Your Journey Starts Now
OYA Career Leap is an on-going program that provides work placement opportunities for Black film/TV crew (ages 18-34, residing in the GTHA) to satisfy union eligibility requirements and advance their careers.
OYA Career Leap matches successful participants with Film industry mentors to enhance their workplace training with veteran insight, refine their soft skills, and expand their professional networks ahead of the career leap of applying to a union.
CALL FOR PRODUCTION COMPANIES
Is your production company on the hunt for industry-leading crew talent for your future projects?
Join us in shaping an inclusive future in film by partnering with OYA Career Leap to empower Talented Black Youth in the industry
Why Partner with Us?
Access to paid placements for crew positions: $25/hour for 10 hours a day
Access a vetted pool of passionate and skilled Black filmmakers
Tailored fit to ensure alignment with your company's needs
Enhance your brand by showing commitment to diversity
Barriers of Joining a Union
Many of us are familiar with the challenge of needing industry experience to secure high-level job opportunities, yet not being able to access them because of said “lack of experience”. However, this hinders Black crew members in particular who aspire to join a union. Although they may be qualified in both skill and talent, their underrepresentation in the industry makes them fall short of eligibility criteria that privilege the experiences and professional networks of non-Black creatives.
This entry barrier impacts not only Black crew members’ ability to advance their careers with unionized positions, but also maintains a scarcity of Black (and IPOC) crew representation on high-level productions. Reports of Black creatives realizing they are the “only one in the room”––particularly outside entry-level positions, and on major productions––are common, creating environments where they may encounter unconscious bias and/or microaggressions:
“One in ten (9%) [union members] experience racism or microaggressions themselves on
on a weekly basis, three in ten (30%) experience it every few months, and two in ten (22%) at least once a year.
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Career Leaps aims to change this pattern, not only by creating opportunities for more Black crew members to join unions, but also by equipping industry mentors and work placement supervisors with anti-Black racist training to ensure safe spaces for Black crew at all levels in the industry.
Benefits of Joining Union
High professional set standards & more exposure through union database
Standardized rates of service, with contract protection, premium pay, and fringe benefits
Health & Welfare and Retirement plans
BENEFITS OF OYA CAREER LEAP
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Paid Job Placements
Access paid work placements on a variety of productions. Gain valuable, relevant work experience on sets and build your hours toward minimum union application requirements.
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Subsidize Union Application fees
Gain support in overcoming financial barriers towards union applications; access support in meeting requirements including training and certification costs such as First Aid, WHIMS, Working at Heights, application processing and union entry fees.
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Film Industry Mentorship & Career Guidance
Be paired with an industry mentor for regular meetings and insight on your work placements; refine set etiquette and networking skills; receive guidance on your union application process.
