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ONAMIA, MN - Mille Lacs Band member Sean Fahrlander has been selected by the ABC Network to complete a movie script with the network's support. As a participant in the ABC New Talent Development Scholarship Grant Program, Fahrlander will be mentored by a creative executive from the ABC network family for one year beginning in the fall of 2002.

ABC announced last year that it would offer a Mille Lacs Band member the opportunity to participate in the New Talent Development Program, which includes $20,000 to complete a writing, directing or filmmaking project. The program nurtures individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds who want to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and provides a select group of these talented people with the guidance and resources they need to begin an entertainment career.

"ABC is proud of its long-standing commitment to fostering diverse, creative talent," said Carmen Smith, vice president, ABC Talent Development Programs, "and we are pleased that Sean has become a part of that tradition. We are certain that the experience will be a rewarding, educational and exciting one for him."

Fahrlander, who lives in Duluth and attends the University of Minnesota Duluth, is a lecturer and storyteller. "I really enjoy writing children's stories that reflect my Ojibwe heritage," he said. "I have a collection of stories which are currently being illustrated, and I also go into schools to share my stories with young children."

Fahrlander wrote a murder mystery-themed movie script to participate in the ABC competition. ABC required that the script be unfinished, so that there is room for the ABC mentor to make suggestions, but the basic story line of the script is set on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Cass County, Minnesota, where Fahrlander grew up. An Indian detective learns that to solve a local murder case, he must first understand himself and strengthen the connection to his Ojibwe heritage.

"I see myself in this character," Fahrlander says of the detective. "I'm anxious to see more Indian characters in films and television, and I hope this opportunity with ABC can help me become a part of that effort."

Most of ABC's mentoring will take place over the phone or Internet so that Fahrlander can remain at home and near his daughter, while other mentoring may take place in person in California, New York, or another location. Once Fahrlander has completed his movie script, ABC will have the first chance to use the script. If ABC chooses to not use the script, Fahrlander can take it to other entertainment companies.

The Mille Lacs Band will hold a competition among Band members who are aspiring writers, directors and filmmakers again in the coming year. Band members can contact Rick Anderson, phone: 320-532-4181 for more information. The Band will submit its winner for consideration in ABC's 2003 New Talent Development Scholarship Grant Program.

Patty Dunn Can be contact by phone: 651-292-8062 or by pager: 651-642-8515.