HOLLYWOOD,
CA (October 25, 2012) –
NBCUniversal announced the winners among the finalists
at the closing night of its Seventh Annual “Short Cuts”
Festival on October 24 at the Directors Guild of America
(DGA) Theater in Los Angeles with hosts Craig Robinson (NBC’s
“The Office”) and Kym Whitley (NBC’s “Animal
Practice”).
Now in its seventh-consecutive year, NBCUniversal’s “Short
Cuts” Festival unites the various networks and studios from
the NBCU family; including NBC, Bravo, Syfy, G4, E Networks,
Focus Features, Telemundo, Mun2, and Universal Pictures,
earning a distinctive place as the authority on discovering new diverse
voices in the film and television industry. The program is championed
by Kendra Carter, Director of NBC's Talent Diversity Initiatives,
NBCUniversal. “We are always gratified to see that our annual
Short Cuts festival is so warmly embraced by the industry as a valued
showcase for so many talented actors, writers and directors to gain
acceptance and guidance for their marvelous efforts,” said Carter.
“The scope and passion of these industry executives over the
years demonstrate a growing appreciation of the young artists’
work while it underscores NBCUniversal’s strong devotion to
increasing diversity that now has resulted in some proven success
stories.”
The 2012 winners announced include those in the following categories:
Best Actor -- David Castaneda Jr. for “Maddoggin’”
and Kendra Mylnechuk for “OK Breathe Auralee”; Best
Short – “Cherry Waves" by Carey Williams; Best Director
– Vincent Lin for “Love, NY”; and Audience
Award – “Maddoggin’” from writer/director
Terrence Heuston....
As Best Actor, Castaneda and Mylnechuk received a
one-year NBC Talent holding deal, a one-year subscription
to The Hollywood Reporter and GConnect 500gb wireless hard drives
from G-Technology.
Best Director Lin was rewarded with a camera package
valued at $60,000 under Panavision’s New Filmmaker Program;
an 8-terabyte “G Raid” hard drive with Thunderbolt from
G-Technology; a finalist slot in NBC’s Director Fellowship
Program and one day of sound mixing from Universal Operations
Group.
For Best Short, Carey Williams received a blind
script deal with NBCUniversal; one day of sound mixing from
Universal Operations Group and a one-year membership to Studio System.
Last but not least, Audience Award winner Heuston from “Maddoggin’”
was awarded a professional HD Waterproof Hero2 from GoPro; a one-week
supply of Pretzel Crisps delivered to the set of his next shoot; a
complimentary Web package from Web Solutions and a one-year membership
to Studio System.
All finalists for the 2012 festival received a 1-terabyte mobile hard
drive, courtesy of G-Technology; a Screenplay Writers Suite, courtesy
of Write Brothers, Inc; a subscription to Hulu Plus; a one-year subscription
to the Hollywood Reporter; a studio-quality digital MiC from Apogee;
and all winners will be featured in Vibe/Uptown Magazine
and The Hollywood Reporter.
This year's panel
of judges once again included top talent and executives from the industry:
Ken Jeong (actor/comedian from NBC’s “Community”),
Kelly Edwards (NBC Diversity), Erika Kennair (Syfy Programming), Karen
O'Hara (Syfy Original Movies), Moises Velez (mun2 Programming), Brian
Dorfman (NBC Casting), Joey Chavez (NBC Drama Programming), Eric Carr
(Focus Features), Teri Dean (NBC Casting), Karen Horne (NBC Entertainment
Programs), Grace Wu (NBC Casting), Michael
Sluchan (USA Development), Tara Case (Universal Pictures),
Andy Weil (Universal Television Development) and Charotte
Koh (Hulu Development).
This year’s corporate
sponsors and partners included: Panavision, G-Technology,
Sheraton Universal Hotel, Entertainment Partners, Universal Operations
Group, StudioSystem, Pretzel Crisps, Pink's Hot Dogs,
Write Brothers, Uptown Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter,
Keldof, Fuze, GoPro, The Sundance Institute, DGA,
WGA and Hulu. For additional information,
please visit WWW.NBCSHORTCUTS.COM.