Renaissance Man

Film Connection's Jimi Petulla on apprenticing and educating

by Jennifer M. Wood | Published February 3, 2007

Film Connection student with 35mm camera

A Film Connection student works with a 35mm camera.

Call him a revolutionary, but Jimi Petulla's method of learning by doing is really just a "a throwback to the Renaissance period," where you learned your art by paying your dues and taking advice from a true master. Through his Film Connection program, aspiring moviemakers all over the country are becoming working moviemakers-and learning from the best in the business. Here, Petulla talks about bringing the 12th century into the 21st.

Jennifer Wood (MM): Film Connection is not your traditional film education experience, and it's a program that I think is best described by you, its founder. Briefly, what is it that Film Connection attempts to do?

Jimi Petulla (JP): Film Connection is a division of Career Connection. We "connect" film production companies and television stations and recording studios and radio stations that have a need to hire beginners with an aspiring apprentice. Our apprentice method of training is a throwback to the Renaissance period. In the 12th century, if you wanted to be an artist you didn't go to school, you went to work for an artist and you were not paid for your labor. On the contrary-you paid for the privilege of working free. And people stood in line to do it with the right master! If your father or uncle weren't already doing it, it was the only way to enter a profession. Following this same Renaissance apprenticeship method during the last 18 years, we have secured jobs for over 5,000 beginners in film companies, radio and TV stations and recording studios worldwide. Our purpose is to help abolish that old catch-22 that "you can't get a job without experience, and you can't get experience without a job!"

MM: One of the things that really struck me when we first spoke about your program is that you stated "Most successful people in film were never educated." Can you talk about how this statement relates to the approach you take to teaching at Film Connection? What is the learning philosophy on which you and the program operate?

JP: Most people in any form of the arts got into the business on their own with no schooling and no training anywhere. The reality is that most people that go to traditional film school never work one day in the business. Frankly, I believe you are either an artist (which is what this all is supposed to be about) or not. In other words, the technical stuff, the mechanical things, you will always learn, but you have to have been born with the "seed." It's no different than actors or musicians or painters. I believe that the best teachers are not teachers, but eminent working professionals-people that make a living doing it every day. A real director, producer, editor, DP, etc.

Remember the old saying, "Those who can, do; those who can't do, teach." I believe that's often true-especially in the film and television industry. I would rather learn from someone who pays their rent doing it every day than someone who teaches it every day. I don't think many people have a goal of "teaching" film students. The goal is making, if possible, an award-winning film-or simply to have a rewarding job in the motion picture industry. Our students really do gain real world experience, because they do not train in a school-they train on-the-job; on real money, on-the-line film productions.

The other big key in an apprenticeship situation is that training is always done one-on-one. One student apprentices with one instructor or mentor. A mentor is a professional, in this case a film producer, director, editor, DP and so on. It's the same person who from time to time has to hire beginners and dreads the day when they'll have to sort through resumes of college or film school graduates who haven't a clue what the business is really all about. How much better to hire your own private student apprentice that you have personally groomed and taught, on-the-job, in the real world.

MM: In order to make a program like Film Connection successful, it's obviously necessary to have a large network of participating companies with whom your students can learn. How did you go about building these relationships in the first place? What are some of the companies that you work with on a regular basis?

JP: We build new relationships every day with Film Connection. We get phone calls from people all over the country wanting to break into the film industry. So let's say you call me from Dallas, Texas. I need to find you a company to apprentice at in Dallas, Texas-like AMS Productions, who've trained and hired several of my apprentices. Frankly, as often as we can, we try to put only one potential apprentice into one company at a time. The simple reason is that if you're the only student in that company at the time, your odds of employment are far greater than if they already have five or six other interns. Also, keep in mind that we are charging the students tuition of $5,950.00 and we are actually paying the film companies a portion of these fees to train our apprentices. So, again, the film company gets paid. Trust me, they are not just doing it for that reason because-let's face it-they don't need the money. But what I've discovered over the years is that successful people really do love to help and mentor people.

