As is the case with many industries across the country, the film industry has sought to make itself into a more diverse place. It remains to be seen what the best way of accomplishing this can be, with some high-profile figures coming out in favor of inclusion riders. That isn’t the only route that can be used to arrive at the goal of a more diverse industry, however, and another ambitious project offers a very different way of arriving at a similar destination.
Writing at the Los Angeles Times, Ryan Faughnder reports that George Clooney, Don Cheadle and Kerry Washington are among the industry leaders working in tandem with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Their goal? To establish an academy where students looking for a career in film and television could get a sense of their future careers.
Faughnder writes that the academy’s goal would be “to provide education and practical training in the arts and sciences of filmmaking to marginalized communities.” As part of the initiative, students will also have the opportunity for internships at production companies and studios. The academy will be a magnet school, drawing in students from all over Los Angeles.
Currently, this program is set to commence in the fall of 2022, and will be housed within the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center. Initially, the program will cover 9th and 10th graders, with a goal of expanding to 11th and 12th grades, and potentially more facilities, within the future.
According to the article, Clooney drew inspiration from the London Screen Academy, which opened in 2019 with similar goals. Will this effort have a similar impact? It will be a few years before we know for sure, but the support behind it offers an optimistic view.
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