced 200 hours of film and television distributed globally, added:
My greatest joy as a producer has always been creating jobs for talented artists, craftspeople and the dedicated staff who manage and run physical production. Stage 32’s certification courses are taught by some of the industry’s most experienced, credible and generous people and are designed to give people the tools to work. It’s a dream come true to provide anyone, anywhere, access to this program and a chance to get a foot in the door of our industry.
Stage 32 will hold a Global Film & TV Production Summit on Thursday, Oct. 19, featuring a keynote address by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Cassian Elwes to kick off the certification program. The free virtual summit features top executives from the entertainment industry converging to explore the ever-evolving production landscape. Speakers and panellists include Elwes on “The Brave New World of Producing”, plus production executives from Hulu’s Emmy-nominated The Bear, HBO/MAX Catalyst Studios and Ramo Law; Screen Ireland and Costa Rica commissions; the Co-Founder of FilmUSA; the Location Managers Guild International and more.
Location Managers Guild International President John Rakich commented:
Stage 32 is an incredible organization and platform with a proven 12-year track record in online education and in working to build a platform to bring together the best in film, television and digital content creators and professionals worldwide. The LMGI is happy to be involved with this group of passionate, dedicated people working to raise the bar in global workforce training, especially being part of their new certification program.
Stage 32 provides worldwide employment boards, a helpful networking environment and industry-leading 3,000 hours of educational content. The platform, which supports entertainment industry professionals in over 185 countries and counting, provides an oasis of community and educational tools such as webinars, workshops, and laboratories to help creators connect, develop, and access new chances in TV and film. Members of Stage 32 come from many walks of life, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, South Africa, India, Saudi Arabia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Australia. Some of the most important voices in the entertainment industry, including award-winning filmmakers, writers, producers, showrunners, musicians, documentarians, and others, lead the company’s instructional seminars, webinars, and events.