Also, we really do have a screening process unlike traditional schools. First, we screen our applicants by phone for motivation and desire and we are very honest with each and every one of them about the "pay your dues, bad hours at first, bad wages at first and absolutely no guarantees" [philosophy]. Also each candidate must easily have the money to do this because we accept no government grants or loans. Keep in mind before anyone pays anything to us, they are interviewed by the film company in their local area. If the company does not accept them, they cannot do our program and there's no fee charged at all. And these film companies do not need the money or headache of the new student they don't feel good about.

As I mentioned, we try to work with one student in one company as much as possible. But in areas like Los Angeles and New York City, for example, I do have some special companies I like to work ongoing with. In New York City, I have a company called Two Tone Films. The producer is a person named Tony Travis. Tony is an established filmmaker himself and he really gets our students in New York involved with a lot of major companies and opportunities. He's placed students of ours with HBO Films, MTV, Spike Lee, Bad Boy Films and many others. For people who want to learn all the aspects of on-set production, Tony is a great mentor/contact. In Los Angeles, I work with Tapestry Films quite often-especially with people who want to learn editing. I'll send that person, for example, to Sherwood Jones, who has been editing for them since the company's [inception].

MM: Which aspects of the industry does Film Connection help teach?

JP: We help with production and post-production positions-directors, editors, cinematographers, camera operators and all aspects of producing. We do not place writers or actors.

MM: Now, let's get down to the specifics: What are the educational or professional requirements? How many students do you accept at any one time? How do interested parties go about applying?

JP: Our requirements are simply a passion to really want to do this. You have to have the "wanna"-the want! Simply go to www.film-connection.com, Or call a toll-free, five-minute recording line that is the first of our screening calls that will probably talk you out of this, at 800/858-4241. If accepted, your training could take place during your off-hours, evenings and even weekends.

MM: For many, an education is only as good as the opportunities it opens for full-time employment. One of Film Connection's biggest claims to fame is your amazing placement rate for students. What kind of help do you give students who have completed their work with you and are seeking full-time work in the industry? What are some of your favorite success stories?

JP: We get you a start-an entry-level beginning into the profession. We have not made anyone Spielberg or Kazan-yet. You simply get a start. After that, it's up to you.

If you can handle starting at the bottom of the ladder, if you are willing to keep your day job to pay the rent, then contact us for an interview. If a local film company accepts you, you will then receive the same text material of any college or university program. The difference-and it's a big difference-is that your instructor in our apprentice program will not be some burned out college professor, but a working veteran-a professional who is currently in the field.

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COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT

Comment by Hollywood on 9/01/08 at 12:13 am

This is very interesting for future movie makers.

Comment by gbenga on 11/06/09 at 11:17 am

please my question is short but very important
i am a Nigerian and i want to participate in the program me what are the packages available for the international student like me and what are the necessary things needed

Comment by moviemaniacl on 7/06/10 at 2:59 am

I was on a program in San Fransisco and have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a lot of hard work involved but this gave me all the grounding I needed to work in this industry. My mentor managed to get me hooked up with a production house and things have really taken off since then. All I can say is give it a try and decide for yourself.

Comment by filmcrew87 on 7/07/10 at 3:15 am

Film connection is working for me. It really annoys me to read about people flaming them, obviously without doing their research. My mentor ship program is great, I’m working alongside a really nice guy who has no issues showing me every side of the film business.

Comment by Ryan on 7/09/10 at 2:14 am

Why are people so quick to pass judgment on film connection and so unwilling to believe the truth that it works.

Comment by James on 7/12/10 at 4:08 am

I’m looking to get into the film business but need some advice. Do mentorship programs really work? Do studios actively recognize them? Do I need a degree to work in film. How much should I realistically put away to get me started? I know there are a lot of questions here but I am desperate to find out whats truth and whats myth.
James

Comment by Mark Shaw on 7/23/10 at 3:41 am

I would just like to make people aware that BBB The Better Business Bureau has just been caught and forced to admit that it recently gave Middle Eastern Terror group HAMAS an A- rating for their work in assisting the youth all for the princely sum of $425. Yet they gave Starbucks (who refused to pay into their scheme)an F rating. Just goes to show that the BBB rating is NOT worth the paper it’s written on.

Comment by Ryan on 7/23/10 at 3:52 am

I had read something about that in the Washington post 2 days ago I think. They also gave some bank an A+ just before federal authorities seized it. Shame on them.

