From Hollywood to Homewood: Billy Porter Launches Audacity Project to Open Entertainment Industry Doors for Pittsburgh Youth

The Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning artist is investing in his hometown with a new initiative designed to connect young people to careers behind the scenes in film and television.

PITTSBURGH — From Broadway and Hollywood back to the neighborhoods that helped shape his dreams, Pittsburgh native Billy Porter is bringing his success home with a new initiative aimed at opening doors for the next generation of local talent.

Porter announced October 21 the launch of the Audacity Project, a workforce development initiative designed to prepare young people from Pittsburgh’s East Liberty–Homewood community for careers behind the scenes in film and television. Backed by a $50,000 seed grant from The Pittsburgh Foundation, the project seeks to connect young people to technical training, mentorship and professional opportunities in an industry where access to career pathways can be limited.

For Porter, the effort is personal. The same community where he grew up helped set him on a path to a celebrated career in entertainment. Now, he wants young people growing up in Pittsburgh to have access to the kinds of opportunities that helped change his life.

“This project is about fulfilling dreams. It is a way to give young people the tools to develop their creativity, tell their own stories and build futures in an industry where their voices and talents can help shape the world.”

— Billy Porter

Beyond the Spotlight: Careers Behind the Camera

When people think about entertainment careers, actors, singers and directors often come to mind. But productions also depend on a large workforce of skilled professionals whose work happens largely outside the spotlight.

These behind-the-scenes positions — commonly known as below-the-line jobs — include camera operators, prop masters, costumers, sound mixers and other production specialists responsible for bringing film and television projects to life.

According to the initiative’s announcement, these roles account for approximately 95% of entertainment industry jobs, yet African Americans represent only 5% of the current workforce in these positions. The announcement also cites wages 47% above the national average, underscoring the potential economic opportunity these careers can offer.

Pittsburgh’s growing profile as a production destination — including projects such as HBO Max’s The Pitt — presents an opportunity to connect local residents to an industry that needs skilled crew members. Audacity Project aims to help young people explore these career options and begin building the experience and connections needed to pursue them.

A Pittsburgh Story That Comes Full Circle

Porter’s vision for Audacity Project is rooted in his own experience as a young person in Pittsburgh. As a sixth grader, he participated in an after-school theater program that helped him discover and develop his talents. That early opportunity connected him with mentors and gave him a place to explore his creativity — experiences that helped set the stage for his journey from local theater to Broadway and Hollywood.

Porter said young people today do not always have access to the same kinds of entry points into creative careers. “The opportunities back then were baked into public policy,” Porter said. “But those opportunities have dried up.” His comments reflect a central concern behind the project: talent exists in every neighborhood, but access to training, mentorship and professional networks is not always equally available.

Removing Barriers to Entertainment Industry Careers

The idea gained momentum when Porter was directing his first film and attempted to hire his cousin, an accomplished hairstylist, to work on the production’s hair team. He discovered that she could not work on set because she was not a union member — and that she could not join the union without first gaining production experience.

The dilemma exposed a familiar challenge facing aspiring industry professionals: How do you gain the experience required for a job when you cannot get the opportunity to begin?

His cousin eventually received a waiver, worked on the production and earned more in four weeks than she typically made in six months. The experience helped her find an entry point into the industry and reinforced Porter’s belief that similar opportunities should be available to more people.

“How do you get in the union if you’re not given the opportunity to work?”

— Billy Porter

A Three-Year Vision for Pittsburgh’s Creative Workforce

The $50,000 seed grant from The Pittsburgh Foundation will support an initial microgrant pilot, providing young people in Pittsburgh with resources to explore creative and technical career opportunities over the coming months.

The project plans to collaborate with Pittsburgh’s film and television community, workforce development organizations, educational institutions and civic and philanthropic leaders as it develops its approach.

Bill Generett, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation, said the foundation is supporting Audacity Project because Porter is bringing his time, talent and resources back to his hometown — and because Pittsburgh has the potential to become a major center for film production. Building that industry, Generett said, will require developing a new generation of trained workers.

Investing in the Next Generation

For Pittsburgh, Audacity Project represents an opportunity to connect the region’s entertainment industry ambitions with the talent and aspirations of its young people.

For East Liberty and Homewood, it brings a hometown connection to a broader conversation about who gets access to creative careers, who benefits from economic development and how communities can help young people turn their interests into professional opportunities. Porter envisions an effort built through collaboration, with the community helping create the conditions for the next generation to succeed.