Scholarships program available to Montana tribal members in film production

Press release

HELENA — The Montana Department of Commerce, in partnership with Accelerate MT and The Media Training Center, has announced an opportunity for enrolled members of Montana’s tribal nations, a new scholarship program for a certified film production assistant — PA — course.

The program’s goal is to increase the PA pool as well as employment opportunities among Montana’s Indigenous communities. This training will be offered in-person or on-line throughout Montana’s Indian Country.

The Media Training Center, in conjunction with the Montana Department of Commerce’s Office of Indian Economic Development — OICED — Tribal Tourism and its Montana Film Office — MFO, will promote this opportunity statewide to encourage 10 individuals from each tribal nation to complete the course, receive a digital credential, and be entered into The Media Training Center’s available to hire database as well as call-to-work opportunities tracked within the MFO.

By December 2024, 80 working-aged enrolled members of Montana’s tribes will be certified PAs through this scholarship program.

The commercial media and film industry currently has a labor shortage, especially in rural Montana, which has meant the outsourcing of PAs. This new program will increase the numbers of Montana tribal members into this workforce; based on their proximity to rural locations, they will be uniquely positioned to fill these jobs. This furthers the goals of OICED Tribal Tourism Program to increase indigenous talent and voices both in front of and behind the camera. The MFO will assist OICED with promotion and outreach by participating in the in-house production of webinars for Commerce’s website as a guide for applicants and by discussing film industry careers.

The Montana Department of Commerce funded the program, which offers 80 scholarships of $500 each. There are 10 scholarships for enrolled tribal members of working age from each of Montana’s eight tribal nations. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and an enrolled member of a Montana tribal nation with tribal ID to participate. They must also establish a free Submittable account to apply, which can be set up online at https://acceleratemontana.submittable.com/submit/269179/production-assistant-scholarships-for-tribal-members . Applicants will be randomly selected to ensure equal opportunity. The process will repeat as often as necessary to ensure all scholarships are utilized. Other selection methods may be used if some of the scholarships have not been awarded by July 2024.

Round one of the application cycle is open until noon August 22, 2023; awardees will be notified by 5 p.m. that day. Up to half of the scholarships are available during round one, averaging five awards per tribal nation. Those not awarded in round one will automatically be entered into round two.

Applicants can select on-line or in-person learning for the two-day training course. The first in-person training will be in Polson Aug. 26-27.

For more information, people can contact Tribal Tourism Officer Rachelle Brown at the Montana Department of Commerce at [email protected] or 406-558-9274.