Comment by Brian Hulnick on 7/26/10 at 12:28 am

I have been visiting many forums and it seems that anyone who defends Film/ recording or Radio Connections is a spammer, In fact you cannot even tell of your experiences with out getting flamed. I am not spam. Please remember, posts show up in the search engines so even thought the forum is “private” the posts are public. So when I saw people were talking about Recording Connection, I had to join in and say a few words. I would like to draw your attention to the Recording Connection as it is a subject that I know a lot about. I should, I went to the school. If you will I’d like to tell you about my experience. First off this place is far from a scam. They get you inside a real recording studio and oversee that you are trained one on one inside a real studio. No money at all is asked for up front. You pay only after you are accepted and feel comfortable with your mentor.
Many say why pay for an Internship? And that is what I originally thought, but the reality is, this is not an Internship, it is an apprenticeship. You are learning from a professional in a real studio from a course curriculum. My Recording Connection mentor is Warren Huart. Look him up. Warren is the Producer of Korn, Better than Ezra, and just about every alternative band at Sony Music. He is also a composer for Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs, etc.

Look I’m in my 30s and so I’ve been around the block, as I’m sure many of you have. I love the Internet, blogging, and posting in forums, but let’s be real people, NEGATIVE comments in forums and on blogs will always be in the majority because most people don’t post positive things when they are happy. We humans are just not wired that way unfortunately. If there are 5-20 negative comments in this or other forums, Praedo’s Law says there are probably 500 people who loved this school. I am one of them. Is the Recording Connection perfect? No. But it got me in a real studio and I learned under a man (Warren) who is real life music producer. Warren would not have trained me if I knocked on his door cold and asked him for an Internship.

Also, here are some other guys that endorse The Recording Connection and also teach for them in their studios:

TIM PALMER – Produced for U2, Pearl Jam, The Cure, David Bowie
CHRIS SHELDON – Engineered and Produced Liz Phair
JOHN ALTMAN – James Bond Film Composer
BRIAN BLACKWELL – Sony Music Executive for 30 years.
BRIAN LEVI – Engineered for Dwight Yokam
PRESTON BOEBEL – Engineered for Hoobestank, Whitesnake, Clint Mansell

This place is not a scam. If anyone wants to talk to me live about it, post and we can arrange a chat.But please let’s keep it polite.

Comment by Tim Smith on 7/27/10 at 4:25 am

Brian it would seem that any positive comments you make on blog sites and forums will always be seen as spam/ scam what ever. People only like hearing the bad stuff, even if it is made up. I too have had very positive experiences with Film Connection, but any time I try to post my thoughts I am immediately flamed or accused of fake posting. You can’t win.

Comment by Ryan on 8/09/10 at 3:17 am

Exactly what countries do connections have operations in? I know USA and Canada, but is it also true the United Kingdom? Anywhere else?
Thanks

Comment by Tim Smith on 8/10/10 at 2:52 am

I believe they have connections within the United Kingdom.

Comment by Tina K on 8/13/10 at 4:30 am

I hear Jimi made a movie and it was well received. Anyone know the title?

Comment by Tim Smith on 8/20/10 at 1:04 am

Movie name was Reversal

Comment by Ryan Edward on 8/23/10 at 4:01 am

To gbenga were you able to get sorted out with a film connection program seeing that you reside in Nigeria?

Comment by Tim Smith on 8/25/10 at 8:16 am

Reversal wasn’t huge commercially but was very well received my critics.

Comment by Lisa Hillier on 9/03/10 at 1:30 am

Will recording connections way of teaching have to change, due to the fact that many artists are opting to use home studios rather than larger professional ones?

