Film Florida and Stage 32 have announced a partnership to provide below-the-line workforce training for film and television professionals across the state. The collaboration will deliver Stage 32’s Certification Program, which is available to both Film Florida members and non-members, including film commissions and industry workers statewide. The program aims to enhance skills among crew members in roles such as line producing, location management, post-production supervision, production accounting, assistant directing, production assisting, coordination, and script supervising.
The initiative will begin with Film Tampa Bay in October 2025. It supports new local cash rebates and grants designed to attract more productions to the region. Training will be offered through a combination of online courses and in-person workshops led by experienced industry professionals. Notable instructors include Brad Carpenter (a two-time Emmy-nominated post-production producer), Leslie Coverse (post-production supervisor), Shalonda Ware (senior production finance manager at Paramount Studios), Korey Pollard (DGA assistant director), and Miranda Carnessal (location manager).
Florida has positioned itself as an attractive destination for film and TV production due to its skilled workforce, favorable weather conditions, and various incentives. Several counties—Broward (Fort Lauderdale), Palm Beach, Pinellas (St. Pete/Clearwater), Hillsborough (Tampa)—and the city of Jacksonville offer local incentives that complement the state’s entertainment industry sales tax exemption. Combined incentives exceed $30 million statewide, with some locations providing up to $2 million per project.
The Tampa Bay component of the program includes master certification for production assistants in on-set protocols and paperwork management. Graduates will be listed in Stage 32’s Certification Portal for job opportunities throughout Florida and beyond. Top performers are guaranteed work on professional projects that count toward IMDb credits.
“Film Florida is thrilled to partner with Stage 32 to bring world-class training to our members and elevate Florida’s film industry,” said John Lux, Executive Director of Film Florida. “By providing access to Stage 32’s certification program, we’re empowering our film commissions and organizations to build a robust, skilled workforce, starting with this exciting program in Tampa Bay.”
“Stage 32 is honored to collaborate with Film Florida to strengthen Florida’s production ecosystem,” said Amanda Toney, Managing Director of Stage 32. “After successfully training talent for over 50 film commissions worldwide, including an impactful program with St. Pete/Clearwater, we’re excited to launch this initiative in Tampa Bay and expand opportunities for below-the-line professionals across the state with Film Florida.”
“Film Tampa Bay is proud to partner with Stage 32 to cultivate local talent and elevate our region as a premier filming destination,” said Tyler Martinolich, film commissioner for Film Tampa Bay. “This program not only equips aspiring professionals with essential skills but also strengthens our creative economy.”
The first cohort began training in October 2025; graduates are expected to start working on productions by April 2026. With this move, Film Tampa Bay becomes the 51st commission globally—and joins others from states like Pennsylvania and Texas as well as countries such as Costa Rica—to participate in Stage 32’s network.
Stage 32 was founded in 2011 as an online platform connecting over one million creatives worldwide through education programs totaling more than 3,500 hours of content on-demand.
Film Florida serves as the primary marketing organization for the state’s TV, film, and digital media industries by uniting stakeholders from all aspects of screen production.
