The entertainment industry is currently experiencing an unprecedented boom in content creation, and this surge is predicted to continue for at least the next decade. This sustained growth brings with it a significant demand for skilled production professionals across all levels. The industry is facing a critical labor shortage, with producers highlighting the difficulties in finding qualified crew to fill essential roles. This shortage extends to all areas of production, including a persistent need for trained production accountants.
Recognizing this pressing industry need, Entertainment Partners (EP) launched the EP Academy in March 2020. This initiative aims to bridge the skills gap by providing accessible and industry-focused training. Kim Weddig-Tejada, Senior Director of Training and Support at Entertainment Partners, explains, “EP Academy is designed for individuals new to the industry, as well as those already working in it, to learn essential industry tools in finance and production technology. It’s also an excellent starting point for building a finance career within the entertainment sector.”
Discovering Diverse Entertainment Career Paths
Many individuals may not immediately consider accounting as a glamorous career path, particularly within the entertainment industry. Joseph Chianese, SVP & Production Incentives Practice Leader at Entertainment Partners, notes, “When people hear ‘accounting,’ they often tune out.” Film schools may not naturally attract aspiring production accountants, and specialized programs focusing on the financial aspects of the entertainment industry are scarce.
Weddig-Tejada further emphasizes this point, stating, “Many people entering entry-level positions are unaware of the existence of production accounting roles in the industry.” This is especially true outside of major entertainment hubs like Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. “Numerous regions are active in filming, yet local residents are often unaware of the exciting career opportunities available in their own backyards!”
EP Academy is actively working to increase awareness of the numerous career paths in production accounting and finance within the entertainment sector. It also aims to dispel the misconception that finance roles in entertainment are mundane. Chianese clarifies, “Managing budgets and tracking expenditures is central to every production.” Weddig-Tejada adds, “The process is actually quite engaging! It offers exposure to the captivating world of filmmaking.”
“Not only do you learn how to do the job, but you learn the tools that you’ll be using.”
EP Academy offers a unique learning experience, introducing both newcomers and experienced professionals to the intricacies of the industry through two distinct course categories: “career courses” and “product courses,” as explained by Weddig-Tejada.
The career-focused track provides foundational knowledge for roles such as production accountants and payroll clerks. Product courses, conversely, concentrate on EP’s proprietary technology solutions, including Movie Magic Budgeting and Movie Magic Scheduling. These two course types are intentionally designed to complement each other. Weddig-Tejada points out, “You not only gain job-specific skills but also learn to utilize the industry-standard tools.”
This integrated approach is crucial in addressing the labor shortage, which is partly driven by the challenges of adequately training new entrants. The specialized knowledge required for production accounting, for instance, isn’t readily available in textbooks or conventional academic programs. Instead, this expertise resides within the experience of seasoned professionals, who are often too occupied with their projects to provide on-the-job training. Furthermore, geographical limitations can hinder aspiring production accountants in areas like Ohio from learning from experts based in Los Angeles.
EP Academy effectively addresses these challenges through its fully online, e-learning platform. This format provides accessible education to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Additional benefits include self-paced learning and year-long access to course materials after enrollment. Tyrone Robinson, Senior Manager of Learning Enablement at Entertainment Partners, who was instrumental in launching EP Academy, notes, “You can revisit the information as often as needed. It’s not a one-time learning event. The reference materials are incredibly useful, especially when actively working on a production. If you forget a step, you can easily re-watch the video or consult the documentation.”
Explore Entertainment Partners Careers Through Accessible Online Learning at EP Academy
The Expanding Future of EP Academy for Entertainment Partners Careers
Since its inception, EP Academy has seen over 12,000 registrations across 20 courses. An impressive 93 percent of students have reported satisfaction with their learning experience and expressed confidence in applying their newly acquired skills to advance their Entertainment Partners Careers. Kim, Tyrone, and the EP Academy training team are continuously expanding their offerings. Over 20 new courses are currently in development, covering a wider range of payroll functions, additional EP digital solutions, and various specialized industry roles.
Weddig-Tejada envisions EP Academy evolving into “a specialized trade school for these essential industry roles that are not typically taught in traditional academic settings.” Potential collaborations with educational institutions, industry job fairs, and film studios could further solidify EP Academy’s mission. “We aim to support both studios and individuals by providing a clear pathway into the film industry. It’s exciting to create a larger pool of qualified talent for studios to draw upon when hiring for entertainment partners careers.”
Take the First Step Towards Entertainment Partners Careers with EP Academy Courses
Ready to delve deeper into EP Academy and explore entertainment partners careers? Browse our comprehensive course catalog.
Whether you are looking to advance your current career or acquire new skills to enter the entertainment industry, EP Academy offers industry-leading courses designed to help you achieve your goals. Visit the Academy today, select your course, and take the next decisive step in your journey towards a successful career in entertainment!
