The Los Angeles Film School was founded in 1999.[7][8] The school was conceived and founded by married investors Paul Kessler, a financier, and Diana Derycz-Kessler, a lawyer and entrepreneur,[9][10] together with former Universal President and two-term Producers Guild president, Thom Mount, who via his own production company produced Bull Durham, Tequila Sunrise, Frantic, Natural Born Killers, and Can't Buy Me Love, along with venture capitalist Bud MaLette. and venture capitalist Bud MaLette.[11][12][13][14] In 1998, the founders developed the idea for the school and made an initial investment of $2 million.[9][15]
The first classes began in September 1999 and the school's first students graduated in July 2000.[13][16] The founding faculty included Tom Schatz, professor of film,[17]William A. Fraker and Janusz Kamiński teaching cinematography, Jon Amiel and Donald Petrie teaching directing, Dede Allen teaching editing, Ron Judkins teaching sound production, and Joe Byron, Director of Technology.[13]
The school was originally funded by Kessler and Derycz-Kessler through their company Bristol Investments.[18] After 18 months, the couple bought out their partners in the school and Dercyz-Kessler became the CEO,[8][15][18] seeking to address overspending in a more active role.[8] The total investment in the school had grown to $15 million by 2001, including the installation of the professional equipment required for film production.[15]As of 2001[update], students at the school had created 700 short films. The total number of students was 150 full-time and approximately 30 part-time.[15]
In 2003, the school formed a partnership with several private equity investors.[19] In April 2011, a decision was made by ACCET to withdraw its accreditation of The Los Angeles Recording School. The decision was stayed on appeal, and the school was permitted to resign its accreditation amicably, following the transfer of remaining students to The Los Angeles Film School,[20][21] which is accredited by the ACCSC.[11][22]
In February 2010, employees of The Los Angeles Film School submitted authorization cards to the National Labor Relations Board in an effort to become unionized as part of the California Federation of Teachers.[7][23] Following the controversial firing of a The Los Angeles Film School employee and union organizer, and the litigation which led to her reinstatement, the group withdrew its petition for unionization.[24][25] In July 2011, the school settled a dispute with a local farmers market, which regularly blocked access to a The Los Angeles Film School parking garage.[26]
By 2011, the school's enrollment had grown to 1,800 students.[27] Derycz-Kessler had a 17-year tenure as CEO (from 2000 to July 2017).[28]
Lawsuits
The Los Angeles Film School and Los Angeles Recording School faced a class action lawsuit in 2010, due to the school allegedly using deceptive tactics in promising students jobs in the entertainment industry.[29] The complaint stated that the school allegedly failed to give them their 900 hours of instruction,[30] and would allegedly attempt to bribe students with gift cards to Target and Best Buy if they would sign self-employment forms misrepresenting sales clerk positions at the Apple Store and Guitar Center as "Creative positions".[31][32][33][34]
In 2024, former admissions VP Ben Chaib, together with Dave Phillips, former VP of career development, filed a whistleblower suit, alleging that most of the school's annual federal student aid program funding is acquired by its fraudulent misrepresentations, perpetrated to appear to meet its post-graduate employment accreditation benchmark, though "the vast majority of LAFS graduates were not able to obtain entry level positions", according to the suit.[35] Sister school Full Sail University was also named in the lawsuit.[36]
Campus
The Los Angeles Film School campus on Sunset Boulevard
The school has preserved the historic RCA Studio 2 echo chambers that were used on so many of the label artists recordings, many of which became big hits.[42]
In 2001, the school opened a 345-seat, THX-certified theater featuring a DCI-compliant Christie digital cinema projector with a Dolby decoder. In 2006, the nearby six-story Klasky Csupo studio building (originally built in 1985 for a Mercedes-Benz dealership) was purchased, which brought the total area of the campus to 230,000 square feet (21,000 m2). The campus also includes a 4,000 square feet (370 m2) sound stage and the 8,000 square feet (740 m2) Ivar Theater. [43]
The school's main stage houses a 3,000 square feet (280 m2) set of a Victorian house, where students can produce student films and television shows with industry professionals. The school also includes a backlot located off of Selma Avenue. Students receive hands-on training using groundbreaking technology from industry leaders like Avid, Sony, ARRI, Wacom, SSL, and Neve.[44]
Campus history
From April 1964 through 1977, RCA Victor' s "Studio C Hollywood" operated out of the current The Los Angeles Film School location, 6363 Sunset Blvd.
Notable recordings made at this location at this include:
Elvis Presley's "Burning Love," "Separate Ways," "Always on My Mind," and "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" singles as well as his final studio-recorded album, Today. In 2025, the five-disc compilation "Sunset Boulevard" was released, featuring live rehearsal recordings and rarities of Elvis at Studio C between 1970-1975. [45]
It has also been used for live theater and musical performances from artists like the Grateful Dead.
Klasky Csupo Studios
In the late 1990s, The Los Angeles Film School's Building B was also home to animation house Klasky Csupo, the creators of Rugrats,The Wild Thornberrys, Duckman, and animators for the first four seasons of The Simpsons.[47] Graffiti of various Klasky Csupo characters remain in the parking lot as of 2026.
Other productions
The feature-length film Demon Slayer was produced by the school in 2003 and was financed by Roger Corman. The cast and crew for the film, including director James Cotton, was composed of students and alumni of The Los Angeles Film School. [48][49] The film was produced through the school's 1st Chance Films program, which partners well-known producers with its students to make films using the facilities at the school.
The school's Military Services Department produced the 2011 documentary The Yellow Ribbon Experience, which chronicles the reintegration of soldiers from the 63rd Regional Support Command into civilian life. [50]
Programs related to the video game industry and design include degrees in gaming design, environment design, computer and character animation and visual effects.[52]
A student production at The Los Angeles Film School
Variety has repeatedly included The Los Angeles Film School in their annual "Education Impact Report" highlighting established schools in the entertainment, film, and music sectors.[58][59][60][61][62][63] In 2019, Variety included The Los Angeles Film School Students in their "Education Impact Report: 110 Students to Watch" special. [64]
Industry events
Film Director Jordan Peele speaks to students at The Los Angeles Film School
1234Beatriz Barceló-Boyker (September 18, 2001). "The ABC's of Cinematography". La Opinión.
↑Bijan Tehrani (January 27, 2008). "Los Angeles Film School". Cinema Without Borders. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
↑Idelson, Malina Saval,Nick Clement,Shalini Dore,Carole Horst,Karen (April 26, 2023). "2023's Top Film Schools in North America". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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