AUGUSTA -- For Diana Norwood, it's all about opening doors.

Norwood, a location scout for feature films, television commercials and magazine shoots, is one of the professionals helping to start a new program at the Maine Film Office designed to give up-and-coming media industry workers a helping hand.

"I really believe in helping young people get a start in the industry," said Norwood, of Brunswick. "When I was starting out in New York, I was fortunate to meet wonderful people who gave me an opportunity to work and build my career."

The Maine Media Mentoring program is a new offering from the state's film office to help residents get the experience they need to work in any one of the many facets of the industry, said Greg Gadberry, assistant director of the Maine Film Office.

For example, the office is taking applications from people who want to work in set design, special effects, wardrobe, or as a camera operator, audio engineer or screenwriter. They are also looking for those who would want to be a mentor.

Norwood, who spent 10 years in New York City working as a location manager for feature films, said she arranges catalog shoots, television commercials and magazine shoots in Maine.

Eric Matheson, a construction coordinator on the HBO movie "Empire Falls," said, "I think they'll get work out of it. They'll get a career out of it."

Matheson, of Cape Elizabeth, said he has worked on 83 feature films. He's lost track of the commercials.

Matheson serves as the Maine representative for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 481. He said the union has tripled in size in recent years because of robust media production work in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Maine has fallen behind because it doesn't offer the same kind of financial incentives, he said.

State film officials will likely ask lawmakers next year to approve a better array of incentives for those working in Maine.

"I can count on one hand the number of films I've done in this state," he said. "Most of it is out of state because people don't come here to shoot major feature films."

Matheson said those who participate in the mentoring program will need to at least apply to be union members to be allowed to work on a set.

He said the program will help those who don't know how to break in to the industry.

"It will be a fairly thorough review of applicants' needs and who to team them up with," he said.

Susan Cover -- 620-7015

scover@centralmaine.com