ANDY KOZLOWSKI, C & G Staff Writer
MADISON HEIGHTS – From various cities they came, people of all trades looking to tap into Michigan’s burgeoning film industry by landing a job working on the set of a new reality show during a crew call Sept. 11 at the Center for Film Studies (CFS). The reality show, “Rollin’On,” is the brainchild of producer Ed Gardiner, who has been making films and TV shows in Detroit at what he calls the “do-it-yourself indie level” for roughly five years.
In a sense, Gardiner’s project is a show within a show, following a group of metro Detroiters as they make the leap to the film industry and work on a separate TV show that’ll make its debut at the end of the season.
“We’re going to have our crew, the ‘Rollin’On’crew, following another crew that’ll be composed of a few experienced people who are mentoring the rest of the people; and the rest of the people will be people who are pretty much reinventing themselves, coming from automotive or some other field,” Gardiner explained. “They’re basically walking away from what they’ve done and reinventing themselves, so we’re going to follow them around as they develop and produce a second TV show.” The idea is each season of “Rollin’On” will produce a new show that’ll spin off it. All shows will air for free on the Internet to build a brand and find a larger audience. Gardiner hopes to have the pilot ready by the end of November.
But first he turned to CFS, located on East Whitcomb between Dequindre and John R, where electricians, carpenters, makeup artists and more have been learning the skills needed to specialize in film since classes began July 6.
Here he sought fresh blood for The Agency, a database pooling talent for “Rollin’On” and other productions.
Scores of people eager for work attended the event.
Such people included Milton Levine of Farmington Hills. An electrician with more than 30 year of experience, he recently graduated from a three-series course at CFS that included film-focused studies in electrical, grip work and advanced electrical lighting.
“They’re covering the field very well,” Levine said of CFS.
“What they’re showing us are actually the nuances of the field, so we can adapt our field to theirs, and I think I’m better off for going to the class.” Levine was optimistic about Michigan’s growing film industry.
“The reason I’m here is because it’s an opportunity,” Levine said. “I think that the film industry is a baby in Michigan. I think if all these guys get adapted to the movie industry, we can be outstanding.
“We are an exciting state,” Levine continued. “We are very fortunate to have the natural resources we have. We have an incredible climate, which is adaptable to this business … and we can show anything in Michigan that they can show in the world. We have scenes in this state that are phenomenal. It’s diversified, it’s beautiful.” Others attending the crew call were less certain about the industry’s future.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” said Christopher Connell of Monroe. “A lot of other states are getting the same credits as Michigan is getting.” Yet he remains cautiously optimistic.
A carpenter for more than two decades, Connell got assistance from the CFS to secure funds from Michigan’s No Worker Left Behind program for a six-week course at the school.
“It was great,” Connell said.
“My professor, his name is Harry Akers. I like him; he was very professional.
He’s worked in the business, and I thought he was an incredible resource.” Akers, who teaches grip, electrical and lighting, previously worked on venues as big as Super Bowl XL and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is among a cast of well-credentialed instructors that have worked with Alist actors and directors on big projects.
Other courses at CFS include makeup, production assistant, set design and construction, wardrobe, special effects props and mold-making, camera assistant and audio, the last two being recent additions.
Three-time Emmy Award-winning producer Mort Meisner, who founded the CFS with business partner Jack Grushko and serves as the school’s executive director, saw the crew call as one way CFS is paying off, citing the employment of CFS grads in the making of the Belle Islebased game show “Crash Course” as another recent example.
“There’s tremendous pressure on us to help people help themselves get jobs,” Meisner said. “Even though we’re not an employment agency or placement service, we feel the pressure. The pressure for these people to get jobs is not only huge on them, but it’s huge on us, no doubt.” The Center for Film Studies is located at 899 E. Whitcomb Ave. in Madison Heights.
For more information or to secure an application, go online to centerforfilmstudies.com, or call (248) 545-2648 to speak to a counselor.
To find out more, visit theagencyadvantage.com.
Caption:Photo by Philip Southern Producer Ed Gardiner speaks to graduates of the Center for Film Studies about working in the film industry.
Copyright, 2009, Royal Oak Review (MI), All Rights Reserved.
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