Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Launches Inaugural California Below-the-line Traineeship on Jordan Peele’s Highly Anticipated NOPE.
This Marks the First of Wider Below-the-line Strategies That Are Currently Being Rolled Out, Encompassing Both Domestic and International Productions The Film Studio Continues Its Collaboration With the Anti-recidivism Coalition and Hollywood Cinema Production Resources for First Group of Trainees to Gain on-set Experience and Build Career Momentum.
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – February 2, 2022 – NBCUniversal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion (GTDI) today announced Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s (UFEG) launch of its California Below-the-Line Traineeship for individuals seeking careers behind the camera. As part of NBCUniversal’s overall commitment to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion within all areas of production, this California traineeship marks the first of wider below-the-line strategies that are currently being rolled out to provide underrepresented talent on-set experience and mentorship. Launching on Jordan Peele’s Nope, the traineeship has served as a model for interested domestic and international film and television productions.
In collaboration with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), Hollywood Cinema Production Resources (Hollywood CPR) and various IATSE locals, this first cycle of the traineeship welcomed six trainees to the set of Nope, which filmed on location in Southern California last year. The trainees were comprised of five Hollywood CPR students, who were selected to gain the requisite hours needed to fulfill their Hollywood CPR graduation requirement, and one member from ARC, who joined to gain experience and exposure in visual effects.
Trainees were assigned to a specific department based on their area of study or interest. The selection process included interviews with production executives, relevant stakeholders and the head of their respective departments. With each traineeship, all trainees will be paid for their work and the duration will vary depending on each production.
“In line with our efforts to provide more gateways into the industry, we could not be more excited to bring this traineeship to a new generation of below-the-line talent,” said Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Chairman, Donna Langley. “Honing your craft on the set of a Jordan Peele movie is an opportunity that none of the trainees took for granted. We are extremely grateful to Jordan and the entire Monkeypaw team, who share our passion and commitment to investing in diversity and early career development.”
“At our core, Monkeypaw has always sought to highlight underrepresented voices and we have been honored to help share those stories with audiences. We are privileged to further our mission as the first production to partner with the California Below-the-Line Traineeship,” said Win Rosenfeld, President of Monkeypaw. “It is crucial not only to Monkeypaw’s growth, but the growth of the film industry that all producers collectively commit to initiatives that bring awareness and opportunities to underserved communities to help careers flourish.”
Upon admission, trainees started receiving support and guidance to participate in production meetings, departmental meet & greets, and relevant health & safety trainings. All trainees were also assigned a GTDI and HR partner to ensure the experience is as rewarding as possible.
Diversity, equity and inclusion have long been hallmarks of UFEG. In 2017, under Langley’s leadership, the studio launched its GTDI department – becoming the first major feature studio to establish a department reporting directly to the Chairman, and the only studio to address these issues with one team delving into both content and work culture.
“As our state works to expand career opportunities for more Californians in the film and television industry, the California Below-the-Line Traineeship is a welcome initiative to increase diversity in below-the-line crew,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Traineeships are an important tool to expand access and foster a more inclusive workforce, supporting California’s commitment to an equitable recovery.”
Governor Newsom recently signed legislation expanding the state’s successful film and television tax credit program, including incentives to meet diversity goals for above and below the line workers. The Film and Television Tax Credit Program 3.0 also includes a Pilot Skills Training Program, which provides technical skills training to individuals from underserved communities.
As one of the inaugural collaborators of this traineeship, Hollywood CPR was tapped by GTDI and UFEG for its deep-rooted program that has over 25 years of experience as a proven career pathway into the entertainment industry for local community members who don’t have the resources or access. Through this initiative, Hollywood CPR will funnel its talented students and expand its capacity to provide even more training opportunities to its cohorts.
About Universal Filmed Entertainment Group
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG) produces, acquires, markets and distributes filmed entertainment worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television and other distribution platforms. The global division includes Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation Film and Television. UFEG is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
About NBCUniversal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion (GTDI)
Established in 2017 by Universal Filmed Entertainment Chairman Donna Langley, GTDI became the first-of-its-kind diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) department for a film studio. The business-led group creates programs, initiatives and strategies ensuring that DEI is at the forefront of Universal Pictures, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation’s work culture and content creation, both in front of and behind the camera. Building upon NBCUniversal’s overall DEI commitment, GTDI creates industry access and identifies film production opportunities for underrepresented talent while partnering with its Television and Streaming counterparts on efforts impacting both film and television. Since its launch, GTDI has amassed an impressive and inclusive talent pool through its live action and animation writing programs; directing and composing initiatives; and below-the-line traineeships, with 30% of its talent securing production credits on NBCUniversal content.
About Monkeypaw
In less than five years, Monkeypaw has grown into a cutting-edge production company with film and television projects that tap into the cultural zeitgeist. Monkeypaw is committed to increasing representation on-screen in the characters that are portrayed, the stories that are told, and the people who tell them with a robust slate of work across multiple platforms. Peele first gained recognition in TV as the co-star and co-creator of the Emmy®-winning “Key and Peele.” The viral series garnered more than one billion online hits and won a Peabody Award, an American Comedy Award and earned 12 Emmy® Award nominations during its five-season run.
Peele’s first feature film Universal’s “Get Out,” was released in 2017 to widespread critical praise. The film earned four Academy Award® nominations and won Peele the Oscar® for Best Original Screenplay. In 2019, Peele wrote, produced and directed his second feature, “Us,” which instantly became a smash hit with audiences and critics alike, posting the largest box-office opening for an original horror movie ever. Monkeypaw, who has an exclusive five-year production partnership with Universal Pictures and with Universal Studio Group, most recently released “Candyman,” which was directed by Nia DaCosta and co-written by DaCosta, Peele and Monkeypaw President Win Rosenfeld, to No. 1 at the domestic box office, becoming the first movie from a Black female director to achieve this milestone. Monkeypaw spearheaded a powerful social impact campaign for Candyman, in partnership with Universal, uniting activists, influencers and students within the Black community to illuminate the social themes of the film, creating awareness and driving intent in tandem with cultural relevance and organic depth. In addition to critically acclaimed and commercial hits for Universal, including “Get Out,” “Us,” and “Candyman,” Monkeypaw also produced and released “BlacKkKlansman” for Universal’s specialty label Focus Features.
On the TV side, Monkeypaw produced the Emmy® Award-winning show “Key and Peele” on Comedy Central; the Tracy Morgan comedy series, “The Last O.G.” at TBS; and the Emmy®-nominated “The Twilight Zone” for CBS. Most recently, they released “Lovecraft Country” on HBO, which was nominated for 18 Emmy® awards, winning two, and won the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Horror Series, and BAFTA TV Award nominations. Monkeypaw is currently in production on the second season of the Golden Globe®-nominated “Hunters” for Amazon.
About The Anti-Recidivism Coalition
The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) works to end mass incarceration in California. To ensure our communities are safe, healthy, and whole, ARC empowers formerly and currently incarcerated people to thrive by providing a support network, comprehensive reentry services, and opportunities to advocate for policy change. Through our grassroots policy advocacy, we are dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system so that it is more just and equitable for all people.
About Hollywood CPR
Hollywood CPR is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that creates pathways to employment in LA’s competitive entertainment industry by providing quality and affordable union-recognized training to a student body that actively reflects the Los Angeles community. Working with all major film studios, production companies and community colleges, Hollywood CPR provides program graduates experience in more than 15 specialties within the entertainment crafts. For nearly 25 years, Hollywood CPR has excelled at mentoring and connecting hundreds of individuals to union career paths and thousands to specialty career paths in entertainment. For more information, visit www.hollywoodcpr.org.
