Mass. jobs seminar set
By Donna Goodison
Boston Herald
December 18, 2008
If you have seen the Hollywood movie crews shooting around Boston and want to get in on the action, the Massachusetts Film Office will host a Jan. 24 career fair to explain just what it takes.
“The point of trying to attract all this business to Massachusetts isn’t simply to have Bruce Willis, Leonardo DiCaprio or Mel Gibson in town,” said Nicholas Paleologos, the film office’s executive director. “The point is to have as many people working and as many people selling stuff as possible.”
Since sweetening its tax-credit package for the motion picture industry in 2006, Massachusetts has seen a dramatic increase in the number of films shot here. It hosted eight major productions last year and 13 this year. At least three studios, including Disney and Paramount, are eyeing the state for productions this coming spring.
“One of the challenges that we face is trying to make sure the work force expands to meet the job demand,” Paleologos said. “We’re hopeful that people will leave with a much clearer idea of how they can match their skills with the jobs that are available now and the jobs that will become available in the next two to five years.”
In the first session of “Jobs, Camera, Action! Building Your Career in the Massachusetts Film Industry,” a feature film director, line producer and first assistant director will discuss how to make it onto a movie set, what happens there and how to get invited back.
Then representatives from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and other unions will explain their roles in movie productions.
In the third session, developers of soundstages proposed for Weymouth, Plymouth and South Boston will discuss their projects and expected job opportunities.
The final session will focus on opportunities in commercials, TV, radio, post-production, visual and special effects, and digital media.
To register, log on to www.mafilm.org; a $10 fee will be charged.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1139808