30 years of proven results.
Hollywood Cinema Production Resources partners with IATSE and the AMPTP to expand access to production careers for local talent without traditional industry connections.
Crew up with us on your next production to help train the next generation of crew and unlock additional tax incentives.
Film & Television Tax Credit Program 4.0
Career Readiness
All productions applying under California Film & Television Tax Credit Program 4.0 are required to complete a Career Readiness activity approved by the California Film Commission.
Hollywood CPR provides pathway-specific traineeships that meet Career Readiness requirements under §5554(d)(6), including minimum hour thresholds, hands-on technical craft experience, and required documentation for CR4 submission. Learn more here.
Career Pathways
By July 2026 productions that employ Hollywood CPR trainees may be eligible for an additional 2% credit increase authorized by statute (AB 1138), while also meeting existing Career Readiness requirements.
This creates a direct financial incentive to employ pathway-specific trainees approved by IATSE to operate equipment at the Department Heads discretion. Learn more
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
Additionally, Hollywood CPR trainees or alumni may help satisfy the following DEIA Check List Requirements:
Inclusive Hiring
Equity Education
Industry Capacity Building
FAQ
Supervisors & Crew
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Supervisors can contact their Business Rep or Hollywood CPR’s IA Liaison below with questions about what a trainee can and can’t do.
IATSE West Coast Rep:
Anthony Pawluc apawluc@iatse.net
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IATSE department head must:
Hire a fully staffed crew before accepting a trainee. A trainee cannot supplement your labor force.
Ensure the crew is bought into the training experience for the trainee and they understand the trainee is not replacing a union member.
Work with the trainee and crew to determine where the trainee should shadow first or where they can start hands-on training under supervision.
Ensure there’s always supervision when the trainee is completing hands-on craft work. The trainee should never be responsible for a job that could lose the production money or harm the crew.
Do their best to make introductions to fellow crew across the production that could support the trainees success.
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Hollywood CPR candidates are trained up to 250 hours in a specialized craft by IATSE professionals followed by 300 work experience hours in their craft before becoming eligible for on-the-job training rotations.
Trainees are not generalize production assistants, they are training to become future union members. Supervised on-the-job training is required to advance in the program.
Trainees are not entry-level workers, they have completed specialized training and their suggested pay range is $22-25/hr.
Trainees are authorized to shadow and complete covered work under supervision with the department head’s approval as long as there is a fully staffed crew.
PA’s are not authorized to complete craft work, even under supervision.
Hollywood CPR Trainees qualify productions for increased tax incentives, department-specific PA's do not.
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Trainee placement by pathway is subject to demand. Please inquire with HCPR directly before approaching department heads to confirm trainee availability.
Local 33 - Stage Technician
Local 44 - Set Dressing, Props, Prop Making
Local 80 - Grip
Local 600 - Camera
Local 728 - Set Lighting
Local 700 - Editing
Local 705 - Costume
Local 729* - Painting
Local 695* - Sound
Local 706* - Hair & Makeup
Local 871* - Script Supervisor
Other departments upon requested by employers or Locals
*smaller candidate pools, subject to availability
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No. Hollywood CPR is an IATSE signatory training program, we work directly with the IA and each Local to monitor attrition rates to determine activation of new training cohorts.
Trainees cannot be placed on productions where there is not already a fully staffed crew. A fully staffed crew is required for a proper training environment.
Hollywood CPR Trainees rotate on productions until they have mastered the baseline competencies determined by each Local before they can apply to the Industry Experience Roster and union membership.
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30 days (5 weeks)
The first 30 days of the traineeship should focus on building trust with the crew to determine if continuing for the remainder of the production would be a good fit or if they should rotate to a new production to grow their network.
45 days (8 weeks)
If the production goes beyond 45 days, it could be good to do a check-in to see if the trainee would benefit from completing a new rotation on a new production to grow their network, or if they would prefer to wrap with the show.
Employers
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Selecting a Department
After confirming each department is properly staffed, production should share HOD information with Hollywood CPR
Hollywood CPR will confirm with each Local who would make a good trainee supervisor and get approval from IATSE
Hollywood CPR will recommend trainees from those departments by sharing select resumes directly with HODs or production
Selecting a Trainee
Production should support HODs by confirming which trainees they would like to interview and in which format
If none of the trainees are a fit, please let Hollywood CPR know so we can send an updated list
Once a trainee is selected, they should be onboarded by production directly
Trainee Onboarding
Confirm hiring details (start date, wage, job length, etc.) with HCPR
HCPR will have an onboarding call with each trainee to confirm their readiness for the specific production
Production should support the trainee in making introductions and checking in on an ongoing basis
Traineeship Length
Assess if trainee should rotate to new production or stay for remainder of production after 30 days.
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Under AB 1138, supporting the future workforce is no longer an added expense.
Example:
Total qualified expenditures: $25,000,000
Potential credit increase (2%): $500,000
Estimated trainee expense: Less than $10,000 for 30 production days (includes fringe) per trainee
This means productions can hire up to 4 pathway-specific trainees at standard hourly rates, fully cover their labor costs through the authorized credit increase, and still retain significant net credit value depending on the total qualified expenditures. As long as they are fully staffed.
This unlocks opportunity for productions who previously did not have workforce training dollars available through other studio-ran programs.
Behind the Scenes
Partner with us.
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Underwrite a trainee’s first year in the program — funding their real on-set hours, union-standard training, and entry into professional networks. You’ll have the option to mentor an emerging crew member and receive direct updates on their development, roles, and milestones.
By year two you’ll start seeing their name in the credits — just like the thousands of Hollywood CPR trainees who have contributed to productions ranging from The Odyssey, Nope, Hacks, The Mandalorian, and more over our 30 year history.
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Make it possible for hundreds of LAUSD students to receive hands-on union-led training and exposure to below-the-line careers. You’ll receive invitations to observe training in person, allowing you to witness the early development of emerging talent and the impact of your investment.
(Limited Quantity)
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Your investment directly converts training into paid, union-aligned employment—supporting both training materials and stipends that allow participants to complete training without financial barriers.
You’ll receive quarterly briefings on their progress, opportunities to meet trainees and observe training, and recognition that reflects your leadership in shaping the future of Hollywood’s workforce.
(Limited Quantity)
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Your sponsorship secures union-level instruction by paying working professionals with pension and benefits contributions, ensuring the training is rooted in real industry standards. This investment sustains a complete, multi-stage talent pipeline and leaves a tangible legacy through optional pathway naming rights.
