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WALLACE — The Descendants Project is pleased to partner with New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC) in providing film industry training for local residents. Through a combination of virtual and on location training, residents will have the opportunity to participate in training such as production assistant training and script supervision if accepted. Applications are available online and are due by Monday, May 24. NOVAC highly recommends attending the Film Industry 101 online seminar on Saturday, May 22 to learn more about the various training pathways.

The NOVAC-IATSE 478 training will cover motion picture production jobs, including art department (construction, paint, set decorating, props and art direction), grip and electric, costumes, craft services, set medics, video assistance, accounting and script supervisors. Sessions are expected to include both online courses and in-person training at a variety of sites. The program will follow all current industry safety protocols, including COVID-19 testing prior to in-person sessions, social distancing, mask requirements and proper cleaning and sanitizing of facilities.

“We are excited to partner with NOVAC in bringing more access to film jobs to our residents,” said The Descendants Project Executive Director, Jo Banner. Part of the Descendant’s Project organization’s mission is to connect descendant communities with job opportunities that pay well with less environmental concerns such as air pollution and diminished water quality. “With the average film industry job worker earning $65,000 in addition to other benefits such as health insurance and per diems,” Banner states, “more should be done to work with alternative industries such as film.” For their part, the Descendants Project will provide free internet access during training sessions to any St. John or St. James Parish residents accepted into the program. The organization also hopes to secure laptops for residents to use during online sessions.

Residents can apply to the NOVAC-IATSE 478 Film Industry Workforce Training program, at

http://novacvideo.org/film-industry-workforce-training/ or www.thedescendantsproject/reeljobstoo.

Applicants should indicate The Descendants Project as the community organization on the application. For additional information contact Jo Banner at 225-206-1993 or jo@thedescendantsproject.com.

Through programming, education, advocacy and outreach, The Descendants Project is committed to reversing the vagrancies of slavery through healing and restorative work. The organization aims to eliminate the narrative violence of plantation tourism and champion the voice of the descendant community while demanding action that supports the total well-being of descendants.