Consumer Law, Warranties Film School

[rbhamiltoniv]

I am currently enrolled in a Los Angeles based film school. It advertises itself as a one year feature film directing academy. Therefore, over the course of one year I would have had classes, training, and directed a feature film. Great promise right?! Well, I've now been at the school since last october. We are not even in preproduction. Moreover, the "school" has yet to accept any scripts I have found (one of which is now being optioned by lionsgate with a 12 million dollar budget). I believe this is no more than a stalling tactic. From October to March we had zero, yes zero, classes. We sat in the school's one classroom and read scripts. Nothing further was provided. We recently had a 3 month class where each student directed a one act play. The teachers were a wonderful experience, however, our classes were held in the school administrator's living room. No lie. He said our classroom's were too expensive. Turns out his apartment is near $3000 a month! Guess how he pays for that? We have now just begun a second round of classes with only 2 classes per week. And yes, they are in the living room yet again.

Now I won't say a number (it's embarrassing), but a large amount of money was paid to this school, who's promise I remind you was a feature film. As of this minute the school has had over 10 directing students. It turns out not one feature film has been completed over the last 5 years. One was shot and remains on the cutting room floor 9 months after principal photography. Over half the students have left the school threatening legal action. The administrator has told each "there are no refunds, it's in the contract." Well, I never signed a contract and I don't know if this is better, worse, or indifferent. I'm beginning to think the school will never make a feature and am contemplating legal action.

Does anyone have any advice for me?

 

[tpajet]

If you had signed a contract you would be able to sue at the end of the contract time if they failed to produce a film. I say at the end of the contract time because the contract says that within 1 year's time. They could say in court that since the year is not up yet they have just not gotten to it yet.

But, you have no contract and therefor you wouldn't stand any good chance of winning a case. You have nothing to prove the terms of the deal. So the amount you spent might have been embarasing, but what's worse than that is spending that kind of money and not getting anything in writting.