The Detroit News
Unity Studios graduated its first class of students trained for the growing Michigan film industry Tuesday night -- and announced it's producing a feature film that should give many of them jobs.
The feature film will be called "A Christmas Dream."
The Civil War- themed family presentation will be produced in partnership with The Henry Ford, which stages a large, historically accurate Civil War re-enactment every Memorial Day weekend.
The film will be shot in Michigan, including at The Henry Ford's history-themed Greenfield Village in Dearborn, said Patricia Mooradian, president of The Henry Ford.
"After Unity Studios moved in down the street, we began to get to know them as neighbors. This was our first opportunity to work with them and it makes a lot of sense," Mooradian said.
"The backdrop of the film takes place during the Civil War era so it was a completely synergistic opportunity for both parties."
Mooradian added that the project also ties in with The Henry Ford's educational mission, since the film will employ graduates from the Lifton Institute for Media Skills, a training facility for film industry workers connected to Unity Studios.
The first class of 106 graduated Tuesday night, and the institute expects many of them will find work on this project and other films in Michigan.
"Some of our students have already been on film sets and gotten jobs," said Eric Cedo, director of marketing for Unity Studios. "Now we're putting together our first feature film, and the main purpose is to put our graduates to work."
The institute trains students for careers in areas such as production, art, camera, lighting, grip, sound and film editing.
New graduate Ed Williams, 33, drove to Allen Park from Port Huron to attend classes in sound mixing.
"I went online looking for a career change and this just kind of fit me," said Williams, who had made his living as a musician.
Mitch Griffin, 20, of West Bloomfield Township, trained to become a picture editor, but said he "got a taste of directing here with a full film crew, so I wouldn't mind going that route."
Unity and Institute President Jimmy Lifton said of the first class: "It feels like birthing all these kids."
The graduates laughed when he announced production of "A Christmas Dream" -- "just in case you know someone who's qualified" to join the crew.
The studio wouldn't discuss financial details of the film and said budget and casting details would be announced later. The film already is in pre-production and will begin production sometime next month.
Unity Studios last summer became the first of three such film production projects in Michigan to begin construction. The complex is still under construction.
Nearly 50 films wrapped production in Michigan last year, according to the Michigan Film Office. The state has become an attractive site for movie-makers due to its 40 percent to 42 percent tax credit on money spent here.
The feature film will be called "A Christmas Dream."
The Civil War- themed family presentation will be produced in partnership with The Henry Ford, which stages a large, historically accurate Civil War re-enactment every Memorial Day weekend.
The film will be shot in Michigan, including at The Henry Ford's history-themed Greenfield Village in Dearborn, said Patricia Mooradian, president of The Henry Ford.
"After Unity Studios moved in down the street, we began to get to know them as neighbors. This was our first opportunity to work with them and it makes a lot of sense," Mooradian said.
"The backdrop of the film takes place during the Civil War era so it was a completely synergistic opportunity for both parties."
Mooradian added that the project also ties in with The Henry Ford's educational mission, since the film will employ graduates from the Lifton Institute for Media Skills, a training facility for film industry workers connected to Unity Studios.
The first class of 106 graduated Tuesday night, and the institute expects many of them will find work on this project and other films in Michigan.
"Some of our students have already been on film sets and gotten jobs," said Eric Cedo, director of marketing for Unity Studios. "Now we're putting together our first feature film, and the main purpose is to put our graduates to work."
The institute trains students for careers in areas such as production, art, camera, lighting, grip, sound and film editing.
New graduate Ed Williams, 33, drove to Allen Park from Port Huron to attend classes in sound mixing.
"I went online looking for a career change and this just kind of fit me," said Williams, who had made his living as a musician.
Mitch Griffin, 20, of West Bloomfield Township, trained to become a picture editor, but said he "got a taste of directing here with a full film crew, so I wouldn't mind going that route."
Unity and Institute President Jimmy Lifton said of the first class: "It feels like birthing all these kids."
The graduates laughed when he announced production of "A Christmas Dream" -- "just in case you know someone who's qualified" to join the crew.
The studio wouldn't discuss financial details of the film and said budget and casting details would be announced later. The film already is in pre-production and will begin production sometime next month.
Unity Studios last summer became the first of three such film production projects in Michigan to begin construction. The complex is still under construction.
Nearly 50 films wrapped production in Michigan last year, according to the Michigan Film Office. The state has become an attractive site for movie-makers due to its 40 percent to 42 percent tax credit on money spent here.
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