TAMPA, Fla. (September 2, 2025) – Stage 32, a leading online education platform for film and television professionals, is partnering with Film Tampa Bay to launch a Production Assistant Master Certification Program in the Tampa Bay region beginning in September 2025.
Endorsed by Film Florida, the program was devised to combat the lack of apprenticeship programs in the screen production industry. “Film Tampa Bay and Stage 32 are cultivating a program similar to an internship. The course works in tandem with the education that students receive in a classroom. They learned the art of filmmaking, now they’ll learn the ins and outs of set etiquette,” said John Lux, Executive Director of Film Florida.
The program is designed to provide industry-standard training for aspiring production assistants while showcasing the region’s production infrastructure to Stage 32’s global network of more than 1 million creatives.
The program will combine Stage 32’s online curriculum with in-person workshops hosted in Tampa Bay. Film Tampa Bay will select 12 participants through an open application process targeting students and aspiring filmmakers from organizations such as Hillsborough Community College, the University of Tampa, the University of South Florida, Tampa Bay Community Network, and Film Florida.
Participants will receive instruction from veteran industry professionals, including Directors Guild of America assistant directors Gary Romolo Fiorelli (Castle Rock, All American) and Korey Pollard (SEAL Team, Halloween). The online course will cover core skills such as production assisting fundamentals, on-set protocol, paperwork, departmental structure, and call sheet navigation.
Certified graduates will be listed on Stage 32’s Certification Portal, giving local productions access to qualified crew members and allowing Film Tampa Bay to monitor participant progress. Following online training, Stage 32 will also deliver a weekend-long, in-person training session in Tampa.
A select number of graduates will be placed on a Tampa Bay-based production and receive screen credit on IMDb.
“Film Tampa Bay is proud to partner with Stage 32 to cultivate local talent and elevate our region as a premier filming destination,” said Tyler Martinolich, Film Commissioner for Film Tampa Bay. “This program not only equips aspiring professionals with essential skills but also strengthens our creative economy.”
“We’re excited to bring our industry-leading certification program to Tampa Bay, empowering the next wave of production assistants while highlighting the region’s incredible production resources,” said Amanda Toney, Managing Director of Stage 32. “After training talent for more than 50 film commissions around the world, working with Tampa Bay proves how serious the region is about building a strong workforce for production.”
Tampa Bay is the 51st film commission to participate in Stage 32’s global certification initiative. Other regions that have adopted the training include Costa Rica, Poland, Croatia, South Africa, Mexico and Austria.
The Tampa Bay program will begin in September 2025, with graduates expected to begin working on local productions by April 2026.
For more information, visit filmtampabay.com or contact Tyler Martinolich at tmartinolich@visittampabay.com.
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