Several recent news items pointing to financial woes on the part of Relativity Studios, including today’s news reports of layoffs and impending bankruptcy filing. Curious if any current parents / students have input on how this affects the school?
None of the news stories I’ve read have mentioned the school. I’m curious myself how this will play out.
Just saw this – sounds like things are fine at the school and they will be looking for another entertainment industry partner: http://variety.com/2015/biz/news/relativity-school-sports-agency-distribution-joint-venture-not-part-of-bankruptcy-1201553365/
VP Boyle is no longer at Relativity School. I do not know who else is on faculty, but VP is phenomenal and he was the primary reason I recommended that school to students.
Current Relativity MT+Film faculty is at http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1797523-news-about-relativity-studios-and-relativity-school.html. The professor is correct; losing VP Boyle is a big loss. The program has a head with a substantial background – https://relativityschool.org/bio/michelle-loucadoux/ – with the plus that she has significant dance experience. In terms of Relativity School, there are signs of strain: what was a large MT summer program is mostly gone, and certain webpages reached from the main nav are blank. Also, though the school lists room and board ($13,600) among its standard fees, the school does not (at least any longer) have dorm facilities, so the specific cost entry is odd; you make arrangements with nearby housing on your own, meaning the program students will not be centrally located after hours, the way they would automatically share their lives on a campus. The school is reportedly a separate operation from the troubled movie/TV studio, but one investor in the school is a key investor in the studio. Interestingly, though, the real operator of the school seems to be a for-profit two-year art school in Philadelphia, with Relativity licensing its name to the operation, and use of its facilities. Also, the accreditation question could have a negative impact on any graduates looking to go on for a masters (much like the way the number of bachelors MT programs have grown very substantially beginning a dozen years ago, the very small number of masters MT programs has begun an uptick in recent times, perhaps so that the sea of MT graduates can further distinguish themselves in the marketplace, or because having a college teaching credential has grown in livelihood importance), as certain coursework might not be acceptable by “college colleges.” Relativity is not a college college; it’s best thought of as a four-year trade school, much like AMDA, with a key difference being that AMDA has a long history, and so offers the prospect of more stability. The best advice for those looking at these or any other schools is to: 1) read every faculty bio; 2) examine the degree course offerings; and 3) learn what the most recent stage performance seasons have looked like. A good one would look like this: http://www.su.edu/performs/events/?tribe_paged=1&tribe_event_display=&tribe_eventcategory=78. That’s Shenandoah University’s theater events, though only the upcoming ones (and you should look at at least the past three years for any program), and it includes the summer-stock program – but the point is, you need to see that there are performance opportunities throughout the school year in front of a paying public, and you need to see if those opportunities both match your inclinations and industry needs (Shenandoah is noted for constantly updating its program offerings to match the Broadway that its graduates will be entering, and for its excellence in what is now the most accepted genre of MT, pop/rock). There is a 4) – hit YouTube and watch the senior showcases; you’ll see what the result of four years of training in a program will make you look like – but you can’t do that with a new school like Relativity. Also, I guess there’s a 5) – though credit for this goes to a gent at the New York Film Academy (which does have an MT program) – that advice being, Either go to a program in New York, or go to one of the most respected MT programs elsewhere in the country. Musical theater is not a stalwart of L.A. life, the way it is in the Big Apple, and Relativity is not one of the most respected MT programs, being new. But the Relativity program might be worth a look for someone who is interested in MT and Hollywood equally; if so, one might certainly look first at the BA MT program at UCLA, or the MT minor/theater major at USC. Of course, like with so many established programs, hundreds of high school seniors are doing the same. So those wanting to explore MT and film, and wanting to experience life in L.A., might treat this as a backup consideration.
HI there! I’m very familiar with Relativity School’s program, and I can tell you that there has been no impact from the bankruptcy at Relativity Media. Relativity School is an independently capitalized, separately managed entity and this will NOT impact our school operations, finances or strategic plans in any way. While our school was launched from and created in collaboration with Relativity Media, our reach of professional opportunities for students will continue to extend well beyond only one studio (though Relativity will continue to produce, market and distribute movies even throughout its restructuring process - and will continue to be a source of opportunity for our students). The school has been thriving since the bankruptcy, with additional prestigious faculty added as well as numerous projects students have accomplished that I have seen on the Relativity School YouTube page. I would suggest visiting the school and meeting the people to get a real sense of it.