RALEIGH, NC -   The North Carolina Film Office is excited to announce a new workforce training opportunity that’s open to all North Carolina residents and/or students currently enrolled in a North Carolina institute of higher education who are interested in working in the film and television industry.

On October 14 and 15, producers Jennifer A. Haire and Gilana Lobel, authors of the book “Keys to the Production Office: Unlocking Success as an Office Production Assistant in Film & Television,” will be in Wilmington to conduct a two-day intensive workshop focusing on the work done within a production office. The workshop will examine how the Office Production Assistant (P.A.) supports the process of creating a show, the production staff and crew, and the practical day-to-day operations of the production office, as well as explores ways to develop a career in the film and television industry.

Applications for the event are now being accepted, and space is limited. Interested persons can apply online using the link below this article. Residents from under-represented populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Participants must be able to attend both days of the program (from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). There is a $25 registration fee, which will cover lunch on both days and all supplies needed, including a copy of the presenters’ book.

“We are excited to offer this opportunity and give North Carolinians a chance to learn more about a specific part of the film production industry that they were likely not aware existed,” said Guy Gaster, director of the North Carolina Film Office. “Opportunities like this highlight that this industry is more than just actors and camera folks and that there is a need for different kinds of skill sets throughout the industry.”

The workshop will take place at Dark Horse Studios, which recently broke ground on two new purpose-built, state-of-the-art sound stages that will add 40,000 square feet of production space to their lot in Wilmington.

“We look forward to having this event at Dark Horse and hope to see many of the participants back at the Studio working on new projects in the very near future,” said Kirk Englebright, owner and CEO of Dark Horse Studios.

In addition to literally writing the book on being an Office P.A., Haire and Lobel combined have worked on more than 50 productions, including “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Schitt’s Creek,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “The Americans,” “Russian Doll,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and the North Carolina-filmed features “Abundant Acreage Available,” “Careful What You Wish For” and “Shifting Gears.” The pair are graduates of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem and are members of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and Producers Guild of America (PGA).

The North Carolina Film Office, part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, serves as a marketing and recruiting entity on behalf of the N.C. Department of Commerce to specifically target the film and entertainment industry.  While promoting the state’s strong workforce, established infrastructure and variety of locations, the office also serves as a key contact for information regarding the state’s 25 percent rebate program, which is funded through the bi-partisan-established North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grant. Since 2020, film productions are estimated to have spent more than $843 million while filming throughout the state with notable productions including “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (Seasons 1 & 2), “Welcome To Flatch” (Seasons 1 & 2), “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” “The Black Phone,” the award-winning event series “George and Tammy,” the recently released streaming feature “Zoey 102” and the upcoming Hallmark Countdown to Christmas movie “A Biltmore Christmas.”

For More Information

Click here to register for workshop