After more than 14 years, award-winning screenwriter Ricky Lee will resume conducting free workshop to individuals who want to learn how to write scripts for film and those who want to improve on their writing. The workshop will be held every Sunday in November.
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, 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 work also includes 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.
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 Sept. 4 at the new film studio in UP Diliman. Those who are interested to join may fill up the Google form found at the Ricky Lee (Official) Facebook page (@TripToQuiapo) or email [email protected].