January Newsletter
Happy New Year to friends of the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office. We hope your 2018 has gotten off to a splendid beginning. We look forward to continue bringing you the most relevant news and events as it relates to the creative industries, whether through our monthly newsletter, on our website or through our social media channels.
This month you'll get the low down on the Grand Rapids Film Festival's 36 Hour Challenge. We also dive deep into the 2018 Thunder Bay International Film Festival which supports films about our oceans and Great Lakes. We hope you're revved up for this year's North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center in Detroit. 2018 holds plenty of promise for sure. Ready...? Go!
Grand Rapids Film Festival's 36 Hour Challenge Registration Deadline of January 20th is Rapidly Approaching
 A competition challenging contestants to script, shoot, edit, and submit a film in 36 hours. Participants take inspiration from thematic elements revealed at the January 26, 7 p.m. launch reception.
WHO
Participants: high school students, college students, and aspiring professionals.
Audience: professors, students, friends, family, experienced filmmakers.
WHEN
Teams are launched on January 26, 2018 at 8 p.m. to create their 6-minute short, which must be delivered to the festival's film freeway by 8 a.m. January 28. Those selected by judging panel will be screened before a live audience on February 2.
WHERE
Launch: Woodbridge N. Ferris Building 17 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
Screening: Celebration Cinema North @ 2121 Celebration Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
HOW MUCH
Teams of three or more members can register for a fee of $100.
Prizes will be awards for the best films totaling up to $1200!
*Scholarships are offered for High School Teams - Apply Now!
This year's screening on February 2 is Presented by Celebration Cinema! After the screening in Theater 1, teams move upstairs to the Wave Room for networking and awards.
Judging Criteria Every submission is viewed by each of our judges. Full details on the panel of film industry professionals can be found on our website. Films can receive up to 10 stars in each of these categories:
- Originality / Creativity
- Direction
- Writing
- Cinematography
- Performances
- Production Value
- Pacing
- Structure
- Sound/Music
- Timing 6 minutes
Awards The cash prizes ($1,200) are Presented by the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office! ...And, we're so grateful.
Teams that score the highest will be awarded for their efforts in these areas:
Best of Show $200
Best Professional $400
Best University $400
High School $200
Craft Awards:
- Best Acting
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Best Directing
- Best Sound
- Best Script
- Audience Choice
The winner of the Best of Show will also win:
- Screening at GRFF on April 14 at the Wealthy Theatre
- Screening at CinemaLab event
- Free entry into the Eclipse Awards
- Played at Celebration Cinema before an independent film
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Thunder Bay International Film Festival Runs January 24-28
 Every year, the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary bring the world of cinema to Alpena! For five days in January, northeast Michigan is treated to some of the most impressive ocean and Great Lakes films from around the world. Film screenings are complemented by social events, educational activities, and opportunities to meet filmmakers.
This year's student film competition asks students to submit short films explaining what #SanctuariesAre. The TBIFF wants to know what sanctuary means to you...share your vision with us on the big screen! Open to students in grades K-12th. Submit a short film, 5 minutes or less. No entry fee. Selected films will be shown at the festival on Saturday, January 27 at 3pm.
This year's Thunder Bay International Film Festival promises to be an eventful week of screenings, events and panels. As always, we appreciate your support of Michigan Film Festivals!
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Isle Royale Now Accepting Applications For Annual Artist-in-Residence Program
 Isle Royale's Artist-in-Residence program provides professional artists, working in all mediums, the opportunity to become part of a long-established tradition of artists in our national parks.
Artists have had a long-standing influence on the formation, expansion, and direction of America's national parks. By painting landscapes of the American West, artists publicized many of the natural wonders of a land little known to the eastern populace. Their body of work helped to stimulate the establishment of many of our parks and to foster a continuing appreciation of them.
Today's artists continue to document the landscapes of our national parks with contemporary approaches and techniques, drawing upon the site's scenic, natural, and cultural elements for inspiration. These artists translate the park's purpose, as a place of pleasure and preservation, into artwork that bring people new insights, enjoyment, and understanding.
