Chris Erwin

2016 CA Summit - New Skills at Work: Preparing a 21st Century Entertainment Workforce

Kari Dohn Decker, Jillian Arnold, Chris Erwin, Ze Frank, Matt Horton, Patricia Ramos

The Milken Institute and JPMorgan Chase's "New Skills at Work" initiative convened industry leaders, including executives from BuzzFeed and Big Frame alongside representatives from IATSE and Santa Monica College, to address the creative sector's critical "access gap" and shifting workforce demographics. Participants analyzed the urgent need for data literacy and hybrid technical roles as traditional production cycles collapse into hours, prompting educational institutions to launch new interdisciplinary degrees and targeted certificate programs for underrepresented populations. The discussion concluded with a consensus on the necessity for long-term employer partnerships and paid apprenticeships to sustain a diverse pipeline capable of navigating the convergence of technology and media in Los Angeles.