How Much is 120K Worth?
I debated heavily with myself before posting this; we have enough negative press in Cincinnati and I don’t like to add to it. But this hit home; literally.
The Cincinnati Enquirer released a series of articles last week detailing information about the new cast for MTV’s ‘Taking the Stage’. The article ‘Taking the Stage:’ SCPA students need not apply asked the question why six new students from outside the Cincinnati school district were chosen for the new cast as opposed to any of the existing students already attending School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
Good question.
I read through the series of articles (listed at the bottom of this post) and here is what I learned.
- SCPA has many transfer students each year who either pay out of district tuition or move into the city
- SCPA auditions students in late summer (August) to fill remaining seats at the school for the coming school year. Only 35% are admitted from those tryouts
- SCPA auditioned 60 potential students last August; 12 were admitted
- 6 of these 12 are now on the new cast for MTV
- MTV followed 6 of the new cast members through their auditions before they enrolled
- CPS (Cincinnati Public Schools) receives 10K per episode; 12 total episodes will air
The Enquirer articles listed some of the new cast members and students:
Anna Lisa Flinchbaugh appeared in a Cincinnati Bell commercial with Nick Lachey. She auditioned 1 week before school started last August.
Emily Sones said this in an Enquirer article: “MTV was like, ‘You can try out for the school, and if you get in, we get to film you.” SCPA likes its MTV. She auditioned 1 week before school started last August.
Ian Watts auditioned 1 week before school started last August after Tyler Nelson, a returning cast member, gave his CD to MTV. “Tyler slipped it to some of the MTV show runners, and he told me that the school was having open auditions in August, and it might be a good look for me to try out for this school…” SCPA likes its MTV . The Enquirer states in the ‘Meet the cast’ article that Watts was “Encouraged by Nelson to audition for SCPA after MTV producers liked his CD’s.”
Adam Calvert has released two albums, opened for Martina McBride, and performed at Pigeon Forge Theatre. He auditioned 1 week before school started last August. He relocated 180 miles from New Concord with his mother to Norwood.
The students are certainly not the issue. Nick Lachey is simply trying to shine a spotlight on his city and school; he is not the issue. MTV exists for turning a profit and they are not the issue. I don’t know if these students were handpicked by MTV, encouraged to apply to the school, and then auditioned and admitted.
What is the issue? Even the APPEARANCE of SCPA and CPS circumventing their auditioning process for $120,000 flies in the face of 37 years of excellence.
Two questions:
Is any PR good PR?
Would the CPS levy have passed had these articles published before November 2009?
Classicgrrl
‘Taking the Stage:’ SCPA students need not apply by John Kiesewetter
Season two of ‘Taking the Stage’ takes on new vibe by John Kiesewetter
SCPA likes its MTV by John Kiesewetter
Meet the cast of ‘Taking the Stage’ no author listed
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I am an alum of SCPA from ’90 (same class as Nick)
During that time the school was focused on arts with the academic success to compete with Walnut Hills for citywide & state honors for their success. The school itself were the “agents” for all the kids making sure they got reasonable (ergo: good) arrangements for their performances & identities.
That’s why so many of my preceeding classmates & classmates immediately after, were able to get into many different exclusiive organizations like the Screen Actor’s Guild & musical performing guilds. Those organizations were SO EXCLUSIVE that this put those kids in a position better than their collegiate counterparts or someone who just, on a whim, decided to go out to Hollywood or Broadway with a shimmer in their eye.
There was a high standard of technical skill & support for the kids & they were able to maintain that level for decades before a tragic scandal hit in ’91.
As talented as the students that attend there are now, I get the feeling the arts are treated more like your typical high school production than the scrutiny, intensity, & respect as back when I went.
In one respect, I am happy SCPA is getting the attention. I hope they can seguay this into the new facility to usher in a return to the high points they had in the 70′s & 80′s. However, I cringe at the thought that they are getting nothing BUT MTV filtered exposure out of the arrangement. MTV is exploiting the kids, school, & CPS, but wolves do what wolves do when allowed to be wolves. CPS is supposed to be the sheperd,… the SCHOOL itself is supposed to be the sheperd. If neither of them want to really make sure it was a fair deal for the kids & the school I can’t help but wonder how they could miss such an obvious opportunity.
As crooked as politics are, this is minor. The producers of TTS make Cincinnati look slicker than LA on it’s best day, and the kids are presented as talented and empowered. It also gave young girls a female rocker chic band leader for a role model who can sign, play multiple instruments and write her own music. For those reasons and more, I’m seeing the good shine brighter than negatives.
