Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1531981
38 PRODUCTION SOUND & VIDEO – Spring 2025 Entertainment - High Road Training Partnership (AME-HRTP), a trailblazing grant intended to support participants over the course of a multi-year initiative. Then came even greater news: Local 695's Education & Training Department was to be among the first registrants of this grant, being awarded $108,817.00 from the state for training! With an on-the-job training program already established in-house thanks to the Y-16A Training Program, Local 695 recognized the growing need for training in our ever-evolving technologies. With this grant, we now had the opportunity to offer a unique program to the membership in the developing field of virtual production. The moving pieces of the grant were finalized in early 2024, and we could officially move forward on implementation. One of the requirements for the grant was to train eighteen participants in an established cohort for the duration of three or more physical training courses. The time requirements were going to be lengthy, and the state had additional requirements participants had to meet. An open call to the Local 695 membership was sent out, seeking those either in the early stages of their careers interested in virtual production, or esteemed members seeking to change directions, or expand on prospective work opportunities. There were more than fifty initial interviews, where expectations and requirements were explained before we could move on to the next step of the application process. This rigorous verification process resulted in multi-series meetings with each applicant, and finally our cohort of eighteen was established! The first LED Video Wall cohort was now onboarded with the state's database and represented a mix of sound and video members and Y-16A Trainees. The shared goal was to become certified in three training modules designed around Local 695's virtual production jurisdictions.