Posted 29 March, 2009 in MI News
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University, Lansing Community College and Capital Area Michigan Works! are partnering to prepare Michigan residents seeking employment in the state’s growing film industry.
With a grant of $195,000 from the state of Michigan, Capital Area Michigan Works! will recruit and oversee a joint training program between MSU’s Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media and Lansing Community College’s Digital Media, Audio, and Cinema program to provide on-campus film production training.
Charles Steinfield, chairperson of the MSU department, says the training program is a wonderful example of state partnership – with economic benefits.
“This training partnership demonstrates our commitment to community outreach, and also to the growth of the film industry in Michigan,� Steinfield said.
The MSU department will work with LCC faculty to provide 80 hours of training, which will prepare Michigan residents who are seeking jobs in the film industry, such as production assistants and other below-the-line film jobs.
Competitive scholarships from Capital Area Michigan Works! will cover the full cost of the program for the students selected. Candidates should demonstrate a passion for the film and television industry, an entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to do what needs to be done. Candidates should also be driven, flexible, highly mobile and willing to learn.
“People with a background in catering, construction, carpentry, security and IT are all needed on a film set,� said Doug Stites, CEO of Capital Area Michigan Works! “Particularly in demand are folks with previous theater, performing arts and broadcast experience, as well as those with electrical experience. This program will give them the foundation to transfer their existing skills into the film industry.�
The program is expected to start in May with the screening process for candidates beginning immediately. Those interested should email film@camw.net.
Michigan enacted an aggressive film incentive structure in April 2008. Since then, the state has seen more than 70 film and TV projects slated for production in Michigan, estimated to bring in about $430 million in economic activity. Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced new film developments in her State of the State address on Feb. 3.
MSU’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences has a film and media arts initiative, which is headed by former Discovery Films executive Andrea Meditch. Meditch was executive producer of the documentary Man on Wire, which received a 2009 Academy Award. The college offers quality degree programs for film-related careers and has a solid group of alumni involved in the film business, ranging from actors to producers to sound designers to directors and storytellers. In fall 2009, MSU is proposing two new specializations: in Fiction Film Production and Collaborative Documentary Production.
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