From the standpoint of inclusion in the hiring system, Hollywood is mostly closed to them.
A promising program has been slowly bettering the odds.
There are already enough success stories to indicate the programs stewards are on to something.
Sam LewisUniversal Filmed Entertainment Group
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The program began in 2018 and started with three interns.
By 2020, it expanded to 17, with six graduating to full-time positions at Universal.
Marie and McCoy met most of the strict criteria members must meet before connecting with Universal.
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group
Each candidate is reviewed case-by-case and does not exclude anyone based on their circumstances.
I was constantly asking myself where do I belong?
It also gave her the strength to come out as a trans woman.
Our mission is to create equity.
Working onNopewas a crash course in on-set professionalism and learning new skills.
According to Alyssa Marie, some of the highlights included collecting data and understanding panoramic shots.
It was constantly observing the data wrangler collecting information on every single scene.
Im honored and humbled to have relationships with the pros.
It also helped me to understand that Im also becoming a pro myself, which is mindblowing.
The access that ARC and the Below-the-Line Traineeship provided helped land her a full-time coordinator position at the company.
Another element of her job is to watch trailers and TV spots for quality control.
Alyssa is optimistic about her future in life and in Hollywood.
Life is definitely shifting in the coolest way for me, said Alyssa.
Im super humbled by the direction the universe has placed me.
By the age of 17, he was arrested and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
In California, you must serve 85 percent of your sentence for any violent crimes.
By the time this happened, Bryan had already served most of his time.
This was when he first heard about the ARC program, and it set some thoughts in motion.
I held out hope for changes within the prison system and remained optimistic about my rehabilitation, Bryan said.
He knew ARC was the way, so it was now just a matter of seeing things through.
The internship flew by, and after the internship I asked, how can I continue?
Now, I am full time, Bryan said with a sense of pride.
He prioritizes projects based on the importance level via the ticketing system.
He also leads his own projects and/or works with a team to troubleshoot various tech issues.
Sherwin understood what would be needed to structure his path to victory.
For him, it was gratifying to see how it benefited not only him but his family.
It feels great to be a financial asset to them, Bryan said smiling.
As for the future, hes certain he has one ahead of him.
I also want to help inspire others that its never too late to pursue our dreams.
But what happens when someone is actively looking for work after years of confinement?
Sam Lewis, the current CEO of the ARC, was incarcerated for 24 years.
He told me there was nothing like this when he was looking for rehabilitation upon release.
With all that he has learned while being a part of this he is now in charge.
ARC began after Budnick taught a writing class inside a Sylmar Juvenile Hall called Inside Out Writers.
He learned about the injustices the youth were encountering, Lewis said.
These kids were coming home without any pathway to redemption, so this organization was founded to alleviate that.
Both participants sought different outcomes from their participation in the program.
Alyssa was looking for self preservation while Bryan was looking to save his family.
Theres an interesting realization that action is often motivated by crisis, said Caines.
George Floyds murder led us to take stock of the inhumanity thats been ignored for too long.
They wanted to focus on the people, creators, and promoting partnerships with community-based services.
Additionally, they actively searched for organizations to affiliate with.
Dwight expounded on how this was made possible by learning when to identify blind spots.
They arent there to be silent, but to give input that makes the work and the team better.
I keep reminding people that invitation and inclusion are two different things.
Many places say they want to champion inclusion, but sometimes its just lip service.
Hoai insists that companywide integration starts with the individual.
We ask them about their interests and then tailor the experience to their needs.
Someone from operations helps them with their onboarding.
There is someone at every level to confirm they feel at home here.
But the support for ARCs programs and initiatives doesnt stop with the internship.
Like all systemic change, it requires a sustained commitment to progress and willingness to adapt.
c’mon put this in print and quote me.
Five years from now, the rest of the companies will be trying to catch up.
I want leaders at other studios to go, I got a glimpse of what theyre doing over there.
I just want the model.
I want the handbook.
I dont want to reinvent the wheel, Caines said.
And can we be on that journey with you?
That would be amazing for me, because this is not about competition, its about community.
