Miami Dade College Present ‘Taller Telemundo: Escritores’.

At an event held at Miami Dade College- North Campus, Telemundo and Miami Dade College formally presented the curriculum for their innovative educational initiative “Taller Telemundo: Escritores.” The network and the college also welcomed the prestigious group of instructors, professors, and industry professionals who are charged with further developing and implementing the curriculum for this ground-breaking program; among them, renowned industry veteran Fernando Calzadilla, who will lead the efforts in training the soon-to-be-selected elite group of 30 aspiring telenovela writers.

“Mr. Calzadilla is a renowned industry professional with over 30 years of experience,” said Don Browne, Chief Operating Officer, Telemundo. “We are honored that he has accepted our invitation to be a part of such an important industry initiative that will train the next generation of great telenovela writers.”

Joining Mr. Calzadilla will be instructors Veronica Montali and Lorenzo Dumoyer (experienced television producers in their own right), as well as Dr. Mario Beguiristain and Mr. Luis Perez-Tolon of MDC, who will lead Curriculum Design and Program Implementation and Assessment.

“Miami Dade College is proud to be part of an innovative project that has such a wide scope and is destined to change the telenovela genre not just locally, but nationally,” said Miami Dade College North Campus President, Dr. José Vicente.

Taller Telemundo: Escritores is an innovative educational program designed to inspire, discover, recruit and train the next generation of telenovela writers. Spearheaded by the efforts of Telemundo’s Vice President of Artistic Development, Mimi Belt, and in a strategic alliance with Miami Dade College, North Campus, School of Entertainment and Design Technology, the network has created this dynamic new program to provide a curriculum that specifically prepares and retains Hispanic writers in the ever popular telenovela genre.

The application process, which began in mid-November of 2004 and ended on January 31, 2005, garnered 4,392 registered applicants from all walks of life with over 35 U.S. states and 26 countries represented. The program was open to everyone who wished to apply; with Hispanic candidates currently living as near as Miami and as far as Lithuania. At the present time, applications are being reviewed and 30 applicants will be selected to participate in Taller Telemundo: Escritores starting this March.