Local 600 Members Create Foundation to Train Wounded Marines to Work in the Entertainment Industry Mentors are Welcome!When Local 600 member Kevin Lombard and his wife, Judith Paixao, were approached to do a documentary on wounded Marines, they came back with another idea: Give Marines the training to tell their own stories. “It wasn’t our story to tell but we believed we could train wounded Marines while they were recovering to become camerapeople or learn editing, sound work or other media skills,” said Lombard, a three time Emmy winning documentary cinematographer. That idea evolved into the creation of the “Wounded Marine Careers Foundation”, the first-of-its kind career training and job placement program for Marines and Navy Corpsmen combat wounded since 9/11. The Center is located at Stu Segall Productions, just south of Camp Pendleton. Joining Lombard in launching the program are Once the participants have finished the 10-week program in filmmaking, they will be accepted into IATSE and offered full accreditation. More than 30 media industry professionals will share their video and photojournalism expertise with the students. Lombard said the active duty and medically retired Marines, most of whom are in their early 20s, have a work ethic that will help them excel in training for their new careers. Some of the participants include a graduate in Filmmaking of Emerson University, who lost his right leg in battle and now plans to become a screenwriter. Another wounded Marine is currently working in film production in Knoxville, Tenn. “Our goal is to give these young heroes a well-rounded background from which to launch a new career,” Lombard said. He said the discipline the Marines bring will help them succeed going forward. “They have spent most of their lives in training and it’s very exciting for them to prepare for work in the entertainment industry,” Lombard said. “Our school will give these young patriots a great sense of hope that they will be able to participate in the industry and work at something they want to do.” Upon graduation from the program, the Marines will be well-prepared, said Joe D’Alessandro, a Local 600 member who will be lead the Cinematography department at the school. “In 10 weeks, they are going to get a turbo-charged education. It’s going to be super intense and they’ll receive a good survey of all the cross disciplines. That’s exciting,” D’Alessandro said. Phillip Caruso, who is heading up the Stills Photography department, Kev Lombard and the rest of the Faculty want to help create a well-rounded curriculum that will give these wounded Marines different options to explore their strengths. Students will be able to study cinematography, photography, editing, as well as gain training in other fields, such as Forensic Photography. They hope to bring in support from private industry as well. Caruso says; “We will hold job fairs and find employment for each graduate. This is our commitment to the United States Marine Corps and to our young wounded veterans.” Local 600 mentors are welcome, said Lombard, as are monetary and equipment donations. The Foundation is registered as a 501 ©(3) tax-exempt private non-profit organization (Tax ID# 77-0674609). What inspired Lombard to help create the foundation was his own father, a Marine in World War II who went on join Local 644 in New York and won four Emmys. “I learned from him that you don’t keep the things you’ve learned to yourself. You pass it on. This is a tribute to my father. The experience and knowledge that my brothers and sisters in the Union and I have is what we can pass on to these young men and women.” The Foundation can be reached by writing to Kev Lombard: kev@woundedwarriorcareers.org or calling 917-270-3312. Wounded Marine Training Center for Careers in Media |