Telemundo opens applications for ‘Taller Telemundo:Escritores’.

Based on the success of last year’s debut of “Taller Telemundo: Escritores,” Telemundo announced the second installment of the innovative educational program designed to inspire, discover, recruit and train the next generation of writers for Spanish-language television. Once again partnering with Miami Dade College, North Campus, School of Entertainment and Design Technology, Telemundo will now offer “Taller Telemundo: Escritores, 2006,” a dynamic and intensive program to provide curriculum that specifically prepares and retains Hispanic students interested in writing fiction (drama and comedy) for television, while creating and writing original content for the ever-growing, complex, and vastly popular digital medium. The network seeks to mirror this curriculum with an academic partner in Los Angeles later this year.

This year, the program will select up to 20 prospective students from qualified applicants to participate in a highly competitive 6-month instructional program in Miami, Florida. Later this year, another group of 20 may be selected to participate in Los Angeles, CA. There will not be a separate application process for the Los Angeles program.

The application process begins March 1st and will close April 14, 2006. For more information on “Taller Telemundo: Escritores 2006,” please visit www.tallertelemundo.com.

“Taller Telemundo is the best example of how our original programming strategy comes to life,” said Don Browne, President, Telemundo. “As producers of original content, we’re always thinking of ways we can tap into new talent on-and-off the screen who will be able to produce content that is relevant to our U.S. Hispanic community”.

“Taller Telemundo: Escritores 2006” will focus on the development of talented writers into well-versed storytellers for television and digital media. Students will learn to communicate effectively through the written word and will also gain a deeper understanding of the tastes and viewing preferences of the U.S. Hispanic television viewer.

“As the top producer of degrees to Hispanics in the nation and an institution that has always been on the cutting-edge of education, we are very proud to continue this trailblazing partnership with Telemundo,” said Dr. José Vicente, president of Miami Dade College North Campus where the East Coast program is housed. “This is a great example of industry and higher education working closely together.”

Last year’s inaugural course produced 14 graduates which came from a pool of nearly 4,400 applicants who represented over 35 states, 26 countries and a wide variety of backgrounds including college students, journalists, housewives, waiters, truck drivers and clergy. Eight of these students are now employed at Telemundo with another 3 students working on a freelance basis. Graduating student Erick Hernandez received a special honor this past December: a Book Award given jointly by Telemundo and Atria Books—an imprint of Simon & Schuster that is launching its Latino-Hispanic line in February 2006—to write a book based on one of Telemundo’s hit telenovelas. Hernandez, a Cuban immigrant with a compelling personal story, emerged as one of the most dedicated and hard-working students in the program.

“Taller Telemundo: Escritores 2006” is open to Telemundo employees, students of all educational institutions of higher learning, and the general public who possess the requisite writing skills and a passion for Spanish-language television. The program will provide selected students with tuition, books, and other classroom materials and program benefits, at no cost.