*Message From The Chair
*Classes & Seminars
*Headlines, Stories, & Events
*In The Spotlight

Dear Friends,

The New Year is both a time for looking forward and looking back. The past twelve months have been the source of much excitement at the Institute. In February, the Lake Worth Playhouse celebrated its diamond jubilee and honored Burt Reynolds with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In March, the Lyric Theatre hosted An Evening with Burt Reynolds before a sold out audience. Mr. Reynolds also kept busy filming three movies which are scheduled for release during the next few months.

In March and April 2013, the BRIFT Radio Waves productions of All About Eve and The Third Man premiered at the Mirror Ballroom. Also in March, both Kathy Green and Dr. Vincent Dolce welcomed Managing Director Donna Carbone to their radio shows, where they talked about all things Burt Reynolds for an hour. Avery Sommer’s Vocal Projection course began in June, culminating with a cabaret type concert at the end of October. So popular was the show that a new Cabaret Camp is in the works for mid 2014. November was the kickoff month for the first official BRIFT Building Fundraiser. Over 100 fans and friends of Mr. Reynolds enjoyed a boots, brew and barbeque type evening, making the dream of a new Institute more of a reality.

Once the confetti and fireworks have been swept away, it will be back to work for our staff and volunteers. As they did throughout 2013, our teachers will continue to instruct their students, helping them to perfect their acting, film making and writing techniques. I want to take this opportunity to thank Todd Vittum (Improvisation), Sherman Roberts (Fundamentals of Acting), Beverly Blanchette (Monologue Workshop), Donna Carbone (Writing the Feature Screenplay), Gordon McConnell (Scene Study Plus) and Avery Sommers (Vocal and Voice Projection) for their continued dedication to BRIFT. A special “thank you” must be extended to both Karen Chimato and Carmen Magri for always putting the needs of BRIFT before their own.

Our accomplishments for 2013, while exciting, will pale by comparison to what we are planning for 2014. Stay with us… we promise you will not be disappointed.

On behalf of Mr. Reynolds, the board of directors, our staff, students and volunteers, I want to wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

-Douglas Rill
Chairman of the Board of Directors of BRIFT

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MASTER ACTING CLASS WITH BURT REYNOLDS
By invitation only and based on completed application, which can be found on our website. For inquiries, please email classes@brift.org

FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING FOR ADULTS
Sunday at 1PM
This scene study class is open to all performers, but especially beneficial to novice actors wishing to learn and perfect the finer points of theatrical technique. Taught by Sherman Roberts.

YOUNG ACTORS SCENE STUDY
Saturday at 1PM
This class, taught by Todd Vittum, is geared toward younger actors (ages 12-17) wishing to hone their scene study skills.

IMPROV
Thursday at 7:30PM
Todd Vittum brings his expertise to the classroom, teaching his students to 'think quick' and increase their self-confidence. For beginning and intermediate students.

IMPROV FOR YOUNG ACTORS
Saturday at 10AM
This Saturday morning class brings the same level of expertise that is offered to adults but in a manner that children can understand and embrace. A great self confidence builder, Improv For Young Actors will give your son/daughter a lasting edge in a competitive world. Taught by Todd Vittum.

TELEPROMPTER: A TOOL FOR THE PROFESSIONAL ACTOR
Monday at 7PM
Our teleprompter proficiency course provides an opportunity to learn and grow comfortable with one of the most helpful tools used by actors and business professionals and, by extension, generates confidence in public speaking. Included will be host technique, cold read preparation, walk and talk, ad lib and on the set dos and don'ts. Teleprompter proficiency is one of the most requested skills by casting directors in South Florida. Don't miss out! Taught by Patty Serrano--owner of Little Panther Prompting--who has more than twenty years experience in film and television.

WRITING THE FEATURE SCREENPLAY
Thursday at 6:30PM
This intensive course is designed to take your screenplay from conception to completion. Learn how character development interacts and dictates plot structure, including the concepts of character past, character wants versus character needs, character arc and self-revelation. Learn the importance of discovering one's authorial identity and writing from personal belief. As the student begins to write a screenplay, he/she must bring a working copy for each member in the class. Scripts will be read in class and critiqued for benefit of author and students. Under the direction of Donna Carbone.

TELEPROMPTER: A TOOL FOR THE BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL
Two hour, one-on-one course. Call (561) 743-9955 for details. Our teleprompter proficiency course provides an opportunity to learn and grow comfortable with one of the most helpful tools used by business professionals. For the corporate executive, knowing how to use a teleprompter can enhance presentation skills and speed the climb up the ladder of success. Even those who have already successfully faced an audience will gain greater confidence from mastering this skill. Taught by Patty Serrano--owner of Little Panther Prompting--who has more than twenty years experience in film and television.

