The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission is inviting interested New Jersey residents to apply for the upcoming Production Assistant Bootcamp, scheduled for April 23 and 24 at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor.

The program, being provided free of charge through a sponsorship by NBCUniversal, will offer two days of real-world, work-based training, which will also offer participants a better understanding of film/TV production. The program prepares individuals for the job of production assistant, the usual entry level position for the entertainment industry.

To date, 160 residents have participated in the seven P.A. bootcamps held in New Jersey since 2018.

The program attempts to simulate a film or television set, so that participants are prepared to hit the ground running from day one.

One example of a success story comes from Millburn resident Nicole DeRose, who completed the bootcamp in 2021. She was soon hired as a costume production assistant on Mayim Bialik’s New Jersey-filmed project, “As They Made Us.” That has led to her being hired as a casting assistant at one of the top casting agencies in the country.

“I am so grateful for my experience at P.A. Bootcamp,” said DeRose. “Unequivocally, the bootcamp prepared me for my first big production on set, and I recall the crew appreciating that I wasn’t green and understood the lingo. If anyone is interested in getting hands on experience and a way to break into the industry, apply to P.A. Bootcamp.”

While no job after the Bootcamp is guaranteed, officials say the demand for qualified P.A.’s is high, especially here in New Jersey with the rapid uptick in film and television productions.

Anybody interested can learn more at www.pabootcamp.com. Residents are encouraged to apply immediately, since space is limited.

Applicants must be able to attend both training dates on April 23 and 24, as well as be able to accept production assistant work in New Jersey in the next several months, to be eligible.