From: Virginia Gause [mailto:vgause@...]
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 9:09 AM
To: STAFF@...
Subject: Film making opportunity


As Frank Sinatra sings of New York, so speaks Dr. Jack R. Stanley of
the Pan-American Summer Television (P.A.S.T) Workshop. If you can
make it here, you can make it anywhere.



Stanley will be directing the summer's television production of his
original screenplay "Seven Reasons Why." In addition to direction,
he will instruct students in the production class through several
aspects of the film.



Although currently in its pre-production phase, open auditions for
roles will be held on Thursday, July 8 from 7 to 10 PM in the Albert
L. Jeffers Theatre inside UTPA's Communications Building.



Open auditions will cast for 17 roles including ten male roles for
ages 20 and above, seven female roles for ages 20 and above, plus
several extras. Those who are cast must be available for filming
July 13 through August 12, 2004.


But auditions are only one part of the rigorous and
intricate process that is the Pan-American Summer Television
(P.A.S.T) Workshop. The production phase of the made-for-television
film will take place the five weeks of UTPA's second summer session.
During those five weeks the production is cast, rehearsed, costumed,
and shot. The average work day is six hours long, not including
night and weekend shoots.



Though it may seem like all work and no play, the workshop is an
amazing opportunity for students to gain feature film
experience. "The real goal is to teach our students how to do this -
to give them something to take with them," Stanley said.



Stanley notes that several of his P.A.S.T students have gone to
audition for feature films. He recalls the experience of now George
Lopez star and former Pan American Theatre Student, Valente
Rodriguez.



"When Valente first went to Hollywood and went to his first cattle
call audition, there were about 150 to 200 guys of his size and
build there for the part. The producers asked, 'How many of you have
had some experience in front of a camera?'" Stanley said.


Of those, only 30 raised their hands and the rest were
asked to leave. The producers then asked how many had feature film
experience, of which fewer than ten raised their hands.



"From those left, Valente won the audition," Stanley said. "Having
played the lead in our first summer TV movie opened some doors for
him." Already in its thirteenth year, P.A.S.T has completed nine
productions, of which four have been aired locally. UTPA productions
have won a few film festival prizes over the years. One was honored
at Worldfest Houston in 1990 as the Best Production with a Budget
Under $100,000.



"Students who work on our films and then go into the professional
film world find they know exactly how the process works and what to
do," Stanley said.



This year's screenplay is a dramatic mystery following the seemingly
inexplicable death of a young woman. Set in the Rio Grande Valley,
the film also comments on local mores and traditional definitions of
love and heroism. It furthermore answers the quirky little question
about the seven reasons why humans close their eyes.


If interested in a role, selections from the script
will be available for reading the night of the audition. The script
may also be picked up at the University Theatre's Box Office. If
interested in being a part of the production, please contact Dr.
Jack R. Stanley at jacks@....





Virginia Haynie Gause, Systems Librarian

University of Texas - Pan American

1201 W. University Drive

Edinburg, TX 78541-2999

Tel. (956) 381-2303

Fax (956) 318-5396