User:MurraySuid

I am a huge fan of Wikipedia, which I use daily in my roles as a writer, filmmaker, lifelong learner, and grandfather. Today, March 7, is the first time I've tried to add something to Wikipedia. I hope I'll be able to contribute something useful in the days ahead.

About me:

I'm the cofounder of the International Movie Trailer Festival (IMTF), which operates online contests for indie moviemakers around the world. Launched in 2010, IMTF has drawn entries from 40 countries. One of our goals is to help indie moviemakers get theatrical and online distribution for their work. We accept trailers for finished movies and for movies still in the dream stage. Categories include all genres. To date, we've given out more than $20,000 in cash prizes. There are special awards for cameraphone-shot trailers and for student work.

My interest in trailers grew from my work as a screenwriter trained at UCLA. Before starting that career, I was a freelance writer of nonfiction books including HOW TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.A., DEMONIC MNEMONICS, WORDS OF A FEATHER, MOVIEMAKING ILLUSTRATED, and THE KIDS HOW TO DO (ALMOST) EVERYTHING GUIDE.

I also provided content for several digital companies, and wrote the scenario for LAUNCH: THE NEW MILLENNIUM BUSINESS GAME published by Sony.

My current passion is helping develop the art and technology of mobile moviemaking. I'm also interested in the use of the web for strengthening communities, and I'm one of the team that's built CommonsConnect.org, a project of nonprofit West Marin Commons.

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, went to high school in South Florida, attended college and graduate school in New England, and now reside in the San Francisco Bay Area.