Whether in-person or virtual, ELA classrooms draw on the experience, insights, and advice of creatives in LA.
Guest speakers from 2019-2021 semesters include:
- Performer Caroline Blaike, who holds a MSW degree and has worked as an ASL interpreter for Cardi B
- Presley Cash, co-star of The Hollywood Complex (2011) who also appeared in Taylor Swift’s music video “Mean”
- Lionsgate producer Aaron Edmonds, who recently worked on Janelle Monae’s Antebellum (2020)
- Ramon Fernandez, actor in Marvel’s Iron Fist, NCIS Los Angeles, Madam Secretary, CSI Miami, Cold Case, and director of Glory Daze: The Life and Times of Michael Alig (2015) and Conductor (2020)
- curator, artist, and writer Meghan Gordon
- Emmys backstage host Albert Lawrence, who has interviewed celebrities like Emilia Clarke, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Dolly Parton, and Oprah Winfrey
- actor and author Robinne Lee
- Onyx, pole performer, teacher, and social justice and vegan advocate
- Matt Tyrnauer, director of Valentino: The Last Emperor (2009), Citizen Jane: Battle for the City (2017), Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2017), Studio 54 (2018), Where’s My Roy Cohn? (2019), The Reagans (2020)
- Carla Valderrama, author of This Was Hollywood: Forgotten Stars and Stories (2020)
- NAOMIDROME creator Emily Whittemore
- former NO Magazine co-publisher Ewa Wojciak
