 |
| The entire 1st Abs-Cbn Comedy Scriptwriting Workshop Class (2005) with Director Jose Javier "Joey" Reyes |
Around
seven years ago, I remember falling in line as I apply for the Ricky Lee’s
Intensive Scriptwriting Workshop for ABS-CBN and Star Cinema. There was really a long queue near the
ABS-CBN audience entrance. If I am not mistaken, my number was 8000++. The crowd was composed of people from
all walks of life—fresh grads, oldies, yuppies, and I tell you, even
“characters” that seem to have come to life from the silver screen. We were all
aiming to get to the top, to make it in the list of the lucky ones whom
respected and multi-awarded TV and movie scriptwriter Mr. Ricky Lee would be
training in his intensive workshop for FREE. It’s some sort of a scholarship
that will open doors for those who wanted to work behind the camera as
scriptwriters.
 |
| The author, Alma Rivera and Abs-Cbn production manager Cynthia Jordan. |
 |
| Director Ipe Pelino with Abs-Cbn executive Joanna Gomez Santos, the author and Alma Rivera. |
During
my time, I was interviewed by the late Gilbert “Manong” Perez (May he rest in peace+), an
award-winning ABS-CBN director who megged most of the hit teleserye in the late
‘90s. Too bad that he passed away
due to heart attack while he was filming a project. It was a panel interview
and you had to really impress whoever was assigned to interview you, or else
you’d easily get lost from the race. I had tried my best to be as smart as I
could be. Not really, to get a good impression, it’s more of an advantage on my
part, being naturally talkative but I made sure I did not sound annoying.
There
were series of interviews followed by sample works in different genre that soon
followed. The group had been cut down each time so as to make it to the final
list who will undergo the workshop. Then, we received calls for brainstorming
group, where we could pitch our ideas with executive producers and production
managers etc. Soon, we were called again to undergo a scriptwriting
workshop—but alas! We were surprised to know that we were chosen to be part of
the Comedy Scriptwriting Workshop and not Ricky Lee’s Intensive Scriptwriting
workshop in which we officially applied for. I didn’t know if they found me
funny or that they seemed to have laughed at my work that they had picked me
for comedy. Nevertheless, I am forever grateful for such—that I had the chance
to work with and know another award-winning scriptwriter for movies, Jose
Javier Reyes or Direk Joey Reyes and comedy television director Philip “Ipe”
Pelino who used to do Dolphy’s shows on ABS. I had learned so much from those
almost three months of intensive workshop. I was able to gain friends, some I
still keep up to this day. We were
like one big happy family, some of my batchmates still work for ABS-CBN—writers
from Walang Hanggan, PBB etc.
 |
| Direk Joey Reyes with the workshop participants. The author in front with fellow workshopper. |
 |
| Proud grads of 1st Abs-Cbn Comedy Scriptwriting class in 2005. |
Now,
enough of my own experience, it’s time to make yours. I wish you all the luck!
Would you be interested
to join an intensive scriptwriting workshop for film and TV?
Here’s how:
The
workshop is open to anyone:
- With the knowledge, creativity and passion for the craft of writing for Film and/or TV in any of the following formats: drama, comedy, reality, game, variety or talk.
- Highly skilled in story writing using the Filipino medium.
- College Graduates with any Bachelor’s Degree (preferred)
- Has a good track record in TV and/Film writing (may be considered for non-college graduates)
The scriptwriting workshop will be a collaboration
of ABS-CBN, Star Cinema and Ricky Lee, who is credited for some of the best
works in Philippine Cinema like “Rizal”, “Anak”, “Himala”, “Salome” and “Bagong Buwan”. He is also the author of the best
selling scriptwriting manual, “Trip to Quiapo” (Just a tip: which you should
buy if you intend to join this workshop!) Joining him will be other ABS-CBN and
Star Cinema reputable writers and creative consultants for film, talk, reality,
variety, game and comedy shows.
· Fill up the
application form and submit, along with resume and sample written work/script
at the drop box located at the ground floor of ELJ Building.
·
You may also
email the application form, resume and sample written work/script to scriptwriterscaravan@abs-cbn.com
·
Applications
will be accepted from June 9 to July 6, 2012.
Qualified
workshop participants will be contacted by HR Recruitment.