For more information, or to apply visit https://www.nps.gov/isro/getinvolved/artist-in-residence.htm
MFDMO Seeking Interns for Spring, Summer & Fall Semesters
 The Michigan Film & Digital Media Office (MFDMO) is accepting internship applications for the Spring & Summer 2018 terms!* This is an UNPAID internship, but college credit can be earned.
This position yields many opportunities to learn about the services and programs provided by the MFDMO, work directly with the Film Commissioner and MFDMO staff and help cultivate and foster the economic growth of the creative industries in Michigan.
Main Job Tasks and Responsibilities
- Assist Commissioner and MFDMO staff members in the implementation of the 2015-2016 Strategic Plan that includes recommendations related to developing public/private partnerships, enhancing talent, strengthening relationships with colleges and universities and building the digital and creative sectors in Michigan
- Provide support to the MFDMO staff in organizing documents, streamlining processes, preparing records for reporting purposes and helping maintain office operations
- Participate in meetings with various industry partners (producers, writers, designers, and other creative entrepreneurs etc.), when available
Education and Experience
- Knowledge and experience in relevant software applications - spreadsheets, word processing, and database management
- Proficiency in spelling, punctuation, grammar and other English language skills
- Social media experience (optional)
- Ability to stay on task and ask questions for clarity (preferred)
Key Competencies
- Attention to detail
- Confidentiality
- Reliability
- Initiative
- Enthusiasm
Requested Time Commitment
- Minimum of eight hours per week (1 full day or 2 half days)
- Long-term commitment preferred (i.e. school term)
* Note: You must be actively enrolled in an academic program to be considered for an internship. Interested? Send your résumé to mfo@michigan.org or contact Lynn McNamara at the Michigan Film and Digital Media Office, 517-335-7197
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MEDC Participating in the 2018 North American International Auto Show
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation Marketing/Communications, Events, Pure Michigan Business Connect, and PlanetM
teams are busy getting ready for the North American International Auto Show, taking place Jan. 14-28 in Detroit. Entering its 30th year as an international
event, NAIAS is among the most prestigious auto shows in the world. This
year, MEDC will more deeply involved with the auto show than ever before. Building off last year’s success of
PlanetM in Automobili-D, the team will be hosting the inaugural PlanetM Awards,
a collaboration between PlanetM, AutoMobili-D and NAIAS to honor enterprises
developing mobility-focused platforms and technologies. |
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Michigan Educators: Implementing computer science into your curriculum has never been easier than with Google's CS First
 In November of 2015 the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office partnered with Google to make computer science programs more accessible and approachable for 4th-8th grade students across Michigan. From its inception in 2015 through the 2017 summer camp activities, the MFDMO CS First program has been immensely popular.
The Google CS First program is a free software platform that has students engaging in computer programming across nine different themes (animation, art, fashion, friends, game design, music & sound, social media, sports and storytelling). Visit www.cs-first.com for additional details about the program.
The MFDMO invites all Michigan educators, schools, school districts and school programs to sign up for CS First through our online portal which can be accessed HERE.
We also must mention that new schools signing up for CS First through the MFDMO portal will be given 20 pairs of headphones for use in the classroom. Also, every school that signs up will have the ability to reward students who complete themes in their CS First clubs with all new digital badges. These badges allow the students to add their success in the CS First program to their other scholarly achievements. For more info about either the headphones or the digital badge offer, click HERE.
For additional information about the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office's CS First program, click HERE.
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Ann Arbor Area to Hold Two Screenings of 'All or Nothin,' Next Month to Benefit the African American Cultural and Historical Museum
 ALL OR NOTHIN’ (AON) is a feature film that dramatizes one of the largest recorded Underground Railroad escapes called “The Escape of the 28”.
In this 83-minute melodrama, Underground Railroad conductor John Fairfield guides an enslaved group from a northern Kentucky farm in Boone County to their freedom in Canada. He is forced to share center stage with Washington Barker who at the same time leads his wife and loved ones out of enslavement from a neighboring farm.
This epic adventure intertwines multiple stories to create a realistic portrayal of the numerous players, black and white, men and women, needed to implement a successful
group escape; a view seldom depicted in slavery films. Via character and plot development, AON gives a voice to many who were customarily silenced. While the film exposes the bitter truths of oppression, manipulation, and misogyny inherent in slavery in America, it also