Florida State University alumna Melissa Carter took Cloud Nine all the way to New York City for the premiere of her first major motion picture, "Little Black Book," a dark comedy that opened nationwide August 6 with big-name stars like Brittany Murphy and Kathy Bates.

Carter, who received her Master of Fine Arts in 1996 from FSU's School of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts -- also known as The Film School -- wrote the original screenplay for the movie that Sony Pictures eventually produced, earning her both story and screenplay credits in the completed film. In addition to Murphy and Academy Award-winner Bates, the motion picture co-stars Oscar winner Holly Hunter and Ron Livingston.

It was during a screenwriting class at The Film School that Carter first wrote the story about a journalist whose boyfriend is "commitment-phobic."

" I learned so much at The Film School," said Carter. "I sincerely believe I would not be enjoying such success if it weren't for FSU and the unique opportunities I had there."

In addition to her major motion picture release, Carter was recently hired as writing co-producer for television's "Life As We Know It," which premieres Thursday night, Sept. 23, on ABC. The drama set in a fictional Seattle high school, stars British actress Kelly Osborne, best known from her own family's 2002 series "The Osbournes" and young Hollywood heartthrob Sean Faris.

" Her success is no surprise to us," said Dean Frank Patterson. "Melissa is unusually talented and certainly well-trained," he continued. "Her short film "Used Cars" was nominated for a Student Academy Award when she was a student at The Film School. Given her determination, we knew her success was just a matter of time."

Carter met with recent Film School graduates on July 28 during the school's annual Los Angeles Alumni Conference in Beverly Hills. She and a host of other successful alums were invited to help new graduates prepare to face the difficult transition into the industry.

" I'm so proud of all our alums," said Patterson. "They look out for each other. If I was just graduating from film school, I'd want someone like Melissa Carter waiting to help me, too."

FSU's School of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts comprises one of the largest and best equipped facilities devoted wholly to film education, while its undergraduate and Master of Fine Arts programs rank among the most highly regarded in the world.