Comment by Al on 10/09/10 at 10:10 pm

I just received a court judgement against Entertainment Career Connection. Take it from me, Jimi Petulla is definitely a scammer. He may have relationships with a few sound or film studios in the LA area, and maybe his clients in those studios do have a better experience than most. HOWEVER, he claims to have a global network of studios that he deals with, and that’s simply not the case. The curriculum is basic at best. You’ll get a text book and a workbook for your $6000, and he’ll call up any random studio in your area, without even screening them, and offer them way too small of a cut of your $6000 to even give the slightest crap about your success, but it will be enough for them to let you come in and check your weekly assignment for about 1 hour a week. (in spite of the fact that the contract you sign guarantees and furthermore REQUIRES you to be at the studio for at least 10 hours per week)

When I applied for the program, I already had more skills than they are supposed to instill in you during the course of the apprenticeship. But back when I signed up, they were still telling people that the studio you trained at would “HIRE YOU” at the completion of your training, so I figured that alone would be worth going through the program. I also figured that the mentor would teach practical, professional applications of the course work with respect to actual projects....NOPE! You fill out a workbook page, and the mentor reads through it with you. That’s it. Period.

My mentor required that I go out to live music venues and drum up business for the studio in order to get any hands on training, which I did. The band that I found and was supposed to record… another guy at the studio scheduled sessions with them and swiped them right out from underneath me.

My advice to anyone who is thinking about signing up for this is, DON’T! If you really want this type of mentoring, here’s what you do. Self study the field trough the internet and books. Maybe set up a project studio on your PC at home. Then, when you feel comfortable with recording, call up some studios yourself. See if they’re open to the idea of mentoring you for a price, or even interning for free. Cut out the middleman, Jimi Petulla. Because all he’s gonna do with your six grand is give you a couple of books and run.

Think about it. If you’re smart enough to be able to make it in this industry, there’s nothing that Jimi Petulla can do for you, that you’re incapable of doing for yourself. Good luck.

Comment by Danny Jackson on 11/10/10 at 3:34 am

We I have had no issues with my training, nor have many others I assure you.

Comment by Terri Stone on 11/16/10 at 10:54 am

I don’t have a single regret as far as enrolling with film connection. As long as you fully understand that the course is a tool, a very valuable tool that can help you in you quest for work. You have to be prepared to get your hands dirty and do a little work. It’s not a joy ride.

Comment by Steven Childs on 11/17/10 at 5:36 am

There my friend lies the rub. People do expect to be teleported into the studio/ film company of their dreams, they believe it’s their right and when they get disappointed they get vindictive in the forums.

Comment by Tony Grimley on 11/18/10 at 3:10 am

Some people have a real problem with apprenticeships, but unless you gain real hands on experience within a genuine studio setting you ain’t gonna get real experience.

Comment by Christopher Burns on 11/23/10 at 6:53 am

For Christ’s sake, he’s NOT a scam artist. Give him some credit for trying to help people make it into the film business.

Comment by Brian Hulnick on 11/24/10 at 6:09 am

To be honest, all this negativity on numerous forums is putting prospective talent from going into the recording business. Old hands simply do not want to help the newcomers. Maybe they see them as a threat to their livelihood. If no new talent comes into this industry I can see the entire music business collapsing in on itself.

Comment by Ryan Edward on 11/28/10 at 6:44 am

People should just make up their own minds and ignore all these people who simply wish to attack mentor/ intern programs. They are either snobs who attended a 4 year university program and think that they know everything about everything, or they are burned out failures full of bitterness and anger. Or maybe both.

Comment by Martin J on 11/30/10 at 5:29 am

It makes me laugh that you can chat to a group of guys for weeks then as soon as you mention mentoring they flip on you. WTF?

Comment by Tony on 12/01/10 at 7:19 am

Get used to it Martin. I have.

Comment by Brian on 12/02/10 at 9:01 am

Yeah there’s a lot of that about. Mention film connection in any capacity and you’re a scammer.

Comment by Jerry on 12/07/10 at 12:31 am

I saw one guy attacking film connection and everyone came out of no where to agree with him. Someone said how much he liked his program and was instantly attacked and ridiculed. What made it worse was some of the most vicious attacks came from mods. I thought they were supposed to remain impartial?

Comment by Toby on 12/08/10 at 6:18 am

Al you say the program is basic at best. In fact the program can be as basic or as elaborate as you make it. The more you put in, the more you get out, it’s as simple as that. Too many people do little or no work, fail then throw the blame solely at the door of film connection.

Comment by Brian Hulnick on 12/09/10 at 8:30 am

Toby, you hit the nail on the head with you comments, though I would be careful where you say stuff like that. Some folks get very protective of their university courses.

