Jimmy Lifton, owner of the Lifton Institute of Media Arts and Sciences (LIMS) in Castaic, talks about two new upcoming programs for veterans and autistic young adults starting mid July.

“This idea really just came by happenstance — I filled a need. We were working with a state that had a film incentive and lacked (enough) of a workforce,” Lifton said. “I put together a fast program, so we can get people to work on Marvel movies and Disney movies that were coming in. And it just so happened that I was working with veterans for this program, and they turned out to be the most phenomenal crew you could ever work with.”

Related: LIMS Veterans Job Training Program Helping Disabled Vet Find Work In Film Industry

Lifton has created two new programs, one being “Adopt a Vet.” These veterans work for 10 weeks, 10 hours a day, five days a week. Lifton understands there’s barely time to be able to work during that 10-week period.

“We’re raising some additional capital just so we can actually help the (men and women),” Lifton says, “that come in (so they) have some spending (money) during those 10 weeks.”

While providing meals everyday for the program for free, Lifton says this program is the missing link they have found, along with the second program they’ve created.

“We are expanding (toward) autistic young adults,” Lifton said. “It’s going to be a fantastic program. We’re actually calling it ‘Reel People.’”

“Reel People” will be launching mid-July. The program is for film training and film jobs, but LIMS is using a good portion of our veteran film graduates to come in and be the instructors.

“It’s teaming two groups of caring, fantastic people together,” Lifton said. “I believe the outcome is going to be spectacular.”

The Lifton Institute of Media Arts and Sciences, or LIMS, not only offers full-service movie studios Los Angeles filmmakers can use, but also doubles as a film production school. While LIMS students usually have never worked in the industry before, President Jimmy Lifton says that most people have skills that can be easily translated into the production trade. LIMS offers 10-week film production training and veterans job training programs designed to prepare students to go out and get a paid job on a movie or TV set.

Vet 200 Program

Lifton Institute of Media Arts & Sciences (LIMS)

27567 Fantastic Lane

Castaic, CA 91384