Little Falls, NY – The Creative Outpost, Inc., a 501C3 non-profit in Upstate, New York, announced the launch of their workforce development initiative today to tackle regional unemployment among young people and adults in career transition.
According to David E. Warner, founder, and chairman of Creative Outpost, “The organization was inspired by a handful of industry professionals with first-hand knowledge of the opportunities and skills required for high-demand content creation and post-production jobs.” According to Warner, there is growing interest in filmmaking, video production, and content creation in Upstate New York locations such as Albany, Syracuse, the Adirondacks, and even in Warner’s hometown of Little Falls. This was the catalyst for his vision of creating a post-production ecosystem of skilled talent trained by industry leaders working in film, video, podcasting, journalism, and media.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a 21% increase in the job outlook from 2020-2030 in the content development industries, amounting to 28,600 new jobs. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. While a degree is always an asset, there are many non-degreed positions also available.
About 18,000 openings for broadcast, sound, and video technicians are projected each year. The 2021 national median pay was $23.58 per hour or $49,050/yr. New York is among the highest employment for Audio and Video technicians with employment at 4,910 (second to California at 8,930) with an hourly wage of $31.16 or $64,800 (higher than California at $30.24/hr or $62,890).
Warner expects the first rollout of the workshop series to begin in July of this year, focusing on photography, film, and an introduction to filmmaking created using a smartphone. Instruction is hands-on, task-oriented, and delivered in person by leading industry professionals. Follow-up online course modules are also planned so that students can continue to build upon their in-person workshops.
The Creative Outpost objectives are clear: to inspire individuals to consider a career pathway in content development through technical knowledge and real-world job skills, to provide skilled interns to the film/video industries working in the Upstate region, and to create a content development hub in Little Falls that allows graduates to secure gainful employment locally without the need to relocate to a large city or out-of-state.
For more information about Creative Outpost or to request a notification for upcoming workshops, visit us online at www.creativeoutpost.org.
About Creative Outpost:
The Creative Outpost, Inc. is a 501C3 charitable organization providing workforce development services in the form of vocational training, workshops, and internships to the general public for up-skilling workers in a changing economy and providing career pathways to low-income youth with trade skills for employment locally and within the 45-minute commuting shed of Little Falls, NY. The organization leverages its workforce services by fostering collaborative partnerships within the film, video, and media industries to facilitate internships and job opportunities for its students.