Comment by David Tailor on 12/14/10 at 3:56 am

Say that you have an issue with film connection and everybody loves you, mention that you enjoyed your program and found it beneficial and you are automatically a scammer from Nigeria or Eastern Europe.

Comment by Jeremy on 12/15/10 at 3:12 am

I find it a little weird that someone who claims to have as much experience as Al does would want to start at the beginning again. Just seems a little strange that’s all.

Comment by Ashley D on 12/16/10 at 9:42 am

Surely he would want to progress to the next level.

Comment by James C on 12/21/10 at 5:04 am

In my opinion recording connection is a very good way to go. Their curriculum’s are well done, their teachers are all real audio guys who own recording studios. It may well be true that at some time in the past they may not have been as good but their new chief academic officer is real good I hear and on top of things. This has to be one of the best and least expensive routes into the recording industry.

Comment by Matt C on 12/22/10 at 2:22 am

Film Connection really helped me. I have nothing but praise for them and thats all there is to say.
Matt

Comment by Robin H on 12/28/10 at 2:19 am

Film Connection worked for me. My mentor was great and very willing to help me, it made all the difference.

Comment by Ashley S on 12/29/10 at 5:01 am

I completed my course 8 years ago and am now working for a major film production company in Chicago thanks to film connection.

Comment by Hayden H on 12/30/10 at 3:28 am

My only advice for prospective enrollees is make sure that you get along with your mentor and that he will go all out to help you get into the business.

Comment by JoeyT on 1/04/11 at 5:53 am

And don’t get caught up in all the negative BS spun by certain individuals in some forums. They have their own agenda.

Comment by Ryan Edward on 1/05/11 at 5:00 am

If you wanna hear some good old down to earth honest advice check out the guys at recording.org.
Nice guys.

Comment by Gazza on 1/11/11 at 2:12 am

I have only positive impressions of film connection and its mentor program.

Comment by Mark G on 1/12/11 at 2:58 am

I run a successful commercials making studio here in Wyoming and over the years have trained up several students from film connection. Let me tell you, they are taught everything they need to know, and I mean everything. I do not cut any corners as it is someones livelihood we are talking about. In my experience, there is no better way of learning than through the mentor/ apprentice program that film connection provides.

Comment by Sally L on 1/18/11 at 5:29 am

I finished my course about 8 months ago and am now working for a small studio in Northern California. Everything has worked out for me.

Comment by Ryan E on 1/26/11 at 6:44 am

I wonder what Jim and the gang have up their sleeves for 2011?

Comment by Brian Hulnick on 1/28/11 at 3:06 am

If he can continue to get more top studios on board so that more people can enroll in the program that will be great.

Comment by Steven on 2/01/11 at 5:47 am

I would very much like to know the motivation behind all those people attacking film connection on the forums. Spurious I bet.

Comment by Ryan Edward on 2/04/11 at 2:51 am

Bitter, twisted losers who couldn’t make it in the business, venting their spleen. Attacking newcomers or prospective newcomers.

Comment by LisaH on 2/08/11 at 7:47 am

I think that Jimi needs to run another interview and try to silence some of these naysayers. Pour water on their fire, so to speak.

Comment by m.jerrick on 2/10/11 at 3:41 am

Why is it that if you spend 4 years at a community college or university you are seen as worthy of working in this industry. Yet if you attend a film school you are seen as somehow cheating your way into the film business?

Comment by Chris Burns on 2/16/11 at 4:12 am

It’s because they did it. They therefore believe everyone should go the same route. Like fanboys.

Comment by Brian Hulnick on 2/17/11 at 4:58 am

University is great, if you have the time or resources. Unfortunately not everyone has either or both.

Comment by Terri Stone on 2/22/11 at 6:44 am

For me FC was the best way to go, as university really wasn’t for me. Even if I had the finances to go on a 4 year course,I would not have chosen to. Not my thing.

Comment by Jason Thomas on 2/24/11 at 3:27 am

Reading the interview, it is obvious that this man knows what he is talking about and clearly loves the film business.

Comment by Sandra K on 3/11/11 at 4:16 am

I think they would be better off describing themselves as a training institute rather than a school. Just my 2 cents.

