If you want to produce compelling content, starting off as a production assistant is a common first job. Producers from Made in NY productions share the skill set PAs need to make a great impression in the first job.
Presented with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and SVA Theatre
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Center's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Venus Anderson, Director of Media Programs, “Made in NY” Production Assistant Training Program, Brooklyn Workforce Innovations
Venus Anderson, Director of Media Programs, has been on staff with Brooklyn Workforce Innovations’ “Made in NY” Production Assistant Training Program since December 2011. Prior to her current position as the MINY Program Director, Venus was the Program Administrator; handling administrative duties for the program participants. She earned her BA in Mass Communication from The Ohio State University. A native New Yorker, Venus entered the “Made in NY” Production Assistant Program as a student in 2008. Upon graduation she worked as a Production Assistant on various shows including “Project Runway” & “America’s Next Top Model”. She was also an event coordinator on live events such as “The Revlon Run Walk”. To date, she has worked to train and place over 1,000 New Yorkers as Production Assistants into the world of tv/film in NYC.
Anika Chowdhury, Writer & Script Coordinator, Gabby’s Dollhouse, DreamWorks
Growing up in a Bengali-American immigrant household in Queens, New York, English was a second language for Anika - She took refuge in books and shows with neighborhood friends like Mr. Rogers that helped her learn English and positively impacted her life. From a young age, she knew she wanted to create stories that could do the same for others. From creating works in audio, theater, film, and television, Anika is now a writer and script coordinator for DreamWork's hit mixed live action/animated show "Gabby's Dollhouse" streaming on Netflix and airing on Nick Jr. Learn more about her work here.
Naiquan Greene, Senior Digital Producer, BET Digital
Hailing from the planet of Brooklyn, NY, Naiquan is a Senior Producer at Paramount (BET Networks) who currently resides in Harlem, NY. When he’s not running point on all things BET dot com and the BET Now app, he’s helping to provide service and advocacy through his membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. In his spare-time, Naiquan enjoys anime, trying his best to dress like Andre 3000, and making people laugh.
Brian Joseph, Sound Mixer; Member, Local 52
Brian Joseph is a Sound Mixer and graduate of the Made in NY Production Assistant Training Program.
With nearly 13 years of experience in film production, he has honed his expertise in the dynamic world of sound. As a dedicated sound professional, he has contributed his skills to a diverse range of film projects from feature films to TV series, collaborating with production teams to create captivating sound experiences. In 2019, he proudly joined Local 52, further expanding his network and deepening his industry knowledge. Beyond production work, he has discovered a true passion for teaching sound to aspiring enthusiasts. To that end, he keeps close ties to the Made in NY Program, regularly visiting classes and offering opportunities to learn and grow in the sound department.
Moderator: Raeshem Nijhon, Founder and Executive Producer, Culture House
Raeshem Nijhon is the founder of Culture House - a Black, Brown and Women owned production company where she produces entertainment forward work at the intersection of pop and politics. Select current projects include Ladies First, a Top 10 in the US Netflix series about women in hiphop, The Hair Tales for Hulu, a series about Black hair and beauty hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross and Executive Produced by Oprah Winfrey, Growing Up on Disney+, a coming of age doc- series in partnership with Brie Larson etc.
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Raeshem sits on the board for the Center for Communication, an organization dedicated to bringing more diversity to the media and entertainment industry, serving over 4500 students from 185+ colleges and universities annually. She serves on the Creative Council for EMILY'S List and is an active member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia and the Dell Women’s Entrepreneurship Network.
Prior to founding Culture House she held multiple creative leadership positions including Executive Producer of Viacom’s MTV World where she produced Clio/Webby winning nonfiction series Rebel Music, about youth using art for change in conflict zones, and The Music Experiment, featuring artists like Of Monsters and Men, Santigold and Arcade Fire. Select pro-social work includes partnerships with Planned Parenthood, the National Council for Behavioral Health and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
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