With Hollywood’s production landscape shifting rapidly toward virtual sets, motion capture and AI-assisted workflows, a new public-private partnership is stepping in to make sure the next generation of California talent isn’t left behind. The Handy Foundation and Best Buy are joining forces to turn early career exposure into a structured, measurable pathway into the entertainment industry for teens and young adults.
The collaboration, announced October 22, 2026 in Los Angeles, launches the Creative Careers Workforce Pathway Program, a year-long initiative designed to prepare young people ages 13-21 for jobs in film, television, digital media and emerging production technologies. The program is slated to serve roughly 200 participants across California through a mix of virtual and hybrid learning delivered via Best Buy Teen Tech Centers® and the Handy Foundation’s network of schools and community partners.
The new initiative connects young people with technology-enabled training, mentorship and apprenticeship preparation. Applications are now open.
We want young people to understand the new jobs being created, learn the tools professionals are using now, build real relationships in the industry and be prepared to step into opportunities.”— Ri-Karlo Handy
Running from October 2026 through September 2027, the program links career exploration with employer-validated badge certifications, hands-on pre-apprenticeship training, mentorship and preparation for Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
This isn’t the first rodeo for either organization. The Handy Foundation already operates an apprenticeship and workforce-development infrastructure at scale, counting more than 400 active alumni. Those alumni have been placed across more than 115 film and television productions, including 95 Assistant Editors placed through the California Film Commission Career Pathways. The foundation is a U.S. Department of Labor and California Division of Apprenticeship Standards registered apprenticeship sponsor with six registered pathways, and California has invested $1.223 million in its youth apprenticeship model through the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship grant.
“Best Buy has made a real commitment to making technology, skills and opportunity accessible to young people, and Handy Foundation has spent years doing the work on the ground – in schools, in communities and directly with employers,” said Ri-Karlo Handy, veteran producer, showrunner and Founder/CEO of The Handy Foundation. “That is what makes this partnership such a strong fit. Technology is changing how entertainment is made – from virtual production and motion capture to AI-assisted, cloud and digital workflows – and our shared opportunity is to make sure the next generation is not watching those changes from the sidelines. We want young people to understand the new jobs being created, learn the tools professionals are using now, build real relationships in the industry and be prepared to step into the opportunities that come next.”
Participants start with Hollywood 101, an introduction to entertainment careers and production fundamentals, before picking a specialized track among four options: story editing, production coordination, audio production and podcasting, or virtual production. It’s not about learning software in a vacuum—participants will use industry-standard tools on projects modeled after real production workflows. Depending on the pathway, training may include Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, Pro Tools, DaVinci Resolve, Unreal Engine, Autodesk Maya and Xsens Motion Capture, along with other current production technologies.
The structure is designed as a measurable pathway rather than a one-off workshop. Approximately 200 young people will enter through Hollywood 101, with participants advancing into Industry Badge Certification Training, immersive Pre-Apprenticeship Boot Camps, and Mentorship & Apprenticeship Preparation based on skill completion, eligibility and demonstrated readiness. The ultimate goal: a clear route from a Teen Tech Center or classroom to an industry credential, then hands-on training, and finally paid Registered Apprenticeship and early career employment.
Those who complete the required credentials can apply for an intensive 40-hour pre-apprenticeship boot camp simulating professional production environments. Mentorship, career coaching, employer networking, studio and workplace visits, mock interviews and apprenticeship preparation are all part of the mix, helping participants build both technical chops and the professional relationships needed to succeed in a relationship-driven industry.
The program is also designed to knock down barriers that often keep young people from under-resourced communities out of technical training, industry mentors and professional networks. It connects Best Buy’s youth technology ecosystem with the Handy Foundation’s existing network of schools, community organizations, employers, working professionals and registered apprenticeship pathways.
“Every young person deserves the opportunity to build on their strengths and see where their skills can take them,” said Olivia Jefferson, vice president of social impact at Best Buy. “Our investment in The Handy Foundation will connect young people with hands-on experience, mentors and industry relationships that can help them turn their skills into lasting economic opportunity.”
The initiative builds on earlier Hollywood 101 programming involving the Handy Foundation and young people connected to Best Buy Teen Tech Centers, extending early career exposure into a structured sequence of learning and professional preparation.
Enrollment details, eligibility requirements and participating locations are available at HandyFoundation.com/Hollywood101.
Editor’s Note: High resolution assets are available for download here.
About The Handy Foundation
The Handy Foundation is a nonprofit workforce-development organization connecting emerging talent to careers in film, television, digital media and emerging production technologies. Founded by veteran producer and showrunner Ri-Karlo Handy, the organization works with employers, educators and community partners to provide career exploration, technical training, mentorship, registered apprenticeship and professional opportunities. Handy Foundation operates U.S. Department of Labor and California Division of Apprenticeship Standards registered apprenticeship pathways and supports a community of more than 400 active alumni. Learn more at HandyFoundation.com.
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Video: The Handy Foundation transforms industry training into real-world opportunity, preparing emerging professionals to contribute to acclaimed productions.
Why it matters: As entertainment production becomes increasingly tech-driven, this partnership aims to close the gap between classroom learning and industry employment for young Californians, particularly those from under-resourced communities. By tying training directly to registered apprenticeships and employer-validated credentials, the program offers a concrete route to paid work in an industry where who you know has historically mattered as much as what you know.
