James Cameron, a guru among all film directors once said, “Pick up a camera. Shoot something. No matter how small, no matter how cheesy, no matter whether your friends and your sister star in it. Put your name on it as director. Now you’re a director.” It is powerful statements like these that inspire our ambitious film-driven youth to go the extra mile to pursue their dreams. Michigan State University offers a wide variety of degrees and programs that encourage aspiring filmmakers to get involved in the industry. In 2015, the school’s Department of Theater and Communication Arts and Sciences created a Theatre2Film program with a simple goal: to create student-led feature films.

Last summer, a cast and crew of around 100 Michigan State University students debuted their feature film “Stay With Me” at the Traverse City Film Festival. This was Theater2Film’s third feature film, which tells the dramatic story of a struggling Midwestern farm family looking to maintain their sanity and emotional stability after being threatened to be evicted from their homes. The movie received critical acclaim from the film festival’s attendees. The workload, obstacles, and pandemonium was vast, but every single student involved had an enthusiastic mentality that eased the constant stress of filmmaking. The most fascinating part about the students’ collaborative efforts is that they recruit students from a variety of different programs on campus to get involved. Whether you are in engineering, kinesiology, or even marketing, Theater2Film is always looking to seek out inspiration and any form of guidance that would help ease the complexity of filmmaking. For more information regarding the Theater2Film program, visit http://statenews.com/article/2016/02/theater2film-program-at-msu. 

A Michigan native, Tyndie DuBose graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Marketing in 2004. She is currently the Vice President of New Business Partner Marketing at Nickelodeon where she spearheads the team’s dedication to developing innovative marketing partnerships for new business ad sales partners. DuBose’s team is responsible for pitching and executing new business promotional programs to ensure the Nickelodeon brand is properly represented in custom campaigns.

1. Tell us a bit about the path you took to get where you are today professionally.

I learned early on that the key to my success was going to be diversifying my skill set and client portfolio. Post graduation with my Marketing Degree in hand, I moved to Chicago like 99% of Detroit natives at the time. I had dreams of landing a job at a big advertising agency downtown on Michigan Avenue, and narrowly only considered those interviews. After months of job hunting with no luck and even less money to my name, I needed a job and quickly. I accepted a Client Services Coordinator role at a small marketing start-up in Schaumburg, IL. The company developed mass retail marketing promotions for Consumer Packaged Goods companies, at the risk of oversimplifying, we developed experiential programs that sampled products at retail. It wasn't what I thought I wanted at the time, however I quickly realized that I was surrounded by brilliant entrepreneurs who taught me so much and gave me an immense amount of responsibility at such a young age. I was getting priceless experience with over twenty Fortune 500 clients. Because of the small start-up environment, I wore many hats and grew quickly.  After four years I finally made the transition to the advertising world I always dreamed of. I parlayed my experiential background into a specialized events and sponsorship activation position at Saatchi and Saatchi working on Toyota in Chicago. I then transferred to NYC with Saatchi's sister agency Team One to work on Lexus. Feeling anxious that I was focusing too much on events, I made a move into a traditional account role at Ogilvy and Mather working on Hellmann's and Time Warner Cable. After honing in my account skills and concentration in more traditional advertising channels, I made my last switch to Media and landed a role at Nickelodeon the New Business Partner Marketing Team. I currently run a team of six dedicated to creating innovative marketing partnerships to bring new advertisers to the network. By trying my hand at different roles within the marketing world throughout the years, I have pushed myself to continue to learn new things and be inspired by different people and coworkers in the industry.

2. What classes or extracurricular activities did you find particularly helpful in your job field?

The most beneficial extracurricular activity for me was joining an American Advertising Federation (AAF) chapter as a sophomore. AAF has over 200 chapters across the country with over 5,000 students. Not only was I able to meet fellow students on campus who were studying Marketing at varying levels, we had a professor who served as a mentor to each of us helping with our classwork, networking, and navigating the advertising world. Each year, AAF conducted a national contest where they sent all schools the same faux new business pitch and each chapter operated as an independent agency vying to win the account. My first year the project was to create a campaign that would grow Bank of America's personal banking business by a certain percentage. At the time, research was beginning to show women growing as the breadwinners in the household, however very few banks were aggressively going after females as the primary target. Our team collectively took a risk and pitched an entirely female targeted campaign with research to support our approach. Our presentation won regionals and placed 8th in the country. It was an incredible experience that gave me a real taste of the work I would be doing if I pursued Advertising, and I made contacts and friendships that will last a lifetime.

