The 5th Annual Real Deal World Premiere and Awards brought together 250 of Scenarios USA's friends and partners in celebration of Scenarios' newest films: Toothpaste, A Memoir to My Former Self and All Falls Down. Held at NYC's trendy Tribeca Grand Hotel on December 8th, the Gala event featured the films' writers, actors, directors and committed supporters.

The films' directors, Ben Younger (Boiler Room), Jamie Babbit (But I'm a Cheerleader) and David Koepp (Secret Window), were all present at the event. Along with the directors, the four south-Texas writers of Toothpaste, Gladys Sanchez, Amanda Ramirez, Kristal Villarreal and Laura Coria; the Brooklyn writer of All Falls Down, Chantel Woolridge; and the lead actress of A Memoir to My Former Self, Megan Martinez; answered audience questions and discussed their films' messages after each of the two screenings.

In a speech to the audience, Chantel said, "The story I tell lets teenagers see that their issues are real and many people go through similar situations and pressures. Other people got through these situations and you can overcome them."

Chantel explained that, "Before we started working on the film, I thought Scenarios and the film crew were going to take over the script and turn it into something they wanted. But it didn't happen that way. Everything that I felt and wanted to say came out in the script."

At the Gala reception, director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) and Eastman Kodak were given the Real Deal Awards in recognition of their authentic commitment to giving young people a voice to create change. Doug noted that he joined forces with Scenarios because he was excited "to work with the Scenarios teen talent pool as peers and that the notion of peer to peer honest discussion of the health issues that are important to teens might just work." Doug directed Scenarios USA's first film, He Said, She Said. Ravi Lambert, the film's lead youth writer, presented Doug with the award.

John Johnston, Kodak's US East Regional Manager, accepted the award and noted how proud Kodak was to provide Scenarios USA with film for each of its short movies. Scenarios alum Nicole Zepeda (Nightmare on AIDS Street) presented him with the award. In her presentation, Nicole stressed not only Kodak's commitment to youth and Scenarios USA, but also the critical role that Scenarios USA has played in her life.

Nicole said, "Before... Scenarios, I was a 14 year old who had grown up in a theater, loved singing and acting. After Scenarios, well... by my senior year in high school I had been to New York three times, I had spoken in schools and at film festivals in Texas and New York, I spoke to inmates at Riker's Island. I was even flown to Los Angeles by HBO's casting directors to audition for the lead in [Real Women Have Curves]. I was 16 and I didn't end up getting the role, but, Scenarios was to thank for passing on the word that there is talent in the Rio Grande Valley! Now, four years later... I am pursuing a career in filmmaking at the University of Texas.

Scenarios USA would like to acknowledge the 5th Annual Real Deal World Premiere and Awards supporters, those who came to the event and all those who helped make it happen. The Film Premiere got attendees laughing, discussing and, most importantly, asking questions.

The three new films will be available for distribution in late January and can be preordered by clicking here.