▁His ▁film ▁" Bottom feed ers " ▁won ▁the ▁A udi ence ▁Award ▁and ▁Frank ▁Cap ra ▁Award ▁at ▁the ▁DC ▁Independent ▁Film ▁Festival , ▁the ▁Ind ie ▁Spirit ▁Award ▁at ▁the ▁Planet ▁Ind ie ▁Film ▁Festival ▁in ▁Toronto , ▁and ▁was ▁a ▁featured ▁selection ▁at ▁the ▁Philadelphia , ▁Pal m ▁Beach , ▁and ▁Sar as ota ▁Film ▁Fest iv als . ▁ ▁His ▁screen play ▁" Wh ale ▁F arts " ▁won ▁the ▁ 1 0 th ▁annual ▁Script ap al oo za ▁Screen writing ▁Compet ition . ▁ ▁Brian ▁received ▁his ▁B A ▁from ▁Y ale ▁University ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁and ▁his ▁M FA ▁in ▁Screen writing ▁from ▁the ▁U CLA ▁School ▁of ▁Theater , ▁Film ▁and ▁Television ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁ ▁He ▁taught ▁screen writing ▁at ▁the ▁Bro oks ▁Institute ▁in ▁Vent ura , ▁where ▁he ▁developed ▁and ▁o vers aw ▁the ▁M FA ▁Screen writing ▁program . ▁ ▁He ▁is ▁currently ▁an ▁Ass istant ▁Professor , ▁teaching ▁screen writing ▁And ▁direct ing , ▁at ▁the ▁RO CH E ST ER ▁Institute ▁of ▁Technology ▁and ▁teach es ▁online ▁for ▁the ▁Professional ▁Program ▁in ▁Screen writing ▁at ▁U CLA , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁in ▁the ▁MA ▁Writing ▁Program ▁at ▁Joh ns ▁Hop kins ▁University , ▁and ▁is ▁a ▁frequent ▁Gu est ▁L ect urer ▁at ▁Y ale ▁University . ▁ ▁His ▁book ▁Class ical ▁Story t elling ▁and ▁Contempor ary ▁Screen writing ▁was ▁released ▁by ▁F ocal ▁Press ▁in ▁January ▁ 2 0 1