Thanks for your comments. My problem is not with the show at all. It’s with the appearance of CPS and SCPA bending its admissions rules. More than likely these kids would have gotten in without MTV but MTV contacted them before they auditioned. In the case of Adam Calvert, he moved 180 miles but didn’t audition until 1 week before school started. It is exceedingly difficult to relocate (finding a place, selling or getting out of a rent agreement at your old place, finding a job at the new place, packing, moving) a teenager and all of your belongings in that fast of a time just on the chance that you will be admitted to a program. We will never know for certain if MTV handpicked these kids and set up the auditions for them and there is no way to know who is paying for their out of district tuition; both of which are unfair to the rest of the student body.
I am glad MTV is there – but I think CPS and SCPA handled the siutation extremely poorly and for an amount of money that frankly should be much higher.
The evidence you have provided is valuable, but does not necessarily mean that CPS and SCPA bent their admissions rules for these students. The new cast members are very talented from what I’ve seen so far and I don’t see how they would have not gotten into SCPA under any circumstance.
The question exists about whether these students had their names put towards the top of the list during the admission process. If so, then there is something to that, but it is no different than the athletes that are treated the same way across the Cincinnati region and this country. I’m not saying it’s right, but it does seem to be a fact of life.
As for the existing students, if you watched last season and the first episode of this season you would have noticed a stark difference between the two. In this season MTV is putting the camera on far more students than just the primary cast members. The first episode even had a talent show where none of the main cast members finished in the top 3, and instead the MTV cameras focused on the winning students and their performances. Yes, the cameras went back to view the reactions of the main cast members, but then this is where you have to remind yourself that this is the entertainment industry and they’re trying to get ratings, not necessarily boost egos.
SCPA takes it’s applications beginning in Spring. I’m pretty sure the only time they had a recent shortage of applicants was after the scandals in the early 90s. Since then, they’re usually turning people away.
- They hold large auditions where kids go through to do different things.
- I knew of no individual/personal auditions.
- SCPA doesn’t recruit. They don’t go into schools & scout (They don’t have to).
There are thousands of students there. Even though I believe their discipline towards the arts & appreication of the arts is less than I remember it being, I’d be surprised to find no other students there could perform at those levels.
And actually, I’m not that impressed with their talent level. Music Theatre always existed & pretty much only took people who could dance, sing, & act at high levels.
In other words, even though the evidence she presented was “circumstantial” I have much more personal experience & evidence pointing to it being a setup to bring in specfic people to do it, foregoing the existing student body.
Again, I’m not mad at MTV for it. I’m actually mad at SCPA & CPS for not really pushing for a balance in their (school, district, & students) compensation for it all. There’s so much going on in the show that actually paints the school as being something it’s not it’s fame at the cost of misinformation for a pittance of pay.
The main characters in the show are having success BECAUSE they’re in the show. Again, I’m not all that impressed with their talent. It’s not that they’re mediocre but I’m surprisd those institutions are fawning all over them.
So what is MTV’s motivation to ignore the current talent at SCPA if in fact it is of the same caliber as the cast members that were allegedly “imported” for the show?
I’m not saying that this hasn’t taken place, but much of this is speculative at this point and comes across as sour grapes that an existing SCPA student (not counting Tyler) didn’t get selected for the main cast.
@heather While in the grand scheme of corrupt politics this is minor, I grant you that, does that mean that we should ignore the minor even if it bears scrutiny? I must beg to differ if so. One of the reasons I founded this project was to shine a light on things oft times neglected by mainstream media.
@All As someone who works with branding I can attest to the power of appearances. What Classicgrrl was asserting (look for the bold at the bottom of the original post) was this “What is the issue? Even the APPEARANCE of SCPA and CPS circumventing their auditioning process for $120,000 flies in the face of 37 years of excellence.” Her political question about support for the levy had this been known at election time is perfectly valid.
Also, thank you all for joining the conversation!
This conversation is terrific, but I am often concerned about these debates that start to swirl around not much more than speculation and hearsay. Someone should look into these allegations and see what kind of validity there is to it all. Otherwise what we’re doing is smearing the name of SCPA and CPS without any solid evidence to support our claims.
Randy, my goal was not to smear nor alledge anything. I honestly think CPS was not transparent enough with logistics of this opportunity. Transparency has plagued CPS higher administration for several years.
I am taking the opportunity here to say that my thoughts and hopes are with the students of Little Miami. I’ve been through what they are currently experiencing. They deserve FAR better…
Whereas I see you’re trying to be the voice of “reason”… (You’re pointing the belief MTV was halfheartedly interested in showing pre-existing talent) …I do believe the evidence is more than convincing at this point.
But again, I refocus this part of the conversation back to MTV for a moment to say I don’t fault them. They’re an entertainment company & would want to make sure their main characters were best for creating the interest they sought. A quickly as I refocused it to MTV I’ll seguay back to the CPS/SCPA fingerpointing….
Despite MTV’s desire to make a “hit show” (highlighting talent THEY selected independently of the school) that is just one component of a larger inequal deal that CPS & SCPA agreed on.
