UNO grad student receives screenwriting scholarship

The University of New Orleans presented Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting candidate Brian Alexander  with the 2016-2017 Joseph Patrick Uddo Scholarship last week. 

Alexander worked on the Gulf Coast during the Katrina recovery effort. After completing his service with Americorps, he pursued his BA in film at the University of Southern Mississippi. He continued his studies at UNO's Creative Writing Workshop.

"Joseph was passionate about filmmaking and especially about the art of screenwriting," Paul Uddo, the scholarship namesake's brother, said. "This scholarship is intended to encourage and support others who share that passion. We are fortunate to have an outstanding film school here at UNO and we believe that this is a fitting place to memorialize Joseph, and to share his love of filmmaking with other young artists."

Joseph Patrick Uddo was a screenwriter and camera operator. He attended the New York Film Academy and later taught at the school. He worked on several movies, including Monster's Ball and Stranger Than Fiction.

After his death in 2008 at age 33, his family created the Joseph Patrick Uddo Foundation as a memorial. The first scholarship was presented in 2012 to Mark Twain Williams. Subsequent winners were Katheryn Warzak, Eric Hollerbach and Elizabeth Brina.