RTA in LA wraps another summer in Hollywood

Two-week intensive gives students firsthand experience in Los Angeles media industry

By: Nika Bakhtiari

October 14, 2025

This summer, a select group of students from The Creative School travelled to Los Angeles for the annual RTA in LA (opens in new window) program, a two-week intensive designed to offer firsthand exposure to the media capital of the world. Led by RTA Chair James Nadler, who has guided the program since its inception, students participated in workshops with industry leaders, studio tours, and collaborative tutorials, gaining a rare opportunity to engage directly with Hollywood's creative and business practices. “Over the years students have told me that RTA in LA is the highlight of their academic career and a transformative experience,” says James Nadler.

Alt text: Thirteen participants of RTA in LA posing for a photo outdoors on a replica of the orange couch from the TV show Friends. They are sitting and standing around the couch. The setting is sunny with classic-style buildings in the background, a fountain behind them, and a wooden coffee table in the foreground.

RTA in LA participants on the orange couch from the TV show Friends.

Since 2012, RTA in LA has become a cornerstone of experiential learning for students in RTA, Image Arts, Creative Industries, and the Master of Media Production and Scriptwriting programs. The intensive focuses on television while also exploring transmedia and feature films, allowing students to workshop projects. It culminates with the participants pitching their television series and film ideas to established industry executives, with one pitch from this year currently in negotiations. For many, RTA in LA serves as a stepping stone between academic study and industry practice.

"RTA in LA gave me the chance to immerse myself in Hollywood’s creative industries while still being supported by The Creative School community," says Media Production student Emmanuel Fernandez, one of this year's participants. "It felt like the perfect bridge between being a student and stepping into the professional world."

Beyond professional insights, the program also builds connections among peers. Students explore the city together, striking a balance between industry activities and cultural immersion. "One of the best parts of RTA in LA was getting to explore everything the city had to offer with my peers," Fernandez adds. "From visiting iconic landmarks to discovering hidden spots together, it made the whole summer unforgettable. The trip was the biggest highlight of my entire RTA career."

The two weeks in LA wrapped with a closing night event where students, alumni and guest speakers from the LA industry mingled and networked. This evening was generously supported by TD Insurance and Manulife.

A group of students and their professor, all participants in the RTA program in LA, are together in a lively indoor setting. Some are standing, while others sit, all dressed in a mix of formal and casual attire. The background features colourful walls and bookshelves.

RTA in LA participants at the closing night event in Westwood.

A woman (Kristen McGregor) is similing and looking at a student (Bojana Lelas). Behind her is a blank projector screen.

Showrunner Kristen McGregor (RTA 2008) talks to Bojana Lelas about the art, business and joy of working in children's television as part of an RTA in LA session.

With alumni now working as television writers, producers, entertainment lawyers, and media entrepreneurs, the program has a track record of launching careers in diverse sectors of the entertainment industry. For this year's participants, the experience was not only a chance to gain professional insight but also to envision their own place in the global media landscape.

RTA in LA continues to offer students an unparalleled entry point into Hollywood, combining immersive learning with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to connect with the people and places shaping the future of media.

Two RTA in LA students in the apartment in“The Big Bang Theory”, sitting on a brown leather couch inside a studio space decorated with science props, bookshelves, and film memorabilia.

RTA in LA participants Jimmy and Emmanuel visiting the set of the TV show The Big Bang Theory, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the creative and technical environments that shape film and television production.

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.