Description:

Join us for this rare opportunity to learn from renowned screenwriter Billy Ray (Captain Philips, Shattered Glass, and Showtime's upcoming The Comey Rule). Ray will discuss story structure for screenwriters and filmmakers with reference to some of the most influential films in the history of cinema. Following the talk, RTVF Chair Zayd Dorn will moderate a conversation with Ray and invite questions from students, faculty, and alumni for further insights into the craft of cinematic storytelling. Please note: Ray has request that all students have viewed the following films prior to the event: The Godfather, Jaws, Kramer vs Kramer, Rocky, Silence of the Lambs, and The Wizard of Oz. Additional strongly recommended viewings include: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Graduate, Inside Out, Ordinary People, and Tootsie. Billy Ray wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Captain Phillips, for which he won the WGA award. He’s the writer-director of the Showtime limited series "The Comey Rule", based on James Comey’s book, A Higher Loyalty. Ray's films as writer, co-writer, or writer-director include "The Hunger Games," "Richard Jewell," "Shattered Glass," and "Breach." His current feature projects include "’68": the true story of Olympic medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos, and "The Silent Wife" for Nicole Kidman. Ray is a member of the AMPAS Board of Governors. He believes in democracy, justice, and the Dodgers.