Scenarios USA is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2006 “What’s the REAL DEAL?” story and scriptwriting contest in its three regions: New York City, the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and Miami-Dade County, Florida. In New York, graduating senior Tiara Bennett will work with director Alison Maclean (Jesus’ Son) on filming her story “The Choices we Make”; in the Rio Grande Valley, graduating seniors Felix Guerra, Jr., James Michael Hernandez, David Marroquin and Roel R. Olivarez, Jr. will work with director Alice Wu (Saving Face) on filming their story “High School at its Worst”; and in Miami-Dade County, high school senior Whitney Peters will work with director Jesse Peretz (The Chateau) on filming her story “Inevitable”.

The three winning stories were selected from almost 800 submissions written by over 1000 young people ages 12 to 22. During the selection process, 450 script reviewers narrowed the 800 submissions down to 11 finalists. A 20-person Final Selection Committee, comprised of teachers, religious leaders, educational experts, health advocates, film directors, and young people, came to a consensus on these three stories.

“The Choices We Make” addresses issues of teen pregnancy and fatherhood, as experienced through the lives of two high school students in a romantic relationship. “High School at its Worst” addresses issues of homosexuality, male-to-male friendships, peer pressure, and bullying. And “Inevitable” addresses issues of racism, classism, and homophobia, as experienced through the eyes of two high school students in a romantic relationship.

Whitney Peters, REAL DEAL winner, Miami-Dade County, had this to say about winning the contest: “I think that film has the power to change the way people see the world, and I'm excited that I'm getting the chance to make a film about what people today are too afraid to say, and maybe more importantly, about what people are afraid to show."

Co-Executive Director Maura Minsky commented, “The stories that were submitted to the REAL DEAL contest and the ones that were chosen to be filmed are honest insights how young people think and live their lives. Too often our teens are told what to do and what to think - it's time to listen to them and learn. That's where real change can happen.”

Scenarios USA will work collaboratively with the young people and the professional directors in developing the stories into shooting scripts. Scenarios will also work with the winners’ schools and communities to pick locations in which to shoot the films and to recruit local youth to intern on the film sets. Once the films are completed, the writers and directors will be the featured guests at the films’ premiere in the spring of 2007. The films will then be distributed to high schools and community groups nationwide, streamed on our website, and premiered on Showtime Networks. The 2006 winners will also have the opportunity to continue working with Scenarios USA as spokespeople and advocates on the issues that their stories address.

Stay tuned for more information and updates as we head into production!