3. When did you know what field you wanted to go into? What experiences led you there?

I, like most teenagers applying for college, had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up. I liked math and science but also loved my creative writing and arts classes. I have a brother that is four years older than me who went to school for Marketing, and by the time I was applying for college, he was gearing up to graduate. He really enjoyed his years in school and spoke enthusiastically about the creative process behind marketing and advertising so I figured I'd give it a try. Two years later he was working for a really well known advertising agency on a huge account, and I was watching his campaigns come to life before my eyes on TV and other outlets. I remember thinking it was so amazing that I could come up with an idea or be a part of a team that created a piece of advertising that was seen by millions of people. That was the moment I decided advertising was the area I wanted focus on to start my career.

4. Describe a day-in-the-life at work.

Start work around 9:30am with a large coffee >  I block at least 30 minutes on my calendar to get through emails and make a to-do list > Meet with sales on a new request for proposal (RFP), discuss the prospective client's products, points of differentiation, culture, financials, previous and current campaign creative - all info to strategically inform our pitch ideas  >  Review a different client pitch deck developed by my team prior to it being presented  > Lunch at my desk >  Review and provide feedback on a rough-cut of an on-air commercial we shot for one of our programs in execution > Coffee with someone from another company department to learn what they do and add them to my network of media execs  > Attend a research presentation on Generation Z > More blocked time to get through emails and get some work done > Hour weekly status with our broader Nickelodeon Partner Marketing team > Wrap up anything that can't wait until tomorrow > Day ends between 6 and 7pm.

5. What is your favorite aspect of your current job?

The level of creativity involved in my day-to-day and that no two projects are alike. My team partners with our Ad Sales division to create proactive innovative marketing campaigns that entice New Business advertisers to spend on Nickelodeon. Often times we find ourselves challenged to put together proactive pitches for Insurance, Financial, Tech and Automotive companies who only see Nickelodeon as a kid's network at first. Every new project has unique challenges that requires educating advertisers on our co-viewing story showcasing the millions of adults watching our network with their kids. I get most excited when we develop a creative campaign idea that highlights ways for these companies to partner with us by using our shows and characters to elevate their brand among our family audience. My favorite part is when we're able to change a potential client's perspective about Nickelodeon with the power of our creative ideas.

6. How has your major benefited your career?

As I began my career, a degree in Marketing and Communications certainly helped teach me the foundations I needed to understand the basics and opened doors for me based on alumni connections and relevancy in the field I was pursuing. In my experience the largest benefit to my degree was the emphasis the school had on group work to learn how to complete project based assignments together. Throughout the last two years of school there was a tremendous growth in group projects, and a lot of us dreaded it. You had to work to align busy schedules, there were varying personalities, differing opinions, and always that one person who didn't do their portion of the work. Just as much as my AAF experience was instrumental in learning the field I was pursuing, my degree prepared me for the real world where 99% of the work must be done in concert with different teams. It was extremely helpful for me to learn early on how to work in an environment to get a group of people to achieve one goal, while building my own individual brand as a team player.

7. What is one piece of advice you would give to students looking to pursue a career in your field?

Network. Network. Network. The advertising/media industry is extremely close and everyone knows someone, who knows someone who could introduce you to a key contact. People often equate Networking to active job searching and there is an important difference—networking is a crucial ongoing exercise that sets you up for success when you find yourself looking for a new job. The wider your net is when you're actively job hunting, the better your chances of finding something you're interested in and that you'll find it sooner. In my personal experience, every job except for my first was brought to me by people who had been in my network for years and often times when I wasn't even looking. The more people you get to know and the more you nurture those relationships, the easier it will be to connect with decision makers in the companies and/or fields you're interested in working in. Networking is a skill that never loses it's importance or relevance even in times of technological or cultural shifts.

Rich Homberg, CEO and President of Detroit Public Television, answered some of our questions about the fall line-up, the importance of information, and where Detroit stands on a National scale.

Q: Can you describe your role at DPTV?

A: I’m the President and CEO of the organization, which means I run the store, I try to keep the store going. *laughs* I’ve been here about ten years now. I oversee the organization, we’re a 20 million dollar organization and we have about 1.5 million viewers. We’re a non-profit television station, so it’s always important to understand that we’re built to do things the other guys don’t do. My responsibility is to try and better connect television to the needs and opportunities of our wonderful, Detroit community.

Q: Are there any programs or channels that your viewers should be aware of?