Comment by Brian Hulnick on 3/16/11 at 3:39 am

What was that omar?

Comment by Mark Shaw on 3/23/11 at 6:24 am

I honestly believe that Mr Petulla is a genuine guy who just wants to get people working within the film making business. Sure he runs a business but he does care about his pupils and the business as a whole.

Comment by Brian Hulnick on 3/29/11 at 5:45 am

Thats the thing. People do not understand that he runs a business, and has been for over 25 years. If his business wasn’t any good I don’t think it would have survived 25 years..don’t you?

Comment by SandraK on 4/06/11 at 2:12 am

Film Connection works for me, it’s as simple as that.

Comment by A.Samuals on 4/13/11 at 2:28 am

film connection is a lot more forward thinking than any university because it works within the studio system.

Comment by LisaH on 4/20/11 at 8:51 am

Unfortunately many people still believe that the university route is the only legitimate route into the business.

Comment by Ryan Edward on 5/05/11 at 3:32 am

I just read a post from someone who is halfway through a SAE course and he feels that a 2 years course is far too long, too expensive and a waste. It looks like a 6 month intensive course is the way to go.

Comment by Brian Hulnick on 5/11/11 at 3:34 am

It would appear that 6-12 Months would be ideal, especially if you are interning at a facility.

Comment by SandraK on 5/18/11 at 4:19 am

Paying over 20 grand to go on a 24 month course is motivation draining. What are you meant to do for work? How do you pay the rent, bills?

Comment by Carlos Santino on 6/02/11 at 5:49 am

Some people are simply not wired to do a course, whatever the length. They have motivation issues and are not cut out for further education.

Comment by Saunders. C on 6/09/11 at 3:18 am

A lot of people think just because they mess around with their daddies camcorder at home it makes them proficient enough to work on a movie set. Sorry to disappoint you but it doesn’t. You need to practice your skills hard and work alongside real professionals, studying how they work. Fortunately you can do this if you sign up with the film connection mentor/ apprentice program. You will be tutored by a working professional, in a genuine film set. You will work hard, you will listen, and you will practice. Then hopefully you will then have earned the right to work in any of the high caliber movie sets around the world. If you are exceptional I will even hire you myself. If you think that it’s a doddle, well you will be wrong. You will have to roll up your sleeves and work very hard, like the guys you will be working alongside. If you are serious and up for the challenge, then why not give them a call.
Chris S

Comment by SandraK on 6/14/11 at 5:08 am

Never have truer words been written.

Comment by Brian H on 6/22/11 at 9:13 am

What’s with all the Arabic chicken scratch?

Comment by Lisa H on 6/30/11 at 9:23 am

Film Connection rocks. It worked for me.

Comment by Gary B on 7/06/11 at 7:53 am

I like what Mr Saunders has written. Very true.

Comment by Edmund B on 7/13/11 at 4:06 am

Film connection worked for me. Thanks to them I have been working as a sound man for 5 years. :)

Comment by Ryan Edward on 7/20/11 at 6:14 am

If you can handle starting at the bottom of the ladder, if you are willing to keep your day job to pay the rent, then contact us for an interview. If a local film company accepts you, you will then receive the same text material of any college or university program. The difference-and it’s a big difference-is that your instructor in our apprentice program will not be some burned out college professor, but a working veteran-a professional who is currently in the field.

That paragraph nails it perfectly.

Comment by Gerard G on 7/27/11 at 5:18 am

That is exactly it. Don’t enroll expecting miracles and that dream gig.

Comment by Tim Smith on 8/03/11 at 6:16 am

The problem is folks just do not want to start at the bottom rung of a ladder anymore.

Comment by Jason Thomas on 8/09/11 at 8:35 am

Best place to start. Only then will you pick up all the info and knowledge that is passed down to you.

Comment by Adrian S on 8/18/11 at 2:50 am

From what I have seen, the subject of film schools seems to polarize forum members.

Comment by Jason Thomas on 9/07/11 at 5:35 am

Some folk simply cannot accept that you can break into this industry without going on some fancy university course for 4 years. It’s seen as sacrilegious.

Comment by Kirsten E on 9/15/11 at 9:34 am