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

Dear Friends,

We’ve been busy at the Burt Reynolds Institute and we’re not slowing down. In fact, we’re “racing” to the grand opening of Bubba’s East Coast Rods and Customs in Jupiter on Saturday, March 22, where the one and only ORIGINAL 1978 Trans Am given to Burt Reynolds during the filming of Smokey and the Bandit will be on display. Joining us in “Bandit Alley” will be a replica of the Snowman tractor trailer and a police car from the forever popular movie as well as six of the most beautiful Trans Ams ever to roll off an assembly line. Bluesman/guitarist Joey George will perform while hot rod and custom car aficionados from three of Palm Beach County’s premier motor clubs display their beautifully restored and maintained vehicles. The owners of Bubba’s East Coast Rods and Customs–father and son team, Tom and Bubba Lloyd–will announce plans to use their reality television show to help raise funds for the new Burt Reynolds Institute. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to be a part of BRIFT’s future. Complete details can be found in the press release further along in this newsletter. The event is being coordinated by Managing Director Donna Carbone and she is happy to answer any questions you may have. Call her at (561) 743-9955.

Talent at BRIFT comes in many forms. Master Actor James Hook is also a master artist. He recently participated in the 20th Annual Lake Worth Street Painting Event and guess who he chose as his subject. That’s right… the Bandit himself. James held court on the sidewalk in front of the Lake Worth Post Office and, despite the rain, the crowds gathered to watch him work and to admire his likeness of Burt Reynolds.

The hills might be alive with the sound of music, but none of it compares to the vocals of BRIFT favorite, songbird Avery Sommers. On Tuesday evening, February 4, the dining room at 264 The Grill in Palm Beach was packed with fans anxious to see and hear Avery perform. A very gracious lady, Avery invited Clare Coco, Alan Heyman, Debbie Dailey and yours truly to join her on stage and together we gave the crowd lots of reasons to smile. Avery will next be performing at the Maltz Theatre on March 3, but as is always the case, her show is SOLD OUT!

Both an open house and a showcase are being planned for the Mirror Ballroom in Lake Park as well as the return of BRIFT Radio Waves productions. Stay tuned! You won’t be disappointed.

-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. Call (561) 743-9955 to RSVP

YOUNG ACTORS SCENE STUDY
TBA
This class, taught by Todd Vittum, is geared toward younger actors (ages 12-17) wishing to hone their scene study skills. Call (561) 743-9955 to RSVP

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. Call (561) 743-9955 to RSVP

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. Call (561) 743-9955 to RSVP

TELEPROMPTER: A TOOL FOR THE PROFESSIONAL ACTOR
Call (561) 743-9955 for date/time/info
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. Call (561) 743-9955 for date/time/info

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. Call (561) 743-9955 to RSVP

TELEPROMPTER: A TOOL FOR THE BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL
Call (561) 743-9955 for date/time/info
Two hour, one-on-one course. 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. Call (561) 743-9955 for date/time/info

VOCAL & VOICE PROJECTION
TBA
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! Call (561) 743-9955 to RSVP

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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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On Saturday, March 22, Bubba’s East Coast Rods and Customs will host the grand opening of their new facility at the Pennock Industrial Park on Indiantown Road in Jupiter from 10AM to 2PM. One of the main attractions will be the ORIGINAL 1978 Trans Am given to Burt Reynolds after filming the forever popular Smokey and the Bandit movie.

The car, which is owned by Rick Schmidt of National Parts Depot (NPD), is normally showcased in the NPD Museum in Ocala. Because of his respect and admiration for Tom and Bubba Lloyd, Schmidt is bringing the Bandit’s car south to Jupiter. This is a once in a lifetime chance for Burt Reynolds fans to see the automobile that secured a place in history for the American muscle car. Also on hand will be Supermodel Layla Von Athey, who frequently brings a touch of beauty and elegance to the pages of Hot Rod Deluxe magazine.

Compliments of Rick Rodriquez and Dave Hall of the Bandit Run, the Smokey and the Bandit trailer and two police cars from the movie will also be on display. Under the direction of Mark Sharone, members of Southeast Rods and Customs Club, the Corvette Club of the Palm Beaches and the Stingray Corvette Club will show off their beautifully maintained hot rods and muscle cars.

Bringing his signature sound to the main stage will be Palm Beach County’s busiest singer/guitarist bluesman Joey George. Joey has performed and/or recorded with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors and John Fogarty, just to name a few. He is a regular at a number of local nightspots including B.B. Kings.

Bubba’s East Coast Rods and Customs, with a second facility in Fairfax, Virginia, is well known across the country and internationally for its code of honor in dealing with customers. The company is run by the father/son team of Tom and Bubba Lloyd, the hosts of the popular tv show Hot Rod Reality. Bubba, 25, is an exceptionally talented master craftsman and designer, with a reputation for building some of the best cars in the industry. A second tv show, which will be filmed at their Jupiter facility, will soon begin airing on a major national television network.