INTRODUCTION TO VOCAL & VOICE PROJECTION
Monday at 7PM (on hiatus)
Avery Sommers will offer the first in a series of classes designed to elevate performance to a higher level. Utilizing Broadway show tunes and music from the American Song Book, Avery will instruct singers and non-singers alike how to make the most of their voices so that they can reach out and touch everyone in the audience. This class will include learning to: (a) be your own calling card-the art of walking into a room and presenting yourself in a manner that is sure to impress, (b) deliver the proper handshake-send a message of confidence with just the right touch, (c) talk it through-find the meaning behind the words by treating songs as monologues. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity!

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Please note: prior registration and RSVP is required for all classes as some have limited enrollment. Class times/locations subject to change. For information and registration, please contact Donna Carbone at (561) 743-9955 or email info@brift.org to RSVP.

All classes are held at Lake Park Town Hall (Mirror Ballroom), 535 Park Avenue, Lake Park, FL 33403

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BRIFT ACTORS NEEDED FOR STAGED READINGS

Writing the Feature Screenplay students have been enjoying the talents of BRIFT actors during the twice-a-month staged readings. Scripts under development are presented in staged reading format so that writers can hear how their words will sound when delivered on film. This allows for questions and feedback from the actors which benefit the writers during the editing process. Both actors and writers have been enjoying their time together and have gained a new respect for the effort it takes to bring a script from conception to completion. Actors wishing to participate in these readings should contact Donna at briftfinancedirector@comcast.net or by calling 561-743-9955.

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Author Deborah Weed, a student in the BRIFT Writing the Feature Screenplay, class has a knack for creating stories that carry a message for children. Her book/musical, The Luckiest Penny, is being considered by the State University of New York as part of their annual anti-bullying campaign. Equally as exciting, Rory and Declan McTigue, the young actors who play Teddy Schroeder on the hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire, have petitioned the studio to turn The Luckiest Penny into a movie. The brothers played the roles of the two rare 1943 coins in a public performance a few years back and were so touched by the story that they want families everywhere to hear the book’s message of self-worth. theluckiestpenny.com

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The locally shot movie, Hidden Assets, a Journey Productions film, will feature many BRIFT actors on screen and behind the scenes. Master Actor Steve Daron stars with writer/director/producer Jacqueline Journey in this story about a self-made woman who hires a down and out ex-cop to help her retrieve money owed to her by her cheating husband. Other BRIFT actors in credited roles are Todd Vittum, Karen Chimato, Adele Zin, Faustina Kesslar, and Braden Bullard. Extras included Ryan McInerney, Claire Coco, Debbie Dailey, Damaris Cruz, Randy Earll and Karen Ann Martino. Behind the scenes, Kevin Bradley functioned as script supervisor, Adele Zin handled marketing, and Karen Chimato kept the production humming smoothly as Production Coordinator/Set Decorator. hiddenassetsmovie.com

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Rejection, written by Managing Director/Scriptwriting instructor Donna Carbone and performed by Master Actor Peter Marzilli, at the TED Talk held at the Max Planck Institute in Jupiter in November, is a commentary on the use of fear as a marketing tool. Told through a series of auditions and subsequent conversations between an actor and his agent, the abbreviated play asks the audience to consider whether society's actions influence the movies being made or whether the prevalence of fear based films and Madison Avenue marketing campaigns have led to a society afraid to live life to the fullest. To view Peter’s performance and cast a “like” vote, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_b__V9Ok2o&feature;=share

Are you a current BRIFT Master Class actor or a BRIFT/BRITT alumni? Are you a student currently enrolled at BRIFT? We would love to hear from you! Simply write a one to two paragraph blurb and drop us an email at BRIFTmultimedia@gmail.com (subject line: "In The Spotlight") and let us know what projects you are working on or have completed. NO EXTRA WORK!

Submissions are due the 25 of each month--no exceptions. We look forward to hearing about--and celebrating--your success!

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Douglas Rill ... Chairman of the Board of Directors of BRIFT
Todd Vittum ... Executive Director
Donna Carbone ... Managing Director/Writer
Amy Schulz ... Editor/Writer/Multimedia Coordinator

For more information about classes, events, etc, visit our website at BRIFT.org.

We strive to get the BRIFT Blast out to you in a timely manner at the beginning of each month. Have any suggestions, comments, ideas, musings, or complaints? Please email them to the Editor.

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Want to find out about upcoming shows, events, seminars, and classes? Then you'll want to sign up for the BRIFT Florida e-Blast! Click on this link to sign up today: https://bit.ly/u3ooXW

The Burt Reynolds Institute for Film & Theatre ("BRIFT") is a nonprofit 501c3 organization that is committed to educating and involving the community and artists in all aspects of film, television, theater, live performances, film festivals and exhibitions, as well as preserving Mr. Reynolds' memorabilia and the history of the film industry.

The Burt Reynolds Institute for Film & Theatre
PO Box 264
Jupiter, Florida 33468
(561) 743-9955 | info@brift.org