ALTHOUGH ONLY $25 MILLION has now been allocated for the film program for 2012, which must be passed by both the state Senate and House, Chicago-based Fletcher Camera & Lenses has strengthened its commitment to its Detroit rental operation by transferring marketing coordinator/sales Eric Arndt to its two-year old office in the Grace & Wild campus in Farmington Hills.
“There’s a lot of commercial and corporate TV business in the Detroit area, especially since several new ad agencies and branches of agencies have recently opened there and the automotive business has revived,” notes Tom Fletcher, VP/marketing.
A Royal Oak, Michigan native Arndt, who’s been with Fletcher Chicago since 2009, joins camera techs Steven Oatley and Devin Laster in the company’s 5,000-sq. ft. office in a complex that includes a lab and a lighting and grip company.
Recently added to the Detroit inventory were Arri Alexa and Sony F3 cameras, “and we’ll add Red Epics as soon as they become available,” Fletcher says.
THE 13TH SAUGATUCK FILM FESTIVAL, June 9-12, features Jamaican-born recording artist, Rasta-rapper Shaggy, as the headline performer June 9 during the Opening Night Celebration at Saugatuck’s Coghlin Park.
Some of the musical performers are The Fainting Generals from Grand Rapids, Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys from Saugatuck and Garrett Borns from Grand Haven are some of the musical performers and “Survivor: Nicaragua” winner Judson “Fabio” Birza is a special guest.
The live music continues until sundown when some of the year’s funniest short films are screened on a 50-foot inflatable movie screen.
THE PRO-ACTIVE Michigan Film Office Advisory Council, comprised of 14 Michigan filmmakers, sent a letter to Michigan legislators supporting their efforts “to devise a sustainable program that will increase the state’s return on investment and enhance value for Michigan taxpayers and workers” while keeping Michigan competitive to other states.
Council members are Bill Black, Teamsters Joint Council #43, Bob Brown, Purple Rose Films, Jim Burnstein, screenwriter; Xenia Castillo-Hunter, Film Detroit; Hopwood DePree, TicTock Studios; Marcia Fishman, SAG, Cory Jacobson, Phoenix Theatre; Emery C. King, Chair, broadcaster; Sue Marx, filmmaker; Tim Magee IATSE Local 38, Michigan Moore, filmmaker; William O’Reilly, attorney and Marc Prey, attorney and screenwriter.
The MFO Advisory Council’s meeting will be June 10, from 10 a.m.-noon, at the Saugatuck Brewing Company in Douglas.
THIS SATURDAY, the Michigan Production Alliance and Michigan State University hold a Production Algebra P.A. Bootcamp 9 a.m. at Michigan State’s Communication Arts & Sciences Building in East Lansing. Cost is $105 and includes a year’s members in the MPA.
