Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Thirteen days remain in this, the decidedly odd year of 2009.
We've lost quite a number of recognizable faces, familiar names, and people who, by their very presence, became part of our extended family.
I'm sure you could name quite a few; so could I, and I choose not to.
Things we lost this year that I deeply regret - the series Defying Gravity, which ABC didn't give a chance to, and should have... any sense of trust remaining in institutions we used to take for granted, like banks, investment advisors, car manufacturers (especially here in Detroit), and the American economy... any perception that the political universe is capable of putting aside partisan differences, even for a moment, to work for the good of the citizens who elect them and pay their often outrageous salaries and perquisites.
Damn.
We can only hope next year will be better... especially since all the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate are up for reelection next November. That kind of thing focuses their attention quite well... at least until Election Day's over.

Sometime again,

Al (for Michigan Independent Film)

Shooting For A Curse...

The Smoke House Curse, a film from James F. Garner, will be filming in Mount Clemens for the next three weekends or so.

Some of our people will be there... Al on camera, and Megan helping with makeup and wardrobe.

We'll have more info as things go on.

Sometimes A Good Excuse...

Here it is, almost the end of August, and we haven't posted on this blog since the middle of July. Some people would try making an excuse.
We aren't some people.
We finally have a little time here at the People's Art Festival, at the Russell Industrial Center in Detroit, and I'm putting up a new post. We're here supporting VSA Arts Michigan, an organization to support disadvantaged and disabled artists, and there's electricity and wireless.
So here it is.
We're doing more, and I (Al) start school after Labor Day, so things are getting interesting.
As they always seem to... Feast or famine, it seems to go.

Cheers!

The Michigan Makes Movies Expo - Some Thoughts

Last Sunday, the 12th of July, the CBS-owned radio stations here in Detroit sponsored the "Michigan Makes Movies" Expo, at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. For the most part, with the mix of vendors and speakers that were there, we had a good time, and we both think it was pretty much worth the $20 each we paid to get in. (At-the-door price was $25; not a steep rise, but noticeable.)
From our experience at conventions and other gatherings of this type, we think it was attended by about 2000 to 2500 people. (We haven't heard any official numbers yet.) There were some long lines, but for the most part, people were reasonably cool about waiting in line to get their admission pass to the events in the breakout rooms.
Our main complaint about events of this type is the food (or lack thereof) available at the venue. The Rock Financial Showplace did have a food vendor open to service the attendees, but the quality was subpar and the price was exorbitant. (About normal for this type of thing.)
Our main quibble with the entire event was the difficulty for accessibility for people in chairs or mobility carts. One event that Megan wanted to attend was set up in a way that she couldn't get her cart into the room.
These were pointed out to one of the main organizers, who was not totally aware of the problem, and it should be addresses in future events of this sort.
Many good connections were made, and you can see some of the links we've set up on the main website's LINKS PAGE. More will be forthcoming, as we get them scanned in, set up, and posted.
We'll be out and about as much as we can; we just don't expect to set up any more meetings such as we had on Saturday the 11th. Only two people attended, and it's not exactly what we had in mind.
Oh, well.

Michigan Locations - A Big Draw

There was a feature article in the Detroit Free Press this morning about location scouting in Michigan. I'm pretty sure there were no surprises to anyone who has lived here for any length of time; we've got places here that can double for almost anywhere.
You can read the entire article HERE.
We'll keep our eyes out for anything else you might need to know...

Al (of Al & Megan)

Welcome to this, the first entry of the Michigan Independent Film blog. We'll be using this as a way to keep you updated on what we are doing, and let you know what we think of the things that have gone on.
This may not always be on topic, but when it's not, we'll let you know it's not.
#Yesterday, 30 June, there were two meetings of note, which we'll tell you about. First, the Detroit Workforce Development Department and the Detroit Film Office sponsored a meeting about film opportunities at the Northwest Community Center in Detroit, which is at 18100 Meyers between Six Mile and Seven Mile. The audience chairs were filled, and there was a good selection of exhibitors on site. They included Cleary College, Specs Howard School, the Center for Film Studies, people from the New Center area office of Michigan Works, and vendors that stayed over from the morning session, which was examining "Green Companies", and the growing impact that environmentally friendly companies have on the business climate in the region as a whole.
There was also a producer, who's relocated to the area because of the incentive package the Legislature passed and the Governor signed last year, by the name of Yolanda Braxton. She gave a talk that would have been discouraging to someone who wasn't serious about doing film, but it was no surprise to us.
Many contacts were made, and we'll be using these contacts for the benefit of this organization as time passes.
The next meeting was back here in our "home port" of Hazel Park, sponsored in part by our district's United States Representative, Sander Levin. There were many organizations represented who serve the needs of various sections of this population, including older people, people with disabilities, people who lost their jobs, people who need job training, and their families. Again, many productive contacts were made, and this information goes into the database for use by our target audience.
#Coming up: On July 12th, from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, there will be the "Michigan Makes Movies" Film Expo. There's a reasonably impressive list of sponsors, and the session lists get bigger daily.
You can find out more at michiganmakesmovies.com (this link will open a new window). The cost is $20.00 in advance, and $25.00 at the door - we consider that cheap enough at the price.
Until next time, keep shooting!

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