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. Justin Wong. Photo courtesy of Mara Prater. Justin Wong By Julia O’Donnell December 1, 2010 - Justin Matthew Wong has had a passion for film since high school. “When you are a kid, you see that first film and it captivates you in some way,” he said. “I want to instill that kind of emotion into other people.” With help from the “Made in NY” Production Assistant Training Program, Wong, a resident of Queens, was able to channel his interest and drive into a career in the field that he loves. Over the years he had interned on various events but financial constraints deterred him from pursuing a career in production. Between working two jobs just to make ends meet, Justin soon realized that something needed to change. After learning of the “Made in NY” PA Training Program, Wong became determined to do whatever it took to pursue his dream of working in entertainment, including working seven days a week and enduring a long commute. “I’ve always had at least two jobs, but the [PA] program itself lasts from 7am to 5pm,” he said. “I had a two and a half hour commute to class, and I had to take classes during the day and go to work at night. I was literally waking up at 3am to be in class all day, and I had to leave class right at 5pm and work until 2am.” Despite these obstacles, Wong graduated from the PA program a year ago and has been steadily employed ever since. His drive and ambition served him well; he is already a camera assistant at Leopard Films and is working on a variety of reality television shows. After his second full-time gig in the production industry – working on Bravo’s “Millionaire Matchmaker” – Wong became an AC, and he currently works on the production of “Unique Eats” on the Cooking Channel and TLC’s “Cake Boss” and “The Next Great Baker.” After years of working long hours in jobs that didn’t hold his interest, Wong has found a field that challenges him and lets him thrive. “I’ve always loved the fast-paced environment [of production], but most of all, I love the people,” he said. Ultimately, Wong seeks to become a cinematographer, an interest he discovered from gaining on-the-job work experience during his time with the “Made in NY” PA Training Program, and learning about the various positions in production by the staff at Brooklyn Workforce Innovations. To other PA trainees, Wong’s advice is clear: “Listen to everything that Katy [Finch] says,” referring to the program’s director. According to Wong, the program offers “the greatest advice in the world… At first, it sounds crazy, but all of the advice helped me so much. It put me in a position where I have a goal and the opportunity to start everything,” he said. 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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