Something exciting is happening at the Burton Center for the Performing Arts in Salem.

John David Ware, founder and president of the internationally known Project 168, will be a special guest artist Monday, Sept. 17 through Wednesday, Sept. 19. While here he will be working with the performing arts and mass communications departments to teach students the basics in short film-making. The three days will involve production, directing, set design, script writing and performing before the camera.

Ware is based in Los Angeles, however his workshops have been successful across the nation and as far away as South Korea and The United Kingdom. These sessions will begin at 7:30 a.m. and last until mid afternoon with a break for lunch. The climax of this program will be a special film festival, The Arts and Entertainment Conference, to be held April 12 to 13, 2013. This short film-making project will be a first for the Roanoke Valley and possibly the state of Virginia and was set up by Carol Webster, director for the Center for the Performing Arts.

Ware will be the house guest of Dr. Fred and Carolyn Eichelman of Salem.

Submitted by Fred Eichelman.