For Immediate Release
June5, 2009

ACT ONE PROGRAM BRINGS HOLLYWOOD TO FORT WORTH, TEXAS

We follow the greatest storyteller the world has ever known,
Who entrusted us with the greatest story ever told,
In an age where Hollywood has created the most powerful storytelling media ever devised,
Will we rise to the challenge of mastering visual storytelling at the Hollywood level?

Act One, the Los Angeles-based training program for writers and executives in Hollywood celebrating its 10th Anniversary, presents the Act One Weekend Seminar in Fort Worth, Texas. The seminar consists of an intensive weekend training program designed for aspiring writers and producers who are serious about their Christian faith and are eager to learn more about how to create culture that respects and enriches their local Church communities as well as a global audience.

When: Friday, February 19, 1pm to 10pm and Saturday, February 20, 8:30am to 6pm
Where: The Riley Center at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
1701 W. Boyce Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76115
Cost: Earlybird reservation by November 15, 2009:
$225.00 regular attendees and $205.00 for full-time students
After November 15, 2009:
$275.00 regular attendees and $255.00 for full-time students

To register, go to www.actoneprogram.com.

Who: Dean Batali - Writer, Executive Producer, That ‘70s Show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Chuck Slocum - Assistant Executive Director, Writer’s Guild of America, West
Sheryl Anderson – Writer, Charmed, Flash Gordon, Dave’s World, Parker Lewis Can't Lose
Gary David Stratton. PhD. – Author, Cultural Analyst, Act One Executive Director
Bryan Belknap - Comedy screenwriter, author and speaker, Act One Alum

Participants will study the Hollywood storytelling process, from story development to pitching to the craft of producing spiritually engaging entertainment that is commercially appealing. Under the tutelage of industry professionals, participants will learn practical lessons on writing outlines and treatments, creating compelling characters and stories, and the basics of screenwriting format. Other topics include:

• Finding Your Story: Choosing the right stories, understanding genre and what makes your story stand out from the others.
• The Big Structure Lecture: An overview of the basic three-act structure, illustrated through a breakdown of an epic motion picture.
• Breaking Into the Business: A frank dialog between workshop participants and our faculty about the business of show business, what it takes to make it as a professional and as a Christian in Hollywood, and next steps for those who believe God is calling them to an entertainment industry career.
• New! Media and the Church: How the relationship between Media and the Church can be used for good, the role of the Church in the Arts, and how to make an impact on the global culture from your own hometown.
• Hollywood Insider Panel and Discussion: A presentation on the activity of the church in Hollywood, a keynote address from a high profile Hollywood professional about the challenges of working on the front lines of the culture, and a Hollywood Insider Panel, which will be a provocative, no-holds-barred Q&A about life and work in the world’s most influential mission field.

MEDIA CONTACT: info@actoneprogram.com | (323) 464-0815

Act One, Inc., is a nonprofit organization that has trained Christians of all denominations for careers in mainstream film and television for the past ten years. Stressing artistry, excellence, professionalism, and Christian spirituality, Act One prepares students to pursue careers marked by personal integrity and professional excellence, in writers rooms, on sets, and in studio and network offices. The end goal is not to produce explicitly religious entertainment, but movie and TV projects that respect and serve the global audience, combining mastery of craft with great depth and meaning. Over ten years, Act One has amassed a vast alumni network of writers, producers, directors and entertainment executives who are dedicated to producing excellent work for a global audience.

• Location: Southwestern Theological Seminary
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