On January 10, 2007, the FBI hosted its first workshop, "FBI - Crime Essential for Writers" at the Federal Building in Westwood.

Betsy Glick, FBI public affairs specialist, is one of the creators of the workshop. According to her, the FBI has aided in the content in over 659 projects in film, books, and television.

One reason the FBI stepped in to educate Hollywood on the FBI's tactics and ethics is to help Hollywood get a true picture of the FBI, showing actual pictures and footage from videos from al-Qaida terrorist camps that included torture rooms and American prisoners. Taped phone messages, including the call from United Airlines Flight #93, were shared as well.

In a Hollywood Reporter interview, Dave DiGilio, an attendee and also the writer of the film, "Eight Below," and "Traveler," an ABC series, said, "Seeing the extent of the organization, and the passion and intellect of the agents, was impressive. They're very creative. It's not the way they're usually portrayed."

George Steuer, special FBI agent, told attendees that the film industry was in the terrorist fight also, since one of the 300 leads they sift through a day led back to a threat against the industry and was determined to be "credible." Even though later, the threat was labelled as "overseas chatter," they encouraged the industry to increase site security. Warner Bros. and Disney responded by staffing a few FBI agents.

Per Agent George Steur, the FBI simply wants Hollywood to portray the FBI's goal, which is "protecting American lives."