Each month we will showcase an individual who participated in the "Made in NY" PA Training Program. Click here for information on the free, month-long program developed in conjunction with Brooklyn Workforce Innovations and designed to create job opportunities for New Yorkers, connect New Yorkers with employers in the industry, and educate production assistants on how to work collaboratively with the communities in which they shoot. Teena Marie Delerme-Lugo. Photo courtesy of Mara Prater, Brooklyn Workforce Innovations. Teena Marie Delerme-Lugo October 1, 2010 - Teena Marie Delerme-Lugo, a resident of East Harlem, knew that when she applied to the “Made in NY” PA Training Program it could be her chance to get into the entertainment industry, the business in which she wanted to work. She had no idea though that within a year she would already have achieved so much. Last October, on the day of her certification as a “Made in NY” PA as part of Cycle 16, she quickly had to leave as soon as the ceremony was over because she had an interview. Almost immediately, she was hired to work on the Food Network show “Chopped.” “I couldn’t believe it,” she said. Following that came work on the HBO series “How to Make It in America,” the film Pariah, and other indie films and music videos. Then Delerme-Lugo spoke with Brooklyn Workforce Innovations' Nancy Goldman, the job developer for the “Made in NY” PA Training Program who helps find jobs for the PAs during the two years they receive job placement assistance. Delerme-Lugo told Goldman she was interested in a staff job, something that was 9-5. Goldman explained how difficult and rare those positions were, but said she would look into it. The next day, Delerme-Lugo had an interview for “The Wendy Williams Show.” “I’ve been with the show since February as the promo coordinator,” she said, “working on the show’s short commercials, which can be as many as twenty throughout the show.” She transcribes the show, finding sound bytes for promos and clearing photos along with some script writing, which, according to Delerme-Lugo, is “amazing.” “I love TV right now,” she said. “It suits me. I finally get to do what I enjoy.” One day she would love to produce and direct. Her favorite part of her job is turning on “The Wendy Williams Show” to see her promos and watching her family watch the show. “Hearing my family say, ‘My daughter works there,’ ‘My wife works there,’ ‘My mom works there,’ it makes me feel really good.” Interested in learning more about the “Made in NY” PA Training Program? Click here. Read more about previous "Made in NY" PAs of the Month here. design by    The City of New York Mayor's Office of Film Theatre & Broadcasting 1697 Broadway Suite 602, New York, New York 10019.
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