Television Academy Foundation and Best Buy Open New Pathways to Careers in Television Production
ENTERTAINMENT
(L to R) Boyle Heights YMCA chaperone David Haro, student Morgan Crafton, chaperone Kevin O. Campos and student Aalijah Perez in studio with “America’s Funniest Home Videos” creator and executive producer Vin Di Bona (center) during a field trip for the Production Assistant Training program on Oct. 24, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Television Academy Foundation).
Breaking into the entertainment industry can be challenging, especially for students who may not have access to professional networks or industry exposure. To help bridge that gap, the Television Academy Foundation has launched its first-ever Production Assistant Training Program for high school students, supported through funding from Best Buy. The initiative is designed to give young people a direct pathway into television production while helping them develop practical skills, career readiness, and industry connections.
The new program is part of the Foundation’s broader Skill-Building and Career Readiness initiative, which focuses on preparing the next generation of entertainment professionals. Through a comprehensive 10-week curriculum, students will receive hands-on training and firsthand exposure to careers behind the camera.
Creating Opportunities for Future Industry Talent
The program is being offered free of charge to students and operates at two locations in Los Angeles County: the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA in Boyle Heights and the North Stars YMCA Teen Tech Center in North Long Beach. Both sites are home to Best Buy Teen Tech Centers, which help young people gain access to technology and career development opportunities.
The after-school curriculum introduces students to the diverse roles that keep television productions running. While many aspiring entertainment professionals focus on creative positions in front of the camera, the program highlights the numerous career opportunities available behind the scenes.
A Comprehensive Look at Television Production
Participants will receive instruction from experienced industry professionals who work across multiple areas of production. Students will learn about the responsibilities and career paths associated with positions such as:
Production Assistants (PAs)
Production Coordinators
Assistant Directors
Production Managers
Producers
Location Managers
Production Accountants
By hearing directly from working professionals, students gain insight into both day-to-day responsibilities and long-term advancement opportunities within the entertainment industry.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
A key component of the program is its focus on real-world experiences. In addition to classroom instruction, students participate in field trips to both scripted and unscripted television productions. These on-set experiences allow participants to observe professional production environments, meet department leaders, and connect educational concepts to actual industry workflows.
The goal is to provide practical exposure that helps students understand how television productions operate while building confidence about pursuing careers in entertainment.
Industry Leadership at the Helm
The inaugural program is led by Donny Hugo Herran, a Television Academy Board Governor and veteran production executive with more than 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Herran serves as the program’s first instructor and brings extensive expertise from his work on both scripted and unscripted television productions.
Herran has emphasized the importance of opening doors to production careers and helping create a more inclusive and representative entertainment industry. Through mentorship and hands-on instruction, he aims to equip students with the tools needed to succeed behind the scenes.
Best Buy’s Investment in Career Readiness
The program reflects Best Buy’s continuing commitment to youth development and workforce readiness. Through its support, students gain access to training, mentorship opportunities, professional connections, and experiences that might otherwise be difficult to obtain.
According to program leaders, the initiative is about more than job preparation. It is designed to help young people discover career possibilities, develop confidence, and build relationships that can support long-term professional growth.
Building the Future of Television
The launch of the Production Assistant Training Program represents an important step toward expanding access to careers in television production. By combining professional mentorship, practical training, and real-world exposure, the Television Academy Foundation is helping create new opportunities for students from underserved communities.
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, initiatives like this can play a critical role in developing the next generation of producers, coordinators, managers, and creative professionals who will shape the future of television.
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