WHO'S THAT GIRL?

CENTURY CITY, CA., SEPTEMBER 28, 2004 Patrice Williams, founder and CEO of the Minorities in Broadcasting Training Program, Creator and Director of the Century City Film Festival, has found success in the broadcast news field. Her program helps dozens every year break into TV/radio news reporting, news management and film production. The Minorities in Broadcasting Training Program, is supported by the likes of Sam Donaldson, Jane Pauley, Dan Rather, Ed Bradley, Montel Williams and many many others.

Patrice Williams came to Los Angeles in 1984 after transferring from Clark Community College in Vancouver, Washington to California State University at Los Angeles on a speech and debate scholarship. Patrice consistent superior performance on Clack's forensic speech team caught the eye of Cal State LA coach Charlene Hill, who went on to recruit her. While at Cal State, Patrice won more than seventy-five trophies in a variety of public speaking events, qualifying her for the national championships three years in a row. She graduated from Cal State as a multiple National Champion as well as named "Best All-Around Student.'

Determined to become a reporter, Patrice landed perdiem work at KTTV Fox 11, internships with the Arsenio Hall Show and Rick Dees, as well as production/writer/editor/producer work with two local production houses, along with her volunteer anchor work with a local cable station. Although Patrice was working in the entertainment business, she still pursued her goal as a reporter, going from interview to interview hoping to land that all important first general assignment reporter position.




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One particular conversation stands out. After interviewing for the third and final time at a station in a small town in Arizona, the News Director was very blunt and to the point when he said, "We think you're probably the best for this job, however, we just hired a black reporter, and we don't see a need for another one." He was honest enough to share the truth with her. That "truth" is what has kept many qualified individuals from realizing their goals and dreams in television/radio news. That "truth" is what also gave Patrice the idea to create a program that would seek out individuals who are minority, talented, educated, and who have also struggled to land their first news reporting or news management job.

Patrice wanted her program to address all the issues that created the downfall of previous programs such as union considerations, trainee salaries, etc. What she came up with is a non-profit organization called, "The Minorities in Broadcasting Training Program," (MIBTP) whose sole purpose is to provide training to college graduates and placement services after training to keep them within the workforce.

Formed in January, 1992, MIBTP has a Board of Directors, Advisory Board and Honorary Committee made up of distinguished journalists and industry executives who are all working together to make the program a success. Although MIBTP is based in Los Angeles, over fifteen stations across the country have trained their selected applicants, while one hundred stations give the graduated trainees priority permanent employment consideration.

Patrice has appeared on KTTV's public affairs program, "Signs of the Times," was featured in the magazine, "Turning Point", in the Los Angeles Times, was a guest on the KTLA Morning News show and served as a panel expert for a workshop entitled, "Reforming the News Media," organized by the Fairness in Media Coalition. Williams was awarded the "Living History Maker Award' though "Turning Point Magazine and "Woman of the Year' by radio stations Star 98.7.

In 2000, she was selected for the presidential, "Daily Points of Light' award issued by former President George Bush and President Bill Clinton, for outstanding community service. Because Patrice spearheads all aspects of her organization, her goals have shifted to helping others achieve their goals. But don't count her out of the spot light yet! Patrice has added screenwriting to her resume and has won several prestigious awards for her work. Patrice is a recent recipient of the Panasonic Digital Filmmaker Grant and is the Founder and Director of the new Century City Film Festival.



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The Century City Film Festival in its inaugural year has received an overwhelming five hundred entries from all over the world. All the entries where reviewed and graded, by the Century City Film Festival Committee.They selected the top nine independently produced features, six documentaries and fifty-one short films that will be screened from October 27-30, 2004.

For more information regarding the Century City Film Festival, The Minorities in Broadcasting Training Program, or Sponsorship Opportunities, visit www.CenturyCityFilmFestival.com, www.theBroadcaster.com, or please contact:

Terrance Gillum
Century City Film Festival
323-365-4602
Terrance@CenturyCityFilmFestival.com