RTA in LA: a peek behind the curtain of the entertainment industry

Los Angeles has been the pinnacle of the entertainment industry for more than hundred years, drawing to it some of the most influential, talented, and ambitious creatives the world has ever seen. This August, a select group of students followed in their footsteps, jetting off on an unforgettable journey  as part of the RTA in LA summer immersive course. Offered by the RTA School of Media, this two-week intensive course provides a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in the heart of Hollywood.

Since its inception in 2018, RTA in LA has allowed students to take a peek behind the curtain of the entertainment industry. With an emphasis on TV, transmedia and feature films, the two-week intensive immerses students in the creative and business practices that drive Hollywood and gives them the opportunity to learn directly from industry titans.

The program is designed to give students in RTA, Image Arts, Creative Industries, and the Master of Media Production and Master of Scriptwriting programs a chance to workshop their ideas with industry insiders, tour renowned studios, and network. The course is also an introduction to the daily happenings of the industry,  bridging the gap between the classroom and the real-world.

“Participants tell me that RTA in LA is a transformative experience and the highlight of their time at TMU,” says James Nadler who has run RTA in LA since its inception. “RTA in LA can be where careers are launched. Past participants are now, among other things, staffed as writers on major television series, development executives, entertainment lawyers, app entrepreneurs, independent producers running their own companies and producers of 'America’s Got Talent' and with the CBC.”

Where action and dreams converge

For Rina Elias, a fourth-year RTA Media Production student, RTA in LA was a dream come true. 

“I’ve dreamt of attending RTA in LA since first researching the program back in the 11th grade,” Elias shares. “The thought of learning about the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, one of the world’s major entertainment capitals, was beyond imagination.”

Elias’s journey to RTA in LA was fueled by her passion for documentary journalism and her desire to understand the global media landscape. Having already participated in international intensives in London and Cortona at The Creative School, Elias knew the value of studying media in different cultural contexts. But LA, with its vibrant industry and star-studded networks, offered something unique.

“The most exciting part of the intensive for me was the chance to pitch my documentary series ‘Dying On A Waitlist’ to industry professionals,” says Elias. “Receiving feedback from them on my pitching techniques is invaluable. These are life skills that are critical in the entertainment industry, and there’s no better place to learn them than in LA.”

The RTA in LA program not only equips students with practical skills but also opens doors to future opportunities. Elias hopes to leverage the connections she made during the course to further her career in documentary filmmaking, with a focus on telling stories of underrepresented communities.

For those with a passion for media and a desire to learn and network at the epicenter of the entertainment industry, RTA in LA offers an unparalleled opportunity. Learn more about this and other international intensive programs offered at The Creative School.

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.