George Clooney, Kerry Washington, Don Cheadle, Mindy Kalig, and more are teaming up with LAUSD to “drive transformational change across the entertainment industry for students from underserved communities,” as according to Deadline. Along with the stars, Working Title Films founders Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, as well as CAA co-chairman Bryan Lourd are teaming with Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner to found the Roybal School of Film and Television Production, a specialized academy housed within the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center. The school will open in fall 2022 as a magnet school. The school will provide LAUSD teachers, as well as industry professionals and experts.
The program will be overseen by Principal Blanca Cruz. Roybal will feature a curriculum designed to meet standards prescribed by the state of California and the University of California system. Students will also have to complete an internship initiative during their time there.
The school will begin with 9th and 10th graders, and include grades 11 and 12 over the next two years. The pilot program is expected to be expanded later.
LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beautner said, “This effort will help open the doors of opportunity for a diverse group of students from underserved communities. This groundbreaking program will help prepare students for good-paying jobs in the film and television industry by integrating practical industry experience and internships for students into the curriculum”.
Clooney stated, “Our aim is to better reflect the diversity of our country. That means starting early. It means creating high school programs that teach young people about cameras, and editing and visual effects and sound and all the career opportunities that this industry has to offer. It means internships that lead to well-paying careers. It means understanding that we’re all in this together”.
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