Happy Wednesday, Stage 32 Creative Army!

I am thrilled to share some exciting news that was just featured in the Tampa Bay Business Journal: Stage 32 has partnered with Film Tampa Bay to bring our Production Assistant Master Certification Program to the region!

With more filming opportunities, grants and regional incentives coming to the state of Florida, Tampa Bay wants to ensure they have top trained talent that can work on film and television productions in the area. With the help of Stage 32 Certification Film Tampa Bay Film is investing in their workforce to ensure top level talent for productions in their area. This partnership was conceived this year during the Cannes Film Festival between Tampa Bay Film Commissioner Tyler Martinolich and Stage 32 Managing Director Amanda Toney.

Read The Full Article Below

Why This Matters for Productions Wanting to Film in Tampa Bay

The program will give aspiring filmmakers and students in the area direct access to industry-standard Production Assistant training led by veteran professionals. Directors Guild of America assistant directors Gary Romolo Fiorelli (Castle Rock, All American) and Korey Pollard (SEAL Team, Halloween) will be teaching fundamentals like on-set protocol, call sheets, departmental workflow, and production paperwork.

The training will combine Stage 32’s online curriculum with in-person workshop hosted in Tampa Bay. Participants will be selected through an open application process targeting students and creatives from Hillsborough Community College, University of Tampa, University of South Florida, Tampa Bay Community Network, and Film Florida.

Graduates will earn Stage 32 Certification and be listed on our Certification Database, making them searchable by local productions looking for qualified crew.

But, even more exciting: graduates will be placed directly onto a Tampa Bay-based production and receive their first screen credit on IMDb!

This marks a major milestone for Tampa Bay as it continues to rise as a serious production hub. With this launch, Tampa Bay joins Stage 32’s Certification initiative, standing alongside Costa Rica, Poland, Croatia, South Africa, Mexico, Austria, and dozens more regions where we’ve trained and placed below-the-line talent.

As Tyler Martinolich, Film Commissioner for Film Tampa Bay, put it: “Film Tampa Bay is proud to partner with Stage 32 to cultivate local talent and elevate our region as a premier filming destination. This program not only equips aspiring professionals with essential skills but also strengthens our creative economy.”

And that’s exactly the goal: to create a trained workforce that can keep productions local while putting Tampa Bay firmly on the global filmmaking map.

Click here to learn more about Filming in Tampa Bay!

Why This Matters!

At Stage 32, we’ve always believed in democratizing access to industry opportunities. 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. 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.

What’s Next

The first cohort began training in August 2025, and graduates are expected to start working on local productions by April 2026.

If you’re based in Florida, this is an unprecedented chance to start your career on solid footing. If you’re outside the region, let this be a reminder that Stage 32 Certification is expanding every day, and the opportunities to train and work globally are only growing.

We can’t wait to see the next generation of Tampa Bay filmmakers certified, trained, and working in this incredible industry.

The Two Types of Stage 32 Certification

Master Certifications: These are a group of courses that make up a master's knowledge of a particular discipline. You will need to take all of the courses in a Master Certification track and pass a test in each course in order to be Master Certified.

Current Master Certifications Include:

• Production Accounting Master Certification
• TV Production Management Master Certification
• Feature Film Production Management Master Certification
• Line Producing Master Certification
• Producer Key Legal Agreements Master Certification
• Script Supervising Master Certification
• Location Management Master Certification
• Production Coordinator Master Certification
• Production Assistant Master Certification
• Assistant Director Master Certification
• Post-Production Supervision Master Certification

Individual Certifications: These are individual courses that focus on a particular skill set, in which you will watch the course and then be tested at the end to receive your certificate.

Current Individual Certifications Include:

• Budget Creation
• Production Scheduling
• Call Sheets
• Production Accounting 101
• Payroll Accounting and Management for Film & TV
• Cost Reporting
• US Tax Incentive Management
• Script Supervision 101
• Script Supervision: Script Timing & Page Breakdown
• Script Supervision: Continuity Breakdown
• Script Supervision: Script Notes & Lined Script Pages
• Script Supervision: On Set Continuity
• Script Supervision: Progress Reports & Work Flow
• Production Wrap Deliverables
• Final Delivery Elements Of A TV Show
• Final Delivery Elements Of A Feature Film
• Option/Purchase/Shopping Agreements
• Feature Film Financing Agreements
• Investor Agreements
• International Co-Production Agreements
• Crew Agreements
• Talent Agreements
• Distribution & Sales Agency Agreements
• Fundamentals Of Location Management
• Location Scouting
• Location Management: Budgeting & Scheduling
• Location Management: Contracts, Risk Management & Negotiating
• The Fundamentals of Production Coordinating
• Production Coordinator: Logistics
• Fundamentals Of Production Assisting
• Production Assistant: On Set Protocols
• Production Assistant: Paperwork & Department Interaction
• Fundamentals Of Assistant Directing
• Assistant Director Scheduling
• First Assistant Director On Set Protocols
• Key 2nd Assistant Director Protocols & Call Sheets
• 2nd 2nd Assistant Director Protocols
• Fundamentals of Post-Production Supervision
• Post-Production Supervisor Protocols for a TV Series
• Post-Production Supervisor Protocols for a Feature Film
• Post-Production Supervisor Scheduling & Budgeting
• Post-Production Coordinator & Production Assistant Protocols

What Happens After You Get Certified?

Once you complete a Stage 32 Certification, you will:

• Be included in a global database searchable by industry professionals, film commissions, and studios.
• Receive a certification badge on your Stage 32 profile, which is visible to over 1.3 million members worldwide.
• Gain credentials to display on your social media, resume, and LinkedIn profile.
• Be recognized as a qualified industry professional, making it easier for you to get hired and advance your career.

Get Certified. Get To Work. Start By Clicking Here!

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