Students learn about LA showbiz in immersive experience

This August, students from The Creative School embarked on a two-week intensive experience to Los Angeles, California, where they learned about business, production and creative practices of the LA-based media industry.   Offered by RTA School of Media, RTA in LA (opens in new window)  allows students to workshop their creative ideas in small groups, listen to lectures, participate in Q&A events, tour studios and attend networking events with current top US industry professionals. With a focus on television and sessions on feature films and transmedia storytelling, the program is open to students in RTA, Image Arts, Creative Industries, Master of Media Production and Master of Scriptwriting.

RTA in LA was launched during Dean Charles Falzon’s term as Chair of the RTA School of Media. Dean Falzon and RTA Media Professor James Nadler co-developed this collaborative program with the aim of being a beacon of changemaking and showing how effective global learning can be. 

The experience this year was very successful with lots of participation from students, alum and industry professionals.

"RTA in LA went extremely well. Our guest speakers from the LA industry told me how impressed they were with the quality and enthusiasm of the participants,” said Nadler. “Many of the students in turn called RTA in LA a life changing experience."

Students also had the chance to meet and talk to notable alumni who took part in the program, including Arthur Smith (Hell’s Kitchen and American Ninja Warrior), Emmy award winner Kristen McGregor (Giver and My Stay at Home Diary), Mark Nicholson (13: The Musical) and award-winning actress and producer Tonya Williams.

Other industry veterans who shared their experiences included Marsha Posner Williams, Emmy Award winning producer of The Golden Girls and Night Court, and Miranda Kwok, Showrunner of Fox’s The Cleaning Lady.

A chance to elevate your creative skillset 

RTA in LA provides career boosts. This summer, one RTA in LA participant was selected to be mentored as a screenwriter and show creator by a major Los Angeles production company for the coming year, said Nadler. 

For students at The Creative School, RTA in LA is an opportunity to gain a global perspective in the media industry and interact with actors, writers, producers and other professionals. José Rosales, a Master of Media Production student, was one of the selected participants of RTA in LA this year and describes the experience as “a professional milestone, a rollercoaster of emotions and an educational marathon.” 

"RTA in LA is any creative student's dream come true. It is a challenging, inspiring and extremely rewarding opportunity to grow as a creative. For two weeks, students learn about the US TV industry from a brilliant selection of Emmy Award writers, producers, agents, directors of photography and studio executives,” Rosales said. “We get a chance to hear their stories as they share the challenges, best practices and advice to succeed in this field. By the end of the journey, students have gained the foundational education to build, prepare and deliver a powerful pitch to industry professionals.”

RTA in LA happens annually every summer through The Creative School. To learn more about international intensive opportunities, visit The Creative School website (opens in new window) . 

The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University

The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.