Considering how much disruption this creates in the school (interrupted classes, non-cast children directed how/where they should go by MTV, creation of special performances/audiences, etc.) 10,000 is far below a proper compensation. Further, the children tertiary to the storyline are dealing with this level of peer competition.
CPS/SCPA just did the kids no service. They may have brought up the visibility of the school but the illusion of success or “we’ve arrived” exists when it’s far inferior to what it could/should & has been.
This gets back to my point. Is SCPA really expected to brief everyone on their selection process in regards to this show? Is SCPA expected to brief everyone on their selection process each year with or without the show so that we can determine whether or not their selection process is indeed legitimate?
I have no horse in this race, but I just don’t understand the outrage over all of this. Has anyone asked SCPA or MTV whether or not these students were hand picked? Has anyone asked SCPA whether or not they asked for more than $10k/episode? If we want these answers, then we should probably ask them to the relevant people involved…that’s all I’m saying. Once we have hard evidence supporting the many claims out there then there will be reason for outrage, but until that point I’ll save my outrage for other causes.
I’m not really ready to weigh in on this issue yet. But what the heck…
There are a few things to consider:
1. As someone who loves this city very much, and as someone who tries to promote this city in whatever way possible, the show is def. good for the promotion.
2. As someone who believes in transparency being the most important part of governement and good community, I feel like there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that probably isn’t following standard admissions protocol (I’m not sure about this, but admissions ONE WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS? Isn’t there a list?)
3. As an educator, ANY and ALL schools are suppose to act as a safe haven for students, not as a tool of exploitation. From my perspective, SCPA is a school much like Walnut, in that it offers talented individuals an alternative to CPS (which for the most part, are failing students). Considering the way the state has set up financing for the public school system in Ohio, the admission of out of state students seems a bit… shady, to say the least.
This is certainly an issue that should be watched.
“CPS/SCPA just did the kids no service. They may have brought up the visibility of the school but the illusion of success or “we’ve arrived” exists when it’s far inferior to what it could/should & has been.”
Honestly everyone, thank you so very much for the feedback.
Randy – absolutely do not expect SCPA to weigh in on all of their admitting students. Their process is published on their website. I don’t know whether anyone has asked them the questions you posed. Most folks feel they don’t have access to the school board to ask them. Maybe that is part of the problem and I do think you have a horse in this race; you’re a voter.
Fairness in edcuation, be it funding or otherwise, hits close to home for me. Partly because I lost my senior year of HS to a failed levy; partly because we could not afford to send my brother to SCPA when he was admitted; and partly because I am a voter and deeply love my city.
I am not outraged; just concerned. Librariangrrl hit on these concerns very well in her post.
Again, thanks to everyone for the feedback and the dialogue. We need to use our voices – and our ears.
Classicgrrl,
I agree with everything that has been said, I just think it needs to be researched further. I’ll see what I can work into my schedule with the hopes of uncovering the answers to some of these questions.
Classicgrrl,
You may not be outraged, but I am getting there.
I just re-read your article, and you ask a very good question at the end–had this information come out prior to the election, would there have been a different outcome?
I completely understand the feelings you have about not wanting to contribute to negativity directed at the city, but those are feelings, I have long ago learned to part ways with.
There is a lot that needs to be fixed within our governing structure(s) if this city is to realize and reach its potential. The first step of this process is self-actualization which must include identifying and accepting, as a city, our flaws.
If we pretend like those flaws don’t exist, they just end up complicating the problem and making it worse.
Thanks you for writing this.
As much as I love this city, education is a far more important issue to me, and frankly, I find our failure to provide our youth with viable alternatives to the broken education system that we offer them, intolerable.
Should this all play out the way I think it probably will, this is def. something the school board needs to be held accountable for!
One huge lesson I’ve learned over the past four and half years since Katrina/The Levee Failure is that you do your community no service by not addressing that which is wrong with it.
Librariangrrl is pretty spot on in my opinion.
Who said we should ignore what is wrong in our community?
The Alumni Association attempted to be involved in the process & became observers more than participants as it went on.
- From what I understand, the school did not ask for more than $10,000 per episode.
- The school used to act as the agent for all it’s students but this time MTV wrote individual contracts with the students outside of the school’s influence. I don’t know if they did that because the school puts demands on it (very doubtful) or because the kids were pre-selected.
- Applying 1 week before school starts & getting admitted is highly unlikely. There is a waiting list. There are plenty of local students who want to go. That’s the kind of rule-bending people do for celebs & rich folks.
- Yes, SCPA is a public institution so YES they SHOULD make their selection process public.
I knew of this show coming up almost a year before anyone else in the city. I had a ear down at the school when some of the staff were murmuring about it. I kept my mouth shut as I was excited this would raise their profile. It did, but there are sacrifices going on for that fame which I don’t appreciate.
Most of my information is 1st hand OR 2nd hand (I talked with the actual person(s) involved).