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The Burbank International Film Festival is pleased to present a free day of filmmaking seminars intended to engage and inspire film students and movie fans at Woodbury University®s Fletcher Jones Auditorium, Saturday, April 25 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The event is free and open to the public.

Titled "A Day of Industry Seminars & Panels," the presentation includes an in-depth focus on screenwriting, representation, casting, and production. Writer/director Shane Black (IRON MAN 3, creator of the LETHAL WEAPON films), will lead the Screenwriting Panel from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Black is currently in post-production on the follow up film to his directorial debut, "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang," starring Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, and Michelle Monaghan. His newest film THE NICE GUYS, stars Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Matt Bomer, and Kim Basinger. Joining Black will be J. Todd Anderson, who storyboarded "The Nice Guys," and almost every film for the Coen Brothers. The panel will be moderated by actor/writer Steve Wilder (MELROSE PLACE, DAYS OF OUR LIVES).

Other panels include Talent Agents and Managers, Casting for Film and Television, and Filmmakers, with insightful commentary and Q&A®s from a variety of filmmakers, distribution experts, and experts on web series and internet productions.

SCHEDULE
A Day of Industry Seminars & Panels
Woodbury University®s Fletcher Jones Auditorium

10:00 AM ® 11:30 AM ® TALENT AGENTS AND MANAGERS
Learn what talent agents and managers look for in today®s market, and how to secure representation. Panelists include Phil Brock (STUDIO TALENT GROUP), Kathryn Boole (STG LITERARY), Monique Strong (POWER TALENT GROUP), and Karim Muhammad at (THE POLYGON GROUP), with more agents to be added. Headshots and resumes will be collected and presented to agents & managers for consideration.

11:30 AM ® 1:00 PM - CASTING FOR FILM AND TELEVISION
Get tips and advice from casting directors, covering all aspects of the casting process for film, television, commercials, and the internet. Panelists include Gerald Webb (SYFY, LIFETIME), who casts over 30 films per year, and Pam Bouvier, who casts for television, feature films, commercials, and industrials. Learn audition techniques for different types of roles. Headshots and resumes will be collected and presented to casting directors for consideration.

1:00 PM ® 2:30 PM - FILMMAKERS PANEL
Join a panel of award-winning directors, producers, and distribution experts with special guests Mick Garris (MASTERS OF HORROR on Showtime). Garris was director on a number of TV mini-series based on Stephen King novels, and executive producer on Angelina Jolie®s recent ®Unbroken.® Other panelists include Chris Olen Ray (THE ASYLUM), who has produced over 300 films. Gerald Webb and writer/director/producer (and BIFF President) Jeff Rector will impart valuable information on navigating the film festival circuit. Rector®s first short film ®Fatal Kiss®, was one of the first shorts ever bought by HBO. Distributor Linda Nelson (INDIE RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION) will discuss all platforms of distribution including foreign, domestic, internet, video on demand, X-Box, Google Play, and Hulu among others.

2:30 PM ® 4:00 PM - SCREENWRITING WITH WRITER/DIRECTOR SHANE BLACK
Learn about screenwriting from one of Hollywood®s most sought after screenwriter/directors, Shane Black (®IRON MAN 3, THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT, KISS, KISS, BANG, BANG) Black is currently in post-production on his latest film, ®The Nice Guys® starring Ryan Gosling, Russel Crowe, Kim Basinger, and Matt Bomer. He is currently working on a reboot of the ®Predator® franchise, and is currently developing the DC Comic Book ®Doc Savage® for the big screen. Don®t miss this informative and entertaining panel to learn about writing scripts for the screen from one of the best in the biz. Panel will moderated by actor/writer Steve Wilder (MELROSE PLACE, DAYS OF OUR LIVES).

Actors are encouraged to bring headshots and resumes for submission for future consideration. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit www.burbankfilmfest.org/events/woodbury-university.

The Burbank International Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote independent filmmaking. Every attendee will receive a voucher good for a free ticket to the festival. For information on the festival happening from September 9 through 13, 2015, please visit www.burbankfilmfest.org.