SARASOTA, FL (April 8, 2009) –The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee will be holding a free lecture entitled “The Professional Film Making Process: How You Can Become a Film Director” on Friday, April 17 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m in the Selby Auditorium on the university’s campus.

The two speakers at the event will be Lisa Cook, full time lecturer in the film department at the University of Central Florida, and Randy Finch, Associate Professor of Film at the University of Central Florida.  They will discuss techniques for getting a film finished on time and on budget that professionals employ on major motion pictures.  They will also introduce attendees to the way professional filmmakers go about the process of turning a screenplay into a shooting schedule and budget.

Lisa Cook has worked for 20 years as an associate producer, line producer, production supervisor, manager and coordinator.  Her credits include Brother Bear (Disney), Fantasia 2000 (Disney), National Lampoon’s Favorite Deadly Sins (Showtime), Hotel Room (HBO), Major League (Paramount), Tremors (Universal) and Nightmare on Elm Street (New Line Cinema). 

Randy Finch is a producer of theater and movies.  Plays produced by Finch have received the Helen Hayes Award (Three Hotels at the Kennedy Center) and the LA Drama Critics’ Award (Hurlyburly at the Westwood Playhouse).  Films produced by Randy Finch include; Outside Providence (Miramax), Federal Hill (Trimark), and the Substance of Fire (Miramax).  Finch is a graduate of Harvard College and Fordham University’s School of Law. 

For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Jay Riley (941) 359-4694 or jayriley@sar.usf.edu.