Ricky Lee to hold his 15th FREE Film Scriptwriting Workshop

Award-winning screenwriter Ricky Lee conducts hos 15th Scriptwriting Workshop

Exactly a decade and four years after, award-winning screenwriter/author Ricky Lee conducts his 15th Free Scriptwriting Workshop. The said scriptwriting workshop is set to be held every Sunday starting on the month of November. The said free workshop will be offered to selected individuals who want to learn how to write scripts for film and those who want to improve on their writing. Screenings will be held starting September (tentatively). 

Since 1973, Lee has written more than 160 scripts for films, many of which have won awards here and abroad. Among these are “Himala,” “Karnal,” “Brutal,” “Moral,” “Salome,” “Jaguar,” “Relasyon,” “Bulaklak ng Maynila,” “Gumapang Ka sa Lusak,” “The Flor Contemplacion Story,” “Muro-Ami,” “Bagong Buwan,” “Jose Rizal,” “Mila,” “Anak,” and “Dubai.” He has worked with many Filipino filmmakers, most notably with the late National Artists for Film Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal.

Apart from being a screenwriter, Lee is a fictionist, playwright, and book author as well. His body of works also include short stories, plays, essays, and novels. Among the books he has published are the scriptwriting manual “Trip to Quiapo,” the anthology “Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Ating Panahon,” the playbook “Pitik-Bulag Sa Buwan Ng Pebrero,” screenplay books like “Brutal/Salome” (the first of its kind in the Philippines), “Moral,” “Bukas May Pangarap,” and “Jose Rizal,” and the novels “Para Kay B (O Kung Paano Dinevastate ng Pag-ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa Atin)” and “Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata.” His screenplay for “Salome” has been translated into English and published by the University of Wisconsin in the U.S. as part of its film studies.

Lee has received more than 60 trophies from various award-giving bodies, including the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Gawad Para sa Sining, UP Gawad Plaridel, Natatanging Gawad Urian from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, and a similar Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cinemanila International Film Festival, just to name a few. He was also one of the recipients of the Centennial Honors for the Arts from the CCP and the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas for Tagalog fiction from the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL).

He has worked as Creative Manager for ABS-CBN, handling dramas for television such as “Mangarap Ka,” “Maging Sino Ka Man,” “Vietnam Rose,” “Ysabella,” “Lobo,” “Magkaribal,” “Imortal,” “Kahit Isang Saglit,” and the recently launched family drama “The Greatest Love.”

Lee has been holding free scriptwriting workshops since 1982, producing hundreds of graduates who are now part of the movie and TV industry. He has successfully mentored several budding writers and he vows to continue supporting more of them (from those who will be chosen to participate in this year's workshop) to help them reach their full potential in the field of writing.

I have also experienced applying for the same workshop which I had previously shared on my blog. It had also paved the way for me to work and meet people + I had the opportunity to gain new experiences. You may read my own scriptwriting experience here. 

Application to the workshop is open to everyone, including those who do not have prior experience in writing. The selection process is tentatively scheduled on September 4 at the new film studio in UP Diliman. Those who are interested to join may fill up the Google form found here or email rickyleebatch15@gmail.com. For more details, like Ricky Lee (Official) Facebook page (@TripToQuiapo).