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- Our goal at Lucasfilm is to make sure
that we are growing new, smart, diverse talent
on all of our crews.
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So we partnered with Hollywood CPR.
And they are our source for finding candidates and trainees
that we can put onto our television series
here in Los Angeles.
- Hollywood CPR was founded in 1997
to outreach to an underserved population
and train in the trades of the entertainment industry.
We currently have 14 trainees on Lucasfilm productions.
- I'm Faith Montante.
I am a Hollywood CPR costume trainee.
- Stacey Barrera, set painter apprentice.
- Kevin Na, I am working as the props trainee.
- Carmelita Rojo, and I'm a set decorator trainee.
- My name is Stephanie Duong.
I am an editorial trainee.
And I am working on "Obi-Wan Kenobi."
- I always had this thing for film
that I always loved the sets.
- I've always loved sewing and creating,
especially for fantasy.
- First grade, second grade, I would watch a movie,
I would memorize a scene, and then I would act it out.
I actually went for hospitality management.
I was climbing up the ladder in the hotel industry.
But I knew that I wasn't fully happy.
- I had gone back and forth through different majors.
Nothing was right for me.
And then I was like, well, I love to paint.
Let's see what I can do with painting.
- A friend of mine referred me to this program.
And I said, definitely, I think this is my calling.
And I've always wanted to actually do this.
I just didn't know how to get into the film industry.
- We started talking to organizations
and finding out who had affiliation with the unions
here in Los Angeles.
And all the roads kept leading back to Hollywood CPR.
- Different IATSE unions became involved with Hollywood CPR.
They reached out to us, told us what their vision was,
and it was something that, quite frankly, we hadn't seen before.
The local unions then assisted them
in writing curriculum, as well as
providing trainers, equipment, and space
to provide the training in.
- I'm Charlie McIntyre, the rigging
chief lighting technician for the series "Obi-Wan Kenobi."
I got involved a few years ago as a temporary instructor
to come in and help teach lighting.
- You take a couple of just general classes.
You learn a little bit about set dressing, props, lighting,
camera, grip, et cetera.
- And then whichever sparks your joy, and then you grab it,
and then you move on forward from that point on.
- We train people, we teach them, and if they pass,
they're invited to go interview with the craft
that they specialized with.
They're at an entry level, but they're
walking in with a whole level of experience already.
- They get you prepared for being here.
They make sure you have the right amount of discipline.
That is something that you for sure need here.
- The people I've endorsed to go forward,
I have a lot of confidence in because of the laboratory work
we've done.
And the work they've done outside of it,
makes me confident that, yeah, I can speak for this person,
they'll go on the job.
- I think it's a responsibility for all of us in the film
and television industry to make sure
that they are trained properly and that they understand
the culture of our industry.
- What Lucas is doing is the wave of the future.
- They're always on the cutting edge technology
when it comes to filmmaking and television.
- By utilizing this program, those people
are seeing things that other people won't
be seeing for years to come.
But I think that gives them a tremendous advantage as they're
coming into the industry.
- As a trainee, I'm dealing with lightsabers and blasters
just like any other prop people are.
So it's pretty cool.
- We are building everything from the ground up.
- You just have to put all your work in.
You have to be determined to get everything done,
have a good work ethic and everything.
Definitely ready to learn, ready to work.
- I couldn't believe that I was fortunate enough
to work on something in the Star Wars universe.
I just couldn't believe it.
- It's an incredible opportunity for our students.
And I look forward to a long relationship
where we can help so many more people find their way
into this incredible industry.
- If you know that you really wanted to do something,
then do it.
Everything's just worth it.
In the end, it worked out.
And I am doing what I ever wanted to do.
And I'm happy.
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