About the Film Connection Film School
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| Founded in 1984, the Film Connection provides apprentice programs for the film, radio, TV and music recording industries. The company has successfully placed many graduates into their dream careers throughout the United States and Canada. | Film Connection's world-wide headquarters are located at one of the most famous intersections in the world: Hollywood & Vine, smack-dab in the middle of the historic Walk of Fame. Nearby attractions include Capital Records and the Pantages Theater. |
Our corporate offices are
located on the 3rd floor of the building
pictured above right, in the legendary Equitable Building, an
historical landmark from Hollywood's Golden Era. but YOUR classroom
will be an actual production company, working on real film or video
shoots in your city or town.
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Your Film Connection Film School Alternative Team
James
(Jimi) Petulla,
Founder and Chief Executive Officer–A successful film writer, producer
and former radio broadcaster, Petulla came up with his take on the
mentor/apprentice method of education while working as an instructor
for the world famous and now defunct Columbia School of Broadcasting.
He believed that the people who worked there were great but that
overall it was not effective and, in fact, worse. They trained students
and then dumped them into the job market with a piece of paper that was
worth nothing because the students had no real world experience.Petulla visualized an opportunity and asked himself how he could help capable students get paying jobs in the entertainment business. The next day while visiting an audio engineer friend in his San Jose, California studio, Petulla asked him if he had ever hired a student from one of these schools. Laughing, his friend said, “No, because they don't know the job. My own assistant had no experience, but I trained him so now I know he knows his stuff.
Two weeks later Petulla started the Film Connection which
is now a successful accredited institution certified by the
National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance. As of 2008 the company
has trained thousands upon thousands of students who are now working in
their dream careers in the entertainment business. In addition to being
the chief executive officer of the company,
Petulla is also a former radio DJ and is currently a working Hollywood
filmmaker. His film “Reversal” won best at acting legend Robert
DeNiro's IndieVision Tribeca Film Festival as well as “Best Film” at
the Malibu Film Festival. It also won a DOVE Family Award. Set around
the sport of high school wrestling, the movie is a family film that
highlights the effectiveness of a father and son or mentor/apprentice
relationship when it comes to sports. The film was praised and given
two thumbs up by gold medalists Carl Lewis, Shannon Miller, and Kendall
Cross.
Brian
Kraft, Chief Operating Officer – Kraft got his start at 18
years
of age working for Yvonne Troxclair at Warner Bros. Records in Burbank,
California where he learned the music business from the legendary
executive John Beug (Producer: The Eagles, Eric Clapton, President
Rhino Records). Kraft then left Warner Bros. and worked on music videos
and commercials for Julian Temple's Nitrate
Films (Tom Petty, Bob Dylan) and Limelight Films, Inc. It was there
that he met the late great
music video director D.J. Webster (Amy Grant, Chevrolet, The Beach
Boys). Webster took Kraft under his wing and mentored him in the art of
directing and the business of producing. After Webster's passing, Kraft
went on to direct music videos and live concerts for Jane's Addiction,
Cypress Hill, and Ozomatli.
Recently Kraft directed the feature film "The Brandon Corey Story" and is currently directing a documentary film featuring author Naomi Wolf, Mark Crispin Miller, Doug Casey and more. Five years ago Kraft turned his attention to mentoring and to date has mentored 73 students, and counting, into paid employment in the film, television, music recording and radio professions. Kraft is on the board of advisors for Film Connection Inc. and lives in Los Angeles, California.
Support Staff
Whether you call Film Connection for additional information, to help you with your loan application, or to sign up for one of our mentor-apprentice courses where you live, our staff stands ready to assist you in making your dreams come true. Here's a look at who you will be talking with.
Brian
Kraft, Chief Operating Officer – Kraft got his start at 18
years
of age working for Yvonne Troxclair at Warner Bros. Records in Burbank,
California where he learned the music business from the legendary
executive John Beug (Producer: The Eagles, Eric Clapton, President
Rhino Records). Kraft then left Warner Bros. and worked on music videos
and commercials for Julian Temple's Nitrate
Films (Tom Petty, Bob Dylan) and Limelight Films, Inc. It was there
that he met the late great
music video director D.J. Webster (Amy Grant, Chevrolet, The Beach
Boys). Webster took Kraft under his wing and mentored him in the art of
directing and the business of producing. After Webster's passing, Kraft
went on to direct music videos and live concerts for Jane's Addiction,
Cypress Hill, and Ozomatli. Recently Kraft directed the feature film "The Brandon Corey Story" and is currently directing a documentary film featuring author Naomi Wolf, Mark Crispin Miller, Doug Casey and more. Five years ago Kraft turned his attention to mentoring and to date has mentored 73 students, and counting, into paid employment in the film, television, music recording and radio professions. Kraft is on the board of advisors for Film Connection Inc. and lives in Los Angeles, California.
Support Staff
Whether you call Film Connection for additional information, to help you with your loan application, or to sign up for one of our mentor-apprentice courses where you live, our staff stands ready to assist you in making your dreams come true. Here's a look at who you will be talking with.
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| Shawn
Thompson Assistant to the COO |
Dallas Tidwell Placement Coordinator |
More about Entertainment Connection and its
programs 1 2
3 4
Learn Filmmaking from a
Professional Filmmaker
Our Students Talk About Us
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Film
Connection student, Chris is being groomed by his mentor to direct
music videos. If you're interested in a career in the film
business, apply now, or give us a call and see how we can get you
started.
