Multimedia Training

Students who get good with their notebooks might want to think about stepping up to the big leagues.

There’s a huge demand for multimedia computer programming specialists--the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers says there are 1,000 openings in the entertainment industry alone.

The North Orange County Community College District is trying to fill some of the gaps and has just graduated the first batch of students trained in an accelerated multimedia program under a $750,000 federal grant administered by the State Center Community College District in Fresno. The first 20 students graduated last week, and 40 more are scheduled to go through the pilot program by mid-October.

Then the program will go statewide, with multimedia curriculum offered in at least three more locations: the San Diego Community College District’s adult education center, Pasadena City College and College of San Mateo.

Students are trained to design and manage Internet Web pages and to design entertainment and other types of programs for CD-ROMs, said Bob Cummings, program director. Cummings said other community colleges in California also can apply to the state to add the curriculum to their offerings. There also is a proposal before the Labor Department to expand the pilot project nationally, he said.

John O’Dell can be reached at (714) 966-5831 and at john.odell@latimes.com