Our Partners

GEI co-hosted a virtual mock interview session with FilmNation. Attendees were put into groups and received constructive feedback from FilmNation reps to improve their interview skills for internships and entry-level roles.

GEI co-hosted an in-person event with the Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction (SPTN) Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) team at their Los Angeles offices. Speakers shared their experiences working in nonfiction entertainment, including their career journeys and their day-to-day responsibilities at their respective companies. Following the panel, attendees participated in a professional development workshop and group networking sessions with representatives from the company.

GEI hosted an informational session and professional development workshop on launching a career in the entertainment industry. The GEI team discussed program offerings, career opportunities, and shared best practices for enhancing one’s competitiveness as a job candidate.

GEI co-hosted with Multitude Films for an in-person NYC event. The event opened with a panel presentation by Multitude Films’ Vice President, Anya Rous, Head of Production, Sweta Vohra, and Producer, Colleen Cassingham. Panelists shared Multitude’s origin story and approach as a production company and spoke about their roles on the team. Next, they shared examples of productions Multitude has worked on, touching on the production process from development to distribution, and showed trailers/film clips.

GEI co-hosted with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and its Rewrite the Future Program for an in-person NYC event. NRDC gave a Climate Storytelling 101 presentation, provided workshops/interactive breakdowns, and had an audience Q&A.

Group Effort Initiative (GEI) commemorated the program’s third anniversary by hosting a reception to express gratitude to participants, mentors, and industry partners for their invaluable contributions to GEI’s success. This event provided an opportunity for the GEI community and collaborators to come together in person and celebrate the program’s achievements and build connections.

NPACT provided insight on the unscripted industry as well as soft skills training to be successful in the entertainment workforce.

Disney Entertainment Television hosted a professional development workshop focusing on navigating an entertainment career as a production assistant.

Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative led a two-part camera and cinematography workshop featuring speakers Joaquin Sedillo, Jihane Mrad Balaa, and Imani Nelson-Grant. Attendees worked on creative assignments and presented to the panelists for feedback.

GEI held a creative workshop with Narrator Inc., where presenters covered various aspects of post-production, including union pathways and careers in media management, producing, graphics, and editorial. Guest speakers included a Post Supervisor from Blumhouse and an Emmy-nominated editor.

GEI & the Local 871 Script Supervisor’s union members held a seminar that included information about a scripty’s role on a production, navigating the union track, and shared their experiences working in the industry.

Participants heard from the GEI team about program offerings and how to prepare for the job search process in the entertainment industry. During the resume workshop, participants learned tips and tricks on how to improve their resumes.

GEI officially kicked off the 2022-23 Mentorship Program with a virtual training for mentees and mentors. Presenters shared best practices to make the most out of the mentorship relationship including goal setting and communication tips.

GEI participants were invited to visit the Anomaly offices in Los Angeles. The site visit started off with a tour of the office, and participants were given a presentation to learn more about the marketing and advertisement agency world. The Anomaly team also had a panel and a Q&A for participants to learn the lifecycle of an ad campaign.

GEI and Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative hosted a virtual Prop Department Workshop with American Horror Stories Prop Master Mikey Trudel. Mikey shared his journey of breaking into the union and working his way up to Props Master on top television shows (American Horror Stories, GLOW, Westworld) and films (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent). Additionally, he taught a workshop on how he breaks down a scene, preps for an episode, chooses props, has unique props made, and collaborates with directors on their creative process. He presented a scene study with scenes from American Horror Stories and walked through his prop deck, teaching how to make difficult scenes successful.

In a follow-up session, participants were given a scene to do a breakdown and create a deck to present to the director. They were able to work in groups and present their decks to Mikey for feedback.

GEI hosted a virtual moderated chat with writer and producer Lee Eisenberg (“Little America”, “Good Boys”, “The Office”) where he discussed his career journey and current work. Moderated by GEI Executive Director, Sumi Parekh, attendees also had the chance to ask Lee their questions about the film and television industry.

GEI hosted a daylong workshop that provided targeted professional development training, company partner panels and guest speakers, and networking opportunities for participants. Columbia College Hollywood presented interview tips and tricks and advice on how to network within the entertainment industry; Disney General Entertainment Content’s Creative Talent Development & Inclusion representatives talked about beginning a career path in the creative, corporate and production spheres; GEI Alumni discussed how they were able to successfully navigate the entertainment industry; and Corbin Reid from Starz’s ‘Run the World’ engaged in a moderated fireside chat about how she has achieved success in the industry.

GEI hosted an in-person event at the Banijay Americas offices. The event kicked off with a moderated chat with Cris Abrego, Chairman of the Americas, Banijay and President and CEO, Endemol Shine Holdings and Los Angeles native, who shared his career story. Attendees also heard from company executives who discussed the unscripted development process as well as newer staff who walked GEI participants through their career path into the company.

