American Movie Classics Scholarship

Charter Communications and American Movie Classics have teamed up for a unique talent search which will award a $500 scholarship to a lucky high school student in the Western Connecticut area, it was announced today by Charter Communications and AMC.

In addition, the winning student’s school will receive a new VCR, courtesy of Charter Communications and AMC. The contest, open to all high school students in the Charter Communications service area, is part of AMC’s Behind the Screen Test, the company’s unique outreach program which rewards high school students who exhibit the potential to become the next generation of film stars.

AMC’s Behind the Screen Test is inspired by the weekly series AMC Behind the Screen, an insider’s guide to the films and stars that have made American Movie Classics the favorite choice of classic movie lovers. Like the name implies, this show takes viewers behind the movies to explore the lifestyles, fashions, and attitudes of both classic and contemporary Hollywood. After all, now more than ever classic is cool.

“We are proud to be sponsoring AMC’s Behind the Screen Test with our cable partner here in the Western Connecticut area,” said Kim Martin, executive vice president, Distribution and Affiliate Marketing, American Movie Classics. “The overwhelming response we received to last year’s talent search, during which we gave away more than a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships, made the decision to repeat the program again this year an easy one. After all, what better way is there to share our passion for classic movies than by identifying and rewarding high school students who show the promise of a young Jimmy Stewart or Katharine Hepburn?”

AMC’s Behind the Screen Test is open to all high school students in the Charter Communications service area. VHS video presentations of 3 to 5 minutes (recorded at a school or community play, drama class, drama performance, monologue or scene study) which highlight a student’s talent, charisma, and appearance will be judged by a panel of Hollywood-based entertainment professionals, including actors, managers, and agents. The student whose performance is deemed the best of those received from the Charter Communications service area will receive a check for $500, earmarked for college tuition. In addition, the student’s high school will receive a VCR to further encourage students in the dramatic arts.

The competition is easy to enter, and parents and teachers are urged to encourage young people to take advantage of this great opportunity. The deadline for receipt of entries is midnight, April 14, 2000. VHS videotaped entries must be labeled with the student’s name, address, and telephone number, as well as the name of their high school and local cable operator. All entries should be forwarded to: AMC’s Behind the Screen Test, Bin #154, 4920 Santa Anita Avenue, El Monte, CA 91731.

Along with its cable system partners throughout the country American Movie Classics will be giving away hundreds of scholarships to high school students as part of AMC’s Behind the Screen Test. The Western Connecticut area winner will be announced at the end of April 2000, at which time the check for $500 will be presented by Charter Communications General Manager John Dee, who will also present the VCR to the winner’s high school.

More information regarding AMC’s Behind the Screen Test, along with the official rules for the student acting competition, is available on AMC’s Web site at www.amctv.com/behindthescreen.