A: We have four channels. Our main channel is Detroit Public Television, then there’s World, which is news and public affairs. Then there’s a channel called Create, which is lifestyle, art, hobbies, and travel. And then there’s our kids channel. Each week, about 500,000 people watch our 24/7 kids programming, which is about to celebrate its first birthday. Right now, it’s the 2nd highest rated kids channel in America. Locally, there’s also the One Detroit initiative. It focuses on our history and understanding where we are as the most important city in America [Detroit]. We always try to remind people [that we’re the most important city in America]. Four million people, one story. We also operate the Classical Jazz Station, WRCJ, which has had a really significant presence in the culture of the community.

Q: What’s the line-up for this Fall/Winter season? Anything particularly exciting?

A: We just came off [The Vietnam War by Ken Burns], which was tremendously exciting, it did very well. We’re headed into a new generation of Masterpiece and the Victoria series, which has been a pretty good hit on the heels of Downton Abbey. We’re particularly excited about where News Hour is going, in a world where people are wondering where they can find a trusted source for information. News hour is that trusted source for news and information, and the ratings are up as a result. With One Detroit, this upcoming New Year we’ll be talking about the 2018 elections and a whole variety of issues and where the city’s going. We’re hoping it locks onto more local content [this upcoming season and so on]. If you’re into documentaries, there’s Frontline. We have a producer by the name of Raney Aronson who has taken control of Frontline and she’s moved it from a documentary program to an everyday resource on important issues, which includes a big doc program. Independent Lens is another one [that focuses on documentaries], and we’ve been focusing on great, big American voices. We’re currently working on a documentary on Line 5 and on water extraction. I don’t know if you’ve seen pictures of Lake Eerie during the summer, but it’s lined with a brilliant lime green color. The water is undrinkable, as is the water in Flint, both for completely different reasons. We want to provide information to the public and make people aware of the issues that are still happening and affecting Michiganders today.

Q: Could you talk about the Ken Burns Vietnam documentary?

A: It’s an 18 hour [documentary] on the Vietnam War. Monumental. It’s probably as important as any series that has been produced by and for PBS. The legendary producer [Ken Burns], who committed his entire career to public television decades ago, was initially famous for the Civil War series [he did]. He went on to do other series on World War II and on baseball, he’s done a whole volume, catalogue, of important documentaries. But if you think of the impact and of the changes in our country around the Vietnam War, from the very start of it on through to the Nixon administration and well into the ‘70’s, it was a period when America was redefined. Burns was able to immensely and deeply understand this period where we went from this vision of America being Camelot to one that was quite different and quite challenging. The doc also brought around the challenges of race and challenges of the economy, how disconnected our military was from society and how we went from a period of trusting the government to not. Burns’ unique, powerful, and authoritative touch brought all of that together and I’m still getting calls daily from people who are just blown away by it. It also gives the younger viewers a chance to understand what happened.

Q: Are you taking any new approaches to appeal to the public?

A: I think about News Hour and how we’ve gone through a very challenging time in covering news, successfully. Following the lead of other corporations during this time, we’re listening to what people are saying about public television, what Columbia School of Journalism is saying, and what a whole lot of folks have been saying about where we need to be as an organization and how we need to engage the community. From that, we’re trying to understand our role at a new level. We’ve gone from a mindset that starts with shows to one that starts with understanding needs in our community and opportunities and important conversations, issues, stake holders, etc. It’s about owning a piece of that conversation and building off of that to create content. We’re still about shows, television shows are very important at the same time, it’s the ability to connect to people on a regular basis. You want to bring the community into the show and it’s transforming everything we do. It’s about understanding the needs of our city, region, and state, and understanding what’s at risk: the environment, infrastructure, air quality, the safety and purity of the Great Lakes, where water sheds are going, etc. You really dig into where the world is coming up short. We want to make sure people understand that the issues are more than present day stuff, it’s also “well, what does this mean for the quality of our water?” The point of Public Television is to inform the people of local issues and of things that everyday people are concerned about.

Q: Are there any community events DPTV is supporting? What will they do for the community?

A: We just came off of our “road show” in Brightmoor. We’ve done a whole series of big, community conversations about the city, in local communities about certain topics. So we were downtown at the boxing gym, we were in South-West Detroit, we were in Brightmoor, etc. We’re also collaborating with WDET, WUOM, and Bridge Magazine in a project called the Detroit Journalism Cooperative. On November 3rd we’re taking over the Filmore, in Detroit, to produce our 3rd annual prime time gala: Detroit Performs Live. It’s a way to show the world how Detroit performs, essentially *laughs*. It was created as a way to showcase Detroiters and the immense talent that lives here. There’s a whole range of folks. Ruben Studdard will be headlining this year, which is exciting. It will be broadcasted live, it’s a fundraising event, and it’ll be a great opportunity to bring together Detroit musicians and artists. We’re also broadcasting the DSO Live event for New Years. If you think about where that’s located, where the Opera House is at, there’s so much rebuilding and growth in culture and art right in the heart of Detroit. Detroit is a nationally recognized emerging city, so it’s a perfect time for us to showcase talent in Detroit and celebrate how far the city’s come. We’re pretty excited about it. Other than that, we have the Great Lakes Bureau, in order to create a daily conversation around the state of our Great Lakes. We work with the Knight Center for Environmental Journalists, from MSU; we also work with a ton of organizations from Ann Arbor [on that topic].

