Free Guy - Non-playable character

The Ghosts in the Machine: A Love Letter to the Non-Player Character

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In the lexicon of the internet, "NPC" has become an insult - a way to describe someone as boring, repetitive, or lacking a soul. But for those of us who grew up with a controller in hand, we know the truth. NPCs aren't just background decoration; they are the heartbeat of the virtual world. Without them, our heroics would be performed in a vacuum. Without them, we are kings of empty castles. This is a history of, and a thank you to, the entities that taught us how to play.
BTS Arirang

LAFS & LARS Alumni on BTS’ Arirang, One Piece, Imperfect Women & More

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Sometimes, the credits speak for themselves. From a number-one BTS album to premium HBO drama to one of the biggest streaming franchises in the world, alumni from The L.A. Film School & The L.A. Recording School are working on significant projects right now and we want to take a moment to recognize it. Here's a look at some of the recent projects and honors making us proud.
Mix Masters: Studio Manager

Grace Under Fire: The Art of the Studio Manager

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Behind every Grammy-winning album is a creative sanctuary, and behind every sanctuary is a Studio Manager. Often described as the "central nervous system" of the music industry, these professionals bridge the gap between the creative chaos of a session and the logistical demands of a high-stakes business. Recently, Tony Shepperd (Grammy-nominated producer/engineer) sat down with an elite panel of Los Angeles studio legends to discuss what it really takes to keep the tape rolling in the world’s most iconic rooms.
Maddie Goldberg

From LAFS to ESPN: Meet Emmy-Winning Animator Maddie Goldberg

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A 2022 graduate of the Animation Visual Effects program, who credits being prepared at all times as the key to landing an animation role at ESPN just months after graduating, when a chance encounter with their VP of Creative Studio turned into an opportunity to live out her animation dreams, winning an Emmy along the way. 
Maddie Goldberg

Maddie Goldberg

The Los Angeles Film School alum and east coast native Maddie Goldberg is an Emmy Award-winning motion designer, 3D animator, and multimedia artist currently based in Hartford, Connecticut for her animation role at ESPN, a role she began shortly after graduating in 2022. It is in this role that Maddie won a Sports Emmy for her work on the ESPN and NFL collaboration, Toy Story Funday Football, a first-of-its-kind NFL immersive game presentation which streamed on Disney+, ESPN+, and NFL+.
Editors

Fixed in Post: The Editors Who Saved the Movie

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In the hierarchy of filmmaking, the Director is often hailed as the sole visionary. But the truth of cinema is found in the cutting room. Film is a medium of fragments, and without the right hands to stitch them together, even the greatest footage can fall flat.
Some of the most iconic moments in movie history weren't "directed" into existence- they were found in the edit. These are the stories of the editors who took raw, often problematic footage and forged it into cinematic legend.
Film Terminology

From TikTok to Cinema: The Film Terminology Behind Viral Trends

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There is a massive divide between the language of social media and the language of professional filmmaking. On TikTok, you might call it a "transition" or a "beat drop." But if you walk into an edit bay in Hollywood and use those words, you might get a blank stare. To turn your social media hobby into a career, you need to learn the language of the trade. The good news? You are already doing the work. The techniques that make a Reel go viral are often deeply rooted in cinema history.
2026 Oscar Winners

2026 Oscar Winners: Celebrating Our Alumni on Hollywood’s Biggest Night

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The 98th Academy Awards have officially wrapped. The biggest night in film delivered unforgettable moments, and, for our community, reasons to celebrate! Alumni of The Los Angeles Film School and The Los Angeles Recording School contributed to some of the most honored films of the evening, including the night's biggest winner, One Battle After Another, as well as Sinners, F1, and Avatar: Fire and Ash.
SXSW 2026

SXSW 2026: The Visual Album Takes Center Stage (No Badge Required)

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While the Austin Convention Center prepares for the 40th anniversary of SXSW 2026, a quiet revolution is happening online. This year, with the Music and Film & TV festivals running concurrently for the first time, the line between music video and short film has all but vanished. For those of us watching from afar, SXSW 2026 offers a digital treasure trove of "visual albums" and cinematic music experiences accessible with a click.