Building Safer Communities: The Los Angeles Film School's Partnership with Rhombus and LAPD

Hollywood Hotspot, High-Crime Potential

The Los Angeles Film School boasts a rich history deeply intertwined with the entertainment industry. Established in the heart of Hollywood, the campus is steeped in cultural significance from the iconic RCA recording headquarters, where Elvis Presley and The Rolling Stones recorded, to the Ivar Theater frequented by legendary bands like the Grateful Dead.

As a celebrated tourist hotspot, the neighborhood experiences heavy foot traffic with over 38 million visitors annually and a corresponding crime rate that exceeds the national average by 147%. With a student population of over 3,000 and 350 staff members, the campus buzzes with daily activity. With such high foot traffic, The Los Angeles Film School knew a comprehensive security solution—one that closely collaborated with local law enforcement to keep students, staff, and visitors safe amidst the vibrant environment—would be critical.

Experiencing the Rhombus Difference

Recognizing the crucial role technology and a cloud-based provider could play in preventing crime, the Los Angeles Film School partnered with Rhombus to deploy over 200 cloud-managed cameras across its properties. The school implemented a custom-designed comprehensive security system that included 24/7 AI-powered video monitoring, advanced search features to quickly review incidents, and streamlined software for sharing video evidence with police. After implementing Rhombus, the LA Film School saw a significant drop in criminal activity, helping earn an elevated A- campus safety rating by third-party source for college rankings.

Rapid Response with the LAPD:

A critical component in the design of the Rhombus Los Angeles Film School security solution was the ability to partner with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). In contrast to a traditional, on-premise security system which can require hours to scrape, download, and share footage with law enforcement, the Rhombus cloud-platform enabled campus security to pinpoint and provide footage in real-time with the LAPD, facilitating rapid response and crime prevention. By leveraging Rhombus’ AI-powered video timeline, security teams have helped cut investigation time by over 75%.

“With Rhombus, we swiftly analyze footage, narrowing down extensive time frames into minutes, saving crucial time and aiding law enforcement in making faster arrests. The ability to quickly retrieve and review footage is not just convenient—it's critical in ensuring public safety and supporting our law enforcement partners," said Michael McFatridge, Campus Security Manager at The Los Angeles Film School.

Clear Camera Feeds for Conflict Resolution:

Rhombus cameras lead the industry in video quality and quickly proved instrumental in both campus and LAPD criminal investigations. Armed with high-resolution imagery, campus security and LAPD alike benefitted from conclusive video evidence to better ensure fair outcomes and solve crimes. "In numerous incidents, the footage's clarity and accessibility have played a pivotal role in solving crimes, including alleged police brutality and homicide cases” said McFatridge.

Technical Support and Dedicated Partnership:

Rhombus 24/7 US-based support was a game changer for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the campus security program. Acknowledging the school’s need for a highly responsive system, Rhombus worked with the Los Angeles Film School to optimize the product for their existing tech stack after identifying a playback issue with their operating system. These time-saving enhancements freed-up security personnel to focus on proactive security measures and student safety.

"Rhombus went above and beyond to provide top notch support. They didn't just rely on remote solutions but took the extra step of sending someone out to experience the problem firsthand. Rhombus truly embraces customer service; they could have easily brushed us off, but instead, they showed a genuine commitment to resolving our issue. It's rare to find a vendor who prioritizes their clients to this extent. Rhombus has really made me feel like we are their most important client," said McFatridge.

A Bright Future with Modern Physical Security

The Los Angeles Film School's partnership with Rhombus and the LAPD exemplifies the transformative impact of innovative, cloud-based security solutions and collaborative community partnership. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and fostering strategic alliances, the campus has enhanced safety while helping to preserve its rich heritage in the heart of Hollywood.

The Los Angeles Film School, located in the heart of Hollywood, is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), VA-approved, and offers entertainment-focused Bachelor of Science degrees in Animation, Audio Production, Digital Filmmaking, Entertainment Business, Film Production, Graphic Design, Media Communications and Writing for Film & TV as well as Associate of Science degrees in Audio Production, Music Production, and Film. The L.A. Film School has been an academic leader in the entertainment community since 1999. Learn more at www.lafilm.edu.