James (Jimi) Petulla, Founder and Chief Executive Officer–A successful film writer, producer and former radio broadcaster, Petulla came up with his take on the mentor/apprentice method of education while working as an instructor for the world famous and now defunct Columbia School of Broadcasting. He believed that the people who worked there were great but that overall it was not effective and, in fact, worse. They trained students and then dumped them into the job market with a piece of paper that was worth nothing because the students had no real world experience.
Petulla visualized an opportunity and asked himself how he could help capable students get paying jobs in the entertainment business. The next day while visiting an audio engineer friend in his San Jose, California studio, Petulla asked him if he had ever hired a student from one of these schools. Laughing, his friend said, “No, because they don't know the job. My own assistant had no experience, but I trained him so now I know he knows his stuff."

Two weeks later Petulla started the Entertainment Connection which is now a successful accredited academic institution certified by the National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance. As of 2007 the company has trained thousands upon thousands of students who are now working in their dream careers in the entertainment business.  In addition to being the chief executive officer of the company, Petulla is also a former radio DJ and is currently a working Hollywood filmmaker. His film “Reversal” won best at acting legend Robert DeNiro's IndieVision Tribeca Film Festival as well as “Best Film” at the Malibu Film Festival. It also won a DOVE Family Award. Set around the sport of high school wrestling, the movie is a family film that highlights the effectiveness of a father and son or mentor/apprentice relationship when it comes to sports. The film was praised and given two thumbs up by gold medalists Carl Lewis, Shannon Miller, and Kendall Cross.

Brian Kraft, Chief Operating Officer – Kraft got his start at 18 years of age working for Yvonne Troxclair At Warner Bros. Records in Burbank, California where he learned the music business from the legendary executive John Beug (Producer: The Eagles, Eric Clapton, President Rhino Records). Kraft then left Warner Bros. and worked as a co-producer on music videos and commercials for Julian Temple's Nitrate Films and Limelight Films, Inc. It was there that he met the late great music video director D.J. Webster (Amy Grant, Chevrolet, The Beach Boys). Webster took Kraft under his wing and mentored him in the art of directing and the business of producing. After Webster's passing, Kraft went on to direct music videos and live concerts for Jane's Addiction, Cypress Hill, and Ozomatli.

Recently Kraft directed the feature film The Brandon Corey Story and is currently directing a documentary film featuring author Naomi Wolf, Thom Hartmann, Doug Casey and more. Five years ago Kraft turned his attention to mentoring and to date has mentored 73 students, and counting, into paid employment in the film, television, music recording and radio professions. Kraft is on the board of advisors for Entertainment Connection Inc. and lives in Los Angeles, California.

Support Staff
Whether you call Entertainment Connection for additional information, to help you with your loan application, or to sign up for one of our mentor-apprentice courses where you live, our staff stands ready to assist you in making your dreams come true.  Here's a look at who you will be talking with.

Shawn Thompson Assistant to the COO		John Stauffer Placement Coordinator