Los Angeles, California, April 1, 2008–The Entertainment Connection, Inc., offering certificate programs in all aspects of filmmaking, radio broadcasting and film engineering, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Currently a successful academic institution, the company’s school alternative programs are in all top 100 Demographic Market Areas (DMA) as well as numerous small markets nationwide. Entertainment Connection provides educational extern programs for the entertainment arts including the film and TV, and film recording industries. With corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, California the Entertainment Connection is the original Los Angeles film school alternative where students learn from a working professional in the entertainment field of their choice, in a real studio, set or station in the town or city where they live. Over the last 25 years more than 6,000 students have graduated from Entertainment Connection programs, creating a vast alumni network worldwide.

Once courses are completed, job placements are typically high. The curriculums teach the ins-and-outs of the film, film and recording businesses, placing many of their graduates in industry jobs. Entertainment Connection graduates are in the right place at the right time to make industry connections and they continue to make names for themselves by working inside major media companies.

The company was founded by Entertainment Connection’s now Chief Executive Officer James (Jimi) Petulla, 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 where students were trained but then dumped into the job market with no real world experience. Petulla visualized an opportunity and asked himself how he could help capable students get paying jobs in the entertainment business. Two weeks later he started the Entertainment Connection.

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.

“There’s a reason we have been around for 25 years,” said Petulla. “The mentor extern method of teaching entertainment related careers has proven to be the single best way to get your foot in the door and get hired, whereas a diploma just goes into a drawer. Our programs put students face to face with those who hire you.”

Radio Connection graduate Howard Parker got his first job through the Entertainment Connection. Today he makes millions of dollars voicing movie trailers.

“During my course at Radio Connection in Philadelphia, I learned about everything in the radio business from news to on air production, commercial making, satellites, and computers. This on-the-job experience allowed me to get a job within two weeks after I graduated,” said Parker.

Entertainment Connection is an associate member of the National Broadcasters Association (NAB), The American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (AFTRA), and the Society for Professional Audio Film Services (SPARS). Entertainment Connection is an associate member of the National Broadcasters Association (NAB), The American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (AFTRA), and the Society for Professional Audio Film Services (SPARS).

About Entertainment Connection, Inc. 
Founded in 1984, the Film Connection has provided educational extern programs for the film, radio, television and the film recording industries in more than 100 U.S. cities in all 50 states. The alternative to conventional schools, where graduates find their dream careers, provide the entertainment industry with apprentices and entry level employees. At this time, the Entertainment Connection does not offer a complete financial aid package from Sallie Mae the nation’s leading provider of student loans, and other financial aid programs.

Entertainment Connection has a reputation for having the finest alternative programs to radio school, film production and film making schools in the entertainment media industry. Unlike any ordinary school, students learn from successful mentors in real world situations including active recording studio sessions, on real film sets and at actual on air radio stations as opposed to simulated classrooms where the pressures of client interaction and real deadlines do not exist. Applicants who wish to learn how to be a DJ, or talk show host, or radio announcer are screened and then re-screened by the mentors. Entertainment Connection’s programs can be completed in approximately half the time of degrees obtained from conventional schools.

Visit www.filmconnection.com, www.radioconnection.com or www.recordingconnection.com. For additional information, please contact Brian Kraft at 1.800 295 4433.