Burt Reynolds encourages film students

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL -- "Somebody who will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement award at the Palm Beach International Film Festival, Mr. Burt Reynolds." Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson introduced actor Burt Reynolds to a crowd of students at the Palm Beach International Film Festival.

Reynolds, an actor for decades, is encouraging students to choose a career in the film business. He presented a high school student with a Burt Reynolds scholarship at the Student Showcase of Films in Palm Beach Gardens. "I think it's a wake up call for a lot of people who really did not have that much interest in the arts and didn't understand how important it is for this generation of people" Reynolds said.

He decided to work with students because of the impact  teachers made  in his life. "If I hadn't known Watson B. Duncan the third if he hadn't said to me in my English Literature class and like all football players I was in the back row, if he didn't say come here, I came down and sat."

Students who earned awards at the Film Festival are thankful for the opportunity to showcase their talent. Jared Mizel won for his PSA commercial. "I want to go into film absolutely I am working on a lot of different mini projects and I am going to be going to film school in the fall and I am going to see where I can go from there." Kenzie Cooke won second place for her short film "Sunder". "I've been here the last year and I don't know, I am just happy my film is getting so much recognition, it's really cool."

Reynolds says mentors can made a difference in a student's life. "I think every one of us, I am sure you, one place back in your life there was a teacher who made a difference and said you know what, you can do that." Reynolds and the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission helping future filmmakers.