Creators @ Laboratory Is Ensuring That Productions Stay In Hollywood With Groundbreaking Ceremony

By: Arnold Turner

Multi-Grammy Award Winner, South Los Angeles native, and founder of Laboratory James Fauntleroy has partnered with three leading entertainment workforce development organizations — Handy Foundation, BRIC Foundation, and CVL Economics — to launch Creators @ Laboratory, an innovative community-led content production and workforce development center in the Crenshaw District. The collaboration is funded by a California Jobs First Los Angeles Collaborative Catalyst Grant to establish a comprehensive content production studio and registered apprenticeship hub at Laboratory’s 4707 Crenshaw Boulevard space, a new retail, education, and media production business.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, grant partners, and local dignitaries joined Fauntleroy for a ceremonial kickoff celebration marking the beginning of renovations. Creators @ Laboratory will serve as a community-led, operated, and owned content production and distribution house for short form, unscripted, animated, and other digital media. The initiative addresses the critical need for equitable access to entertainment industry training and job creation in South Los Angeles, where creative professionals outnumber available opportunities by nearly 3 to 2. 

Adapting to an Evolving Industry

As Hollywood increasingly shifts toward creator-led content, Creators @ Laboratory will provide training and education that allow creatives to adapt and grow their skills toward in-demand industry jobs. In alignment with the Los Angeles County Regional Report, Creators @ Laboratory will build career pathways and enhance the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Participants will be better prepared for the modern entertainment landscape where independent content creators drive innovation and audience engagement. The program’s creative curriculum is complemented by Laboratory’s emphasis on entrepreneurship and career-building, offering participants a foundation in business development, long-term planning, and career readiness training.

“Creators @ Laboratory is about opening doors—literally and creatively,” said Fauntleroy. “We’re building a space where creators and entrepreneurs from our communities can connect to the tools, mentorship, and real-world experience they need to compete and innovate. This is about creating a new blueprint for how the industry and audiences can find and support the next generation of business leaders.”

I had the pleasure of speaking with Fauntleroy and Mayor Karen Bass for a candid conversation about Creators @ Laboratory and what this new initiative means for the Crenshaw District community.