Q: Anything else you want us to know?

A: I think diversity and being open and inclusive at every turn is very important. We have one of the most diverse populations in terms of viewership and I think that really reflects on the make up of [Detroit] and how our community works. We’re always thinking about ways to include the entire community, to bring everyone in carefully and with respect, to help then come to understand their neighbors. I think that’s a very important issue for the station and one that we need to be relentless about.

It’s that time of year again! The 20th Annual East Lansing Film Festival is right around the corner (November 9th to 16th) and there are some great films showing this year.

On Opening Night, Thursday, November 9th, The Divine Order, by Petra Biondina Volpe, will be playing in Studio C! at 7:30pm. This film follows Swiss housewife, Nora, as she discovers the women’s rights movement and her attempt to introduce it to her village. Before this, there will be a party celebrating ELFF’s 20th Birthday along with music from MSU jazz students, starting at 6:30.

There’s a full line up for Friday the 10th! First is Gook, by Justin Chan, about two Korean-American brothers and a young African-American girl who must test their friendship as they’re trapped in a store during the LA riots. The film is in black and white, but don’t let that deter you from checking this film out. Showing Friday, November 10th, at 6:30pm in Studio C!, and then again on Wednesday, November 15th, at 9:00pm in Studio C!

Stay with Me, made by MSU’s Theatre 2 Film students, is a psychological thriller about the decent of a family into chaos in the face of potentially losing their farm. This screening will be FREE for students. Screening Friday, November 10th, at 7:00pm in Wells Hall.

At the same time, The Work will be screening in Wells Hall, at 7:00pm. Directed by Jairus McCleary and Gethin Aldous, its set in a single room in Folsom Prison as three men from outside participate in a four-day group therapy retreat with level 4 convicts. This film gives us a raw and revealing look at the men behind the term “criminal”. Screening Friday, November 10th, at 7:00pm in Wells Hall and on Wednesday, November 15th, at 4:00pm in Studio C!.

Following this is Truman, by Cesc Gay. The Spanish award-winning film is a wonderful tribute to the endurance of friendship, the love of a dog, and the value of life. Screening Friday, November 10th, at 9:00pm in Studio C!. A second screening takes place Wednesday, November 15th, at 6:30pm in Studio C!.

Also on Friday, November 10th, Alphago, by Greg Kohs, will play at 9pm in Wells Hall. This film is a documentary of the first “Go” game between a legendary Go master and an AI challenger. That’s right, let your inner nerd come out and enjoy this robot vs. man film everyone’s been waiting for. Just with… less explosions. Alphago will also be playing Saturday, November 11th, at 6:30 pm in Studio C!

Before the second viewing of Alphago, the Brad Lichenstein film, As Goes Janesville, will be playing in Wells Hall at 4:00pm. The film focuses on the struggles and hopes of union workers, business leaders, and elected officials after the closure of the oldest operating General Motors plant. While this happens, the newly elected governor Scott Walker ignites much protest after he signs a controversial bill. Stay tuned after the screening for a discussion with Dr. John Beck. Again, that’s Saturday, November 11th, at 4:00pm.

Another screening on Saturday, November 11th, is Maudie, showing at 6:30pm in Wells Hall. From director Aisling Walsh, and starring Ethan Hawke and Sally Hawkins, comes the true story of famous folk painter, Maudie, as she falls in love with her employer and rises to fame. A second screening will be held on Monday, November 13th, at 6:30pm in Studio C!

After the first screening of Maudie comes the documentary Nana, directed by Serena Dykman. This documentary follows the filmmaker as she retraces her grandmother’s Auschwitz survival story. This film sends the message of how intolerance can effect generation after generation. Screening Saturday, November 11th, at 9:00pm in Wells Hall. A second screening will take place on Tuesday, November 14th, at 6:30pm in Studio C!.

The Street Where We Live, directed by John Whitney, tells the fictional story of how, in the aftermath of the nation’s financial crisis, a single mom with two kids copes with the sudden loss of her job and lack of financial stability. Screening on Saturday, November 11th, at 9:00pm in Wells Hall and on Monday, November 13th, at 4:00pm in Studio C!.

