The Sundance Channel is set to premiere the 6-part reality series Dream School tonight. Here’s what it promises to be about via the show’s official website:
Celebrities, journalists, filmmakers, musicians, politicians, scientists, actors and artists will face their biggest challenge ever – to break through to high school dropouts. These kids are no fools and won’t go along easy.
Executive produced by Jamie Oliver and Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, Dream School asks, “What does it take to break through to teenagers and get them to graduate?” Pregnant, neglected or bullied; the students all have one thing in common – each had a life experience that caused them to take and unexpected left turn. Dream School’s celebrity teachers will have one mission – to excite these young minds, reignite their passions, and get them to graduate from a real, accredited high school. From Soledad O’Brien to Suze Orman, Oliver Stone, Swizz Beatz, Jeff Corwin, David Arquette, Jesse Jackson and more – the faculty is famous and successful, and each is an expert in their field. But how will they perform as teachers to some of America’s toughest high school dropouts? Will they succeed and change the course of these kids’ lives? Or will they get schooled by a group of students who are unimpressed and unwilling to follow even basic school rules?
That all looks and sounds pretty amazing, particularly the inclusion of Academy Award-winner Oliver Stone. The 67-year-old director, screenwriter and producer has made some of the most enduring films in recent cinematic history including one of my personal all-time favorites, Platoon. In addition, Stone is known for being outspoken and unapologetic, so it would seem like his inclusion is a home run if you’re wanting someone with serious credentials, seriously looking to get some kids back on track.
Taking that into consideration, I checked out Oliver’s official Twitter page and to my surprise, or maybe it shouldn’t have been considering how he shoots from the hip, his most recent tweets have been about how poorly the show translates from his actual experience with the kids. He goes as far as calling Dream School a “sad/disappointing TV experience.” Ouch.
Here’s what Oliver Stone had to say about Dream School today via Twitter:
1st episode of #DreamSchool 10pm tonight on Sundance channel & my 2nd on the 28th. A sad/disappointing TV experience. http://t.co/6tHdKXWUdh
— Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) October 7, 2013
In reality TV everything is heightened and exaggerated for the purpose of cheap drama.
— Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) October 7, 2013
Instead of honestly reflecting life, it makes the life experience conform to TV expectations—win/lose/anything for suspense standards.
— Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) October 7, 2013
The kids were far better than this, and my experience was far more connective, an example of what this reality mentality does to all of us.
— Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) October 7, 2013
Dream School airs tonight on Sundance at 10/9c.
Top Photo: Sean Thorton/WENN.com
