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FOURTH ANNUAL ORLANDO FILM FESTIVAL OPENS NOV. 4 IN A NEW HOME: THE PLAZA CINEMA CAFÉ

10/30/2009

Miami, October 22, 2009 – For a second year, the Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) and Miami Dade College (MDC) is partnering with BTG Productions, The Latin Chamber of Commerce of the United States (CAMACOL) and the Miami Science Museum to offer an intensive Screenwriting Lab for aspiring Florida filmmakers.

The two-day Screenwriting Lab, the second round in a series of workshops, will provide participants with critical insights into the various elements of the screenwriting craft: screenplay format, developing the story, theme, character, plot, synopsis, treatment, scene list, dialogue, and three-act structure. In a compact weekend format, the Screenwriting Lab will instruct aspiring filmmakers on the fundamentals of producing content on film or digital technology. What makes these workshops truly exceptional is the quality and caliber of their award winning instructors, all of whom are produced screenwriters with Hollywood credits.

The returning lecturer is award-winning WGA screenwriter, producer, and director Tom Musca. Credits include Stand and Deliver (Academy nomination for best actor), Tortilla Soup, and Gotta Kick It Up! Tom was named Moseley Fellow at Pomona College in 2006. He was head of the Screenwriting Faculty at the New Mexico Filmmakers Intensive, a post-graduate in the above-the-line film-training program for writers, producers, directors, and editors at the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico. He also conducts MPAA workshops around the world on Screenwriting and Producing. Mr. Musca has several features in development. He holds an M.F.A. in Screenwriting from UCLA film school.

The screenwriting workshop series was successfully launched in 2008 with a six-day Introduction to Screenwriting course. Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Claudio, an aspiring writer from Miami, wrote, “Not only have I learned valuable information on film writing from skilled and passionate professors but …I now feel more confident and eager to use the given tools for my next project. The workshop has inspired me.” Pat, another Lab student, was eager to learn more. “The weekend experience was tremendous. Everyone that I spoke with took a great deal of information away with them… I hope that Piedad can form an advanced workshop (wink wink).”

Piedad Palacios, producer and president of BTG Productions, is the founder of the series. In building this program, she aims to develop aspiring Florida filmmakers in screenwriting, producing and directing in a nurturing yet collaborative and disciplined environment.

In an effort to engage students and tap into the community’s top talent, BTG and MIFF will select one Miami Dade College student and one local filmmaker to receive a full scholarship to the workshop.

The Screenwriting Lab will take place Saturday & Sunday, November 14 and 15, at the Miami Science Museum from 10:00AM – 4:00PM (with an hour for lunch). Space is limited to 15 participants. Tuition is $295 plus a $15.00 processing and materials fee. A $75.00 deposit is required to reserve a spot. Deadline to register is November 7th. To register, email btgproductionsinc@gmail.com. For more information, contact BTG at (305) 227-2750.

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