Along with their very dedicated and capable team, Tom and Bubba build dreams for everyone from the average Joe to major celebrities. The welcome mat is always out!

For more information, contact Donna Carbone at (561) 385-1584. This event is free to public and, especially, to all Burt Reynolds friends and fans. Bubba’s East Coast Rods and Customs is located at: 506 Commerce Way, Jupiter, Florida.

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Robert of Nostalgia Radio and Custom Cars has provided us with the link to his February 11 interview with Tom and Bubba Lloyd, stars of Hot Rod Reality, who are spearheading fundraising for the new Burt Reynolds Institute. Click here to listen to that podcast episode (you'll need to scroll down a little). Visit Nostalgia Radio's Facebook page and tap out a few "likes" while you're there.

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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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Jane Rumbaua recently wrapped her role as 'Judge Catherine Liu' in the politically-themed feature thriller, Zipper, starring Richard Dreyfus and Patrick Wilson. The film--produced by Daren Aronofsky--is being filmed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. More info here.

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Kate Nulty Katzman co-stars as 'Lillian Disney' in the full-length feature film, Walt Before Mickey, starring Jon Heder, Thomas Ian Nicholas, David Henrie, Hunter Gomez and more. An nice article write-up about the film can be found here.

Improv student Malia Otake has booked an Exxon Mobil commercial, which will come out across the US and Canada this summer. Her mother Martha had these wonderful words to say about BRIFT's Improv instructor Todd Vittum: "I wanted to take a moment to tell you how thankful we are to have found the Burt Reynolds Institute. You are a wonderful teacher and Malia has learned so much from the Improv classes. She has been able to apply some of the techniques she learned in class into her auditions. Thank you for your support and ongoing encouragement as its greatly appreciated!"

Avery Sommers kicked off a preview of her Maltz theatre show at 264 The Grill in Palm Beach. Performance highlights included the talents of Clare Coco, Alan Heyman, Debbie Dailey and Douglas Rill. Avery Sommers performs An Evening With Avery Sommers: Broadway Cabaret at The Maltz Theatre on March 3. Tickets are no longer available as the show is sold out.

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Beverly Blanchette will be directing Dirty Blonde at the Plaza Theatre, in Manalapan, March 27-April 13. The award-winning play, written by Claudia Shear, stars actors Margot Moreland, Ken Clement, and Noah Levine. It’s the story of two misfits who find each other through their adoration of Mae West. Call 561-588-or go to theplazatheatre.net for tickets (industry tickets are just $10). Beverly will also be directing four new one-act plays for Pigs Do Fly Productions, which will play at Empire Stage in Ft. Lauderdale May 1-11. More information about that will be forthcoming. She may be needing BRIFT actors to participate. Interested parties should contact bblanchette@bellsouth.net or through blanchettedirections.com.

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Andrea Conte plays the part of 'Brooke' in the Maltz Jupiter Theatre production, Other Desert Cities. Here is a recent article about Andrea, where she is quoted as saying, "I give a lot of credit for my success to the time I spent in Master Acting Classes with Mr. Burt Reynolds." The show closes March 2. Information about the show can be found here.

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Annya Bright recently filmed Gideon (lead role) and has been cast as 'Mina' in The Irish Dracula by James Doan. The play will take place at Arts Garage (part of the 20th annual Acting Irish International Theatre Festival) on May 20 at 8PM. Visit artsgarage.org for more information.

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Join White Acres for their "She Dreams" CD Release Party on March 8 (5PM-8PM). BRIFT's Cooper Getschal has been "working with these two extremely talented singer-songwriter sisters on their new CD" over the past 15 months. The party includes the live concert, a backyard barbeque, classic car exhibition, and games for the kids. Please call (561) 301-0595 for more information or RSVP to their Facebook event page. Follow them on Twitter @WhiteAcresMusic

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James Hook braved the rain to create a chalk portrait of Mr. Reynolds at the 20th Annual Lake Worth Street Painting Event. Take a look at his stunning creation below:

Alan Heyman, Adele Zin, Debbie Dailey, and Douglas Rill helped raise money for the Royal Poinciana Theater during a recent Palm Beach Theatre Guild event.

Andrew Brown has been keeping himself busy. He will be appearing in the C Clear Productions’ movie, Fade Away, as 'Assistant Coach Crawford' and was recently cast in upcoming film, Bonk, which will submitted to the Gideon Film Festival. As if that isn’t enough, Andrew will be portraying 'Sean Harcear' in the play, The Irish Dracula, on March 7, 8, 21, and 22 at the Art Studio in Delray Beach.

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/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.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and fan us on Facebook!

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