West Michigan film commissioner Rick Hert is “thrilled” by the new studio

Grand Rapids has earned bragging rights to “the world’s largest sound stage” as Hangar42 Studios’ 450,000-sq. ft. full-service film production studio opens for business in that West Michigan city.

Purchased and renovated at a cost of $45 million by a local group of investors, “Hangar42 Studios is open now and ready to go,” says Rick Hert, West Michigan Film Office director.   More >

Mark Androw represents commercial companies in negotiations

One of the changes in the new AICP/Midwest-Local 476 labor agreement is a provision that helps fund high-tech certification training programs for union personnel, in keeping with changes in the entertainment industry.

Story’s executive producer Mark Androw, representing commercial production companies, and Mark Hogan, 476’s business manager, negotiated changes to the new three-year contract that went into effect Feb. 1.   More >

Nate Berkus, soon to be Harpo’s new daytime star

It sure looks like the new syndicated “The Nate Berkus Show,” from Harpo Productions/Sony Pictures Television (SPT), will be produced at Harpo’s West Side studios.

Although no official announcement has been made as to the show’s origination, eight job openings, from supervising producer to talent coordinator that were posted on the indeed.com web site clearly give Chicago as the address.   More >

Paul Buckner, WYCC-Ch. 20 new general manager, seeks indie production relationships

WYCC-Ch. 20 is seeking relationships with independent producers, in which WYCC can serve as the presenting station for co-productions to air on Ch. 20 and to offer the program to PBS stations nationally.

“We’re looking for shows of local and national interest that fit our mission of educationally diverse programming,” says station manager Paul Buckner.   More >

Doreen Bartoni, Dean of School of Media Arts, presides over the new MPC

The lighting class of Dave Moravec of Pixel Brothers, a part-time Columbia College instructor for many years, had the distinction of inaugurating Columbia College’s new $21 million Media Production Center (MPC) Jan. 25.

The school on Feb. 5 unveiled its 35,500 sq. ft. facility at 1600 S. State, its first entirely new construction in Columbia’s 120-year history.   More >

Vanir Entertainment’s planned new studios

You win some, you lose some. Michigan knows, winning a new production company that plans to open a $20 million film studio in Clinton Township (90 minutes northeast of Detroit) while losing a studio in Southfield.

The Clinton Township production company, Vanir Entertainment recently announced plans to break ground this spring on a facility on a 26-acre lot.   More >

Producer Carey Lundin reports on NATPE 2010

It looked like tumbleweeds in the exhibit hall at last week’s National Assn. of Television and Programming Executives (NATPE) held at Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas. Attendance had dwindled to 4,000, down an estimated 20% from 2009.

The exhibit floor reflected budget cut-backs and the fact that real deal-making was taking in place in private suites at THE Hotel, an adjacent luxury hotel.   More >

“Summon Lovin’” plays on hustlefilms.com

FILMMAKERS CAN EARN MONEY when their films play on Hustlefilms.com. Armand Lucas of HustleFilms is offering filmmakers 10 to 20 cents-per-view to play their shorts on his site as part of “premiere weekends.”

Thereafter, Hustlefilms will continue to pay the filmmaker at a lower rate for as long as he chooses, for up to a year.   More >

February 10 - AFTRA/SAG SENIOR RADIO PLAYERS treat the audience to what the Golden Age of Radio was like, with the mystery drama, “Mr. District Attorney,” directed by Bob Baron, original broadcast date unknown, and the comedy, “My Favorite Husband,” directed by Connie Foster, originally starring Lucille Ball aired in 1950.

At the Claudia Cassidy Theatre at the Cultural Center; doors open at 6:30 p.m., show at 7. Free and open to all.    More >