In Los Angeles, a school supported by George Clooney tries to diversify the face of Hollywood

Music, camera angles, character of the characters: at only 14 years old, Ja’saray Juarez is already dissecting with his comrades the recipe for a successful advertisement, to soon produce his own spot to be broadcast in class.

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In a few years, this ninth grade student hopes to earn her place behind the camera, thanks to a course launched by a public high school in Los Angeles and supported by actor George Clooney to train hundreds of disadvantaged young people in careers as Hollywood.

“I’m so happy to learn how to make films, (…) how to produce a script, how to write dialogues“, confides the teenager, in her class filled with cinema posters, claps and a director’s chair.

His school, theRoybal Learning Center“, has 90% of Latin American students, often from modest families. For them, Hollywood and its star-studded boulevard, located just a few kilometers away, remains a world that is difficult to access.

But since September, this college-high school has launched specialized training from third to final year, thanks to a big boost from the star ofOcean’s Eleven. George Clooney brought together other actors, like Eva Longoria or Don Cheadle, and several studios, including Warner Bros, Paramount and Disney, to help finance this project.

“Start Early”

American actor George Clooney.

Objective: to attack the roots of the lack of inclusiveness of American cinema, often criticized during the Oscars.

To solve the problem, “you have to start early“, estimated the actor in a press release. “We need to create high school programs that teach young people about cameramanship, editing, visual effects, sound and all the career opportunities this industry has to offer.”

Colourist, costume designer, light technician… In Ja’saray’s class, posters listing 80 film professions remind students of all the opportunities available.

“I had absolutely no idea there were so many, I was just thinking about the director and the actors“, blows the young girl, who initially planned to work in animation but is now thinking of becoming a screenwriter. “It opened my eyes.“

The sector matters”65,000 technical jobs in the United States“, largely unknown, insisted George Clooney during the launch of the curriculum in September.

Ever since Hollywood realized its lack of inclusivity with controversy #OscarsSoWhite in 2015, the representation of minorities on screen is closely scrutinized.

The Academy which awards the precious statuettes has diversified its voters and the prize list is affected. This year, many see in the 11 nominations ofEverything Everywhere All At Oncea comedy with a predominantly Asian cast announced as a favorite, a symbol of progress.

But behind the camera, the teams remain largely monochromatic. Monopolized by the unions, these well-paid jobs are almost inaccessible without a network.

Professional internships

Students analyze advertisements, in front of a list of film professions in their public high school in Los Angeles, the “Roybal Learning Center”, supported by George Clooney.

“There is a real problem of diversity, especially in the film crews“, testifies Brittany Hilgers, who teaches the basics of cinema to students, after 12 years spent in the industry as a screenwriter.

In one of the few studies on the subject, the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California analyzed the credits of 300 films between 2016 and 2018. Result, 80% of the editors were white men , and only 14% of the costumers belonged to minorities.

To correct the situation, the school relies on unions and partner studios to offer internships to students, or even hires. After a generalist year, they gradually specialize.

“Young people who want to edit will learn about the real software used by professionals in the industry“, details M.^me Hilgers, emphasizing the employability of future graduates.

For a sector in need of new faces, “it’s important to invest now and not wait for them to get to college, because in truth, not all students make it that far“, emphasizes the principal, Blanca Cruz.

“I feel like we’re one step ahead“, rejoices David Flores. Coming from a family of social workers, this first-grade student now knows how to use a boom microphone and editing software.

But beyond the technical, “this school taught me how to network, it’s very important“, emphasizes the young man, who did not really know how to become an editor. “Now, (..) I see a path for me.“

If the program proves successful, the Los Angeles school district hopes to replicate it in other schools. George Clooney is already dreaming of exporting it to New York, Chicago or Atlanta.

AFP/VNA/CVN