Josué Ramos’s film, Under the Rose (Bajo La Rosa), follows the grief and panic stricken parents of Sara, a girl who had gone missing, as they deal with the delivery of a letter from someone who claims to be holding her hostage. This tense thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat! Screening Saturday, November 11th, at 9:00pm in Studio C! as well as on Monday, November 13th, at 9:00pm in Studio C!.

Based on a true story, The King’s Choice is a look at the true test of a leader. In April 1940, the King of Norway is given an ultimatum from the German forces: surrender or die. Directed by Erik Poppe, this movie is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Screening Sunday, November 12th, at 6:30pm in Studio C!, and then again on Thursday, November 16th, at 9:00pm in Studio C!

Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s film, Food Evolution, is a documentary that explores the controversy surrounding GMO’s and food. Travelling from Hawaii to Iowa to Uganda, the emotions and science driving both sides of the argument is sure to keep you enthralled. Sunday, November 12th, at 4:00pm in Studio C!. There will also be a Special Free Screening on Thursday, November 16th, at 7:00pm in Room 119 of Wells Hall.

Down the Fence, by MJ Isakson, plays on Tuesday, November 14th, at 4:00pm, as well as on Thursday, November 16th, at 6:30pm. Both showings will be at Studio C! This documentary profiles horse trainers as they make their way to compete in one of the most challenging equestrian championships in the world. Not just about horses, but also how the event effects communities and the culture it belongs to.

A deep and thoughtful look into what it means to be “in the moment”, In The Moment is different from the other documentaries at this festival. This fleeting, yet powerful feeling is difficult to pinpoint, but Bob Albers, former MSU professor and director of this doc, manages to get into the heads of performers to present us with this film. Playing Thursday, November 16th, at 4:00pm in Studio C!

A variety of short films will be shown as well, on Sunday, November 12th, at 9:00pm in Studio C! and on Tuesday, November 14th, at 9:00pm in Studio C!.

And don’t forget to check out the Lake Michigan Film Competition as well. Films from states touching Lake Michigan will be screened in Wells Hall throughout the festival, and will be judged for awards.

All screenings will require a ticket, which you can buy at the door, though you can buy Studio C! tickets online in advance, beginning October 20th. Go to www.celebration-cinema.com for more details. Pizza will be available for purchase during the LMFC Shorts Program, as well as for Stay With Me and Food Evolution. You can also buy your VIP Pass at the Studio C! box office, or call (517) 381 – 8100 to reserve it ahead of time. Check the flyer for more details. 

Enjoy the show!

 The Mosaic Film Experience exists to equip the next generation of diverse youth with the skills necessary to successfully navigate the world of media culture and understand their role in it while making them aware of career opportunities associated with it that can change their world and ours too.

Mosaic Film Experience began in 2012 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as a film festival for commercial and jury-selected works focusing on under-told stories, particularly those of social outsiders. A half-day program brought in students who watched a film and then were led through a guided discussion. In 2014, we tightened our youth focus by adding a media literacy curriculum for attending students. In 2015 we changed the festival format, expanding to a full-day event with both large group and workshop programming as well as adding a screening of student-produced, two-minute mobile videos. We went mobile to minimize, as much as possible, any economic barriers to filmmaking, and to encourage students who may never consider picking up a movie camera to tell their story with the resources at hand. Judging by the number and quality of local entries, this new approach was well received.

The 2017 Mosaic Film Experience will include network executives from HBO and presentations from Hollywood costume designer Phillip Butte Jr.  The two day event will host students from Kent ISD on November 8th and students from Grand Rapids Public Schools on November 9th.

For more information, visit http://mosaicfilmexperience.com/home/

Desmond District Demons is a film festival put on in Historic Downtown Port Huron and provides one of a kind venue for exposing the best independent horror films. We are now an international film festival and accepted films from all over the world. We received submissions from over 23 countries. We expanded to two locations adding the amazing Sperry’s Moviehouse as our 2nd venue along with the original location, Loft 912. We accepted feature films this year, not solely just short films, and also, the films are now in competition rather than just an exhibition. We have local filmmakers and curators as special presenters at this years festival. We will also will have Tarot Readings and spoken word Ghost stories. 

The festival kicks off Friday night October 27th at 7:00pm with the feature film Charismata and continues throughout Saturday October 28th concluding with an awards ceremony at 9:00pm.

DDD Social Links: 

https://www.facebook.com/DDDFestival/

https://twitter.com/dddfest

http://desmonddistrictdemons.com