2010 Production

Click here to view information about the cast, crew and story of Appleville, the first Michigan Creative Film Alliance tri-university production.

Overview of 2011 Production

Representatives from the film programs from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University will leverage their combined expertise and resources in the film arts to create synergy and build capacity. This combined impact will advance the one of the major goals of the Michigan Film Incentive:  to retain and attract young talent who will grow the creative side of the industry leading to sustainability.

Of the 80 films made in Michigan in the last two years our alumni are listed in the credits--demonstrating that they not only are prepared to start their own careers, but are helping revitalize the Michigan economy.  These are the students Governor Granholm had in mind when she signed the incentive law with the hope of reversing the “brain drain” by keeping our talented graduates home.   We need to build on these beginnings and create capacity for the emerging film industry—a move that complements the State’s focus on generating below the line jobs.  It is the creative film artists coming out of our universities who will generate new projects, build their careers here instead of in New York or Los Angeles, and ensure a vital and sustainable future in the production of film, television and video games in Michigan as conceived by the State's incentive program. It is these talented, young, creative professionals, along with the growing ranks of below the line support personnel, who will grow the creative side of the industry leading to sustainability.

Emery King, Chair of the Michigan Film Office Advisory Council, convened the first meeting of representatives from the University of Michigan, Wayne State and Michigan State in Ann Arbor with Jim Burnstein, U of M, (Vice Chair of MFOAC) serving as the host.  Sharon L. Vasquez, Dean of the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts at Wayne State University served as the lead on organizing meetings in rotation at the three campuses and keeping the discussions moving forward with  Matthew Seeger, Chair of Communication at WSU, Charles Steinfield Chair of the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media at Michigan State University, and Markus Nornes, Chair Screen Arts and Cultures at the University of Michigan playing the role of key conceptual drivers.  By adding faculty from the three universities in ensuing meetings the idea of a proof of concept project emerged and the 2010 Summer Film Institute idea was launched.

Emery King notes that in planning this project: “we have seen what the creative energy of our three research universities can accomplish when united. We are excited to see watch what these young, talented film makers will achieve when brought together in a similar manner. We are expecting great things!  We see this as the first step towards future projects which will bring our CFA students and faculty together to work on everything from documentaries to webizodes.“

As Michigan’s three major research universities join forces in this summer project, students from MSU, WSU, and UM will come together in a replicated professional film production model. The “team” will collaborate and create a unified creative vision—taking taking an original 20-25 short screenplay through a full movie production and post production experience.  The final product will be premiered locally as well as submitted to Michigan, national and international film festivals as a means to increase the visibility and impact of Michigan film making from inception through post production.

Video Interview

You can watch an interview with Emery King, explaining how the program came together.