GEI, in partnership with the Renee Freedman Company, conducted a Coaching 101 webinar for graduates. Each participant in the coaching program gets 12 free 60-minute coaching sessions and is assigned to a personal coach. Coaches help participants build and identify their skills as they transition into the workforce.

GEI hosted a virtual interview skills workshop for participants in collaboration with Management 360 to learn tips and tricks on how to answer some of the most common job interview questions. Attendees heard about how to tailor responses to the job description, highlight strengths in scenario-based questions, and combat anxiety before an interview. For the second half of the session, attendees participated in mock interviews with representatives from Management 360 and GEI to refine their individual responses to interview questions.

GEI hosted an overview of film marketing and creative advertising with the The Creative Coalition of Color (CCC). Panelists from various agencies, companies, and studios highlighted what it’s like to create posters, trailers, and advertising campaigns for some of the attendees’ favorite films. The discussion featured a Q&A on breaking into the advertising agency, as well as a presentation on how to use the coalition’s site to find job opportunities and more events.

The Summer 2018 Kickoff Boot Camp engaged participants in early career panel discussions with assistants and coordinators from various entertainment companies. Attendees also took part in professional development workshops.

Participants visited Warner Bros. for a studio lot tour and executive panel discussion.

As a part of a Netflix workshop, attendees participated in a “pitch competition” with the original content team at Netflix where they had to collectively develop a pitch for an original TV show or movie complete with a proposed casting and marketing plan.

Buzzfeed held a workshop where participants received advice from executives and human resource experts on how to develop an effective resume and prepare for the interview process.

Participants spent the day at the ARRAY campus for Film Summit to learn about and discuss independent filmmaking, distribution, and how to navigate the industry.

In 2019, GEI was a part of the Sundance Film Festival’s Ignite Program in Park City, Utah. Five participants were given the opportunity to attend the festival and create a short documentary video with a producer from Wise Entertainment.

GEI hosted a 2019 Summer Boot Camp Kickoff at L.A. LIVE with AEG. There was an exclusive panel and Q&A with Issa Rae and the ColorCreative team. Attendees also learned about developing SMART goals and how to brand themselves in order to successfully network.

Participants visited Warner Brothers Studios where they got to meet executive producers of the hit Showtime series, Shameless. This experience allowed participants to visit an actual backlot where movies and television shows are made.

Participants learned from various Wasserman executives about what it takes to represent, market, and manage athletes, social media influencers, broadcasters, and coaches.

Renee Freedman engaged participants in a workshop where they were taught how to be ready for the professional world by mind mapping and identifying their dream job with confidence. This workshop prepared participants for the one-on-one coaching program that gives them access to ten virtual sessions with a personal coach to assist in their career search process and build critical skills, such as self-confidence, presentation, and public speaking.

Participants attended a webinar with then Endeavor Content Senior Associate Kevin Iwashina and his colleague from the WME side, Mira Yong. Attendees heard from Kevin and Mira as they provided an overview of both Endeavor and WME, discussed their respective career journeys, and delineated how to enter the entertainment industry. The event concluded with a Q&A where attendees asked about the agency world and what skills were essential to the representation business.

Disney hosted a resume and interview workshop on how to construct a compelling resume and prepare for a strong interview during the job/internship search process. In groups of 4-5, participants were assigned to a Disney team member for resume review and mock interviews. Each participant received personalized feedback, as well as advice on how to strengthen their resume and interview skills.

Participants visited the key departments of the ABC show, Black-ish, and participated in a panel discussion with the show’s producers. Some of the departments they visited included production, post-production, costume design, and the art department. Participants were able to ask the crew questions and gain insight on their roles within the show.

Netflix hosted “Show Up As Your Best Self,” a comprehensive, all-day workshop at their studios. The workshop kicked off with a motivational speech from Netflix’s Director of Inclusion Strategy for Content and Marketing, who discussed the importance of self-awareness and vulnerability in an industry that has historically excluded low-income people of color. Following this, participants discussed and shared their challenges to getting internships in small groups and received a presentation on how to craft an effective elevator pitch. The workshop ended with rotational group sessions led by different Netflix team members, where participants did mock interviews
, garnered feedback on their resumes and LinkedIn profiles, received a virtual production presentation, and learned about proper pre- and post-interview etiquette.

Five participants were selected to attend the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. They spent eleven days at the festival volunteering at the box office, filming and gathering footage for a documentary, attending film screenings and panel discussions, and participating in the Sundance Institute’s Ignite program for young, emerging filmmakers. As part of their trip, they also had the opportunity to speak and have breakfast with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the creators of Apple TV+, Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht.

Participants visited the set of the ABC show, Single Parents and attended a panel discussion in the writer’s room with the producer and writers of the show. They also heard from the production designer and costume designer about their roles and toured a few of the show’s sets on the lot. Participants were able to meet cast members and watch a script rehearsal as well.

Participants visited the set of the ABC show The Conners and attended a table read with the cast and crew. They also participated in a panel discussion with key department heads, including the Director, Associate Director, Director of Photography, Writer, Costume Designer, and the Production Designer. The visit concluded with a tour of the production offices and a talk with an Editor in the post-production office.

Participants had the opportunity to visit and speak to D.J. Nash, the creator, showrunner, writer and executive producer of the ABC series, A Million Little Things. D.J. went into detail on how he came up with the show, how he develops ideas for each episode, as well as skills required for television such as pitching, writing pilots, and choosing the right actors. A member of D.J. ‘s team also discussed how they entered the industry, starting off as an assistant, and then moving up the ranks to co-write scripts.

In summer of 2020, the Student Cohort Kickoff Meeting was held virtually to build community among participants. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti provided an overview on the City’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, provide economic relief and support services to impacted Angelenos, and invest in communities to advance racial justice. Dr. Curley Bonds, the Chief Medical Officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, also highlighted the importance of mental health and provided various resources. Attendees ended the session with break-out rooms to virtually meet their cohort members for the first time.

The 2020 Virtual Bootcamp kicked off with an ice breaker event, followed by a panel discussion featuring representatives from Amazon Studios, ABC, Warner Music Group, and Rideback Ranch. The panel focused on each speaker’s career journey, as well as each of their respective company’s experiences and priorities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees also participated in a workshop on financial literacy with Mana Money School. The event closed with speakers from Anomaly on advertising and marketing careers, as well as a session from Chelsea C. Hayes and the Coaching Factory focused on embracing your uniqueness, networking and relationship building, and decision-making.

Participants attended a two-part workshop led by Emmy award-winning production designer Jamie McCall, who has worked on Ryan Murphy shows such as Pose and The Politician. Attendees were split into groups and given a week to create a presentation on how they would recreate the design for a scene from Pose. Final presentations received feedback from Jamie.

United Talent Agency representatives were panelists on a discussion about their careers and the work culture at the agency. Attendees were able to learn about the representation business from an inside look at recruiting and hiring to the day-to-day tasks of being a talent agent.

In 2021, Sundance was held virtually, but GEI was still able to nominate five participants to attend premieres in the Sundance online screening rooms. They created a documentary video of their experience.

Participants that landed internships and graduated to entry-level roles at Paradigm Talent Agency, ALL3A Media, 44 Blue, and Game Show Network discussed their career trajectories in a virtual panel. Attendees gained advice on what positions to seek next and what skills to build in order to mirror their peers’ successes in the entertainment industry.

Vendetta Entertainment is a WOC immigrant co-founded creative production house established in 2010 by husband/wife Joan Pla and Nelly Castillo. Through their company, Nelly and Joan are paving the way for underrepresented talent and crew to build professional opportunities in the Entertainment and Advertising industries. Their portfolio includes three Spotify ‘Viva Latino’ commercials with Karol G., Mike Towers, Mau and Ricky; two spots with Lebron James for his Lobos Tequila (featuring Nelly as Taco Truck Chef); music videos with artists like Carrie Underwood and David Bisbal; and Editorial work with the Latinx cast of ‘Dora and The Lost City of Gold’ for Paramount Pictures. Vendetta Entertainment’s ethos is to create a new norm where diversity, inclusion and equality are not overlooked. In 2021, Nelly and Joan hosted their first virtual workshop ‘Vendetta Entertainment Careers and Empowerment Series’ covering different topics on how to navigate the entertainment industry supplemented by their unique experiences. Vendetta Entertainment co-founders covered how they built their business from a small record company to a full-service creative production company. They also reviewed skill-building such as how to engage with power dynamics in the workplace, exercising emotional intelligence, and learning how to start a business.

Participants in the United States and Canada attended the 2021 Virtual Summer Summit, an all-day educational event featuring industry speakers and professional development programming. The program kicked off with a welcome from Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and GEI co-founder Ryan Reynolds. Panelists for the event ranged from talent agents and managers to filmmakers, actors, and entertainment executives from company partners such as United Talent Agency, ABC Entertainment, Hulu, and more. The event also featured a resume workshop, mental health presentation, and an introduction to career coaching.

In collaboration with Netflix, GEI hosted a virtual interview prep workshop for participants to refine their skills for future job opportunities. Attendees learned how to use LinkedIn to their advantage, what to seek during every step of the hiring process, and gained advice on freelance interviewing. Participants also got the chance to practice their elevator pitch in breakout rooms with members of the Netflix team.

Renee Freedman hosted a coaching webinar for participants to learn about the coaching process, identify skills they want to improve upon, and learn about their strengths and weaknesses. Participants discussed their career interests, ambitions, and mapped what they would like to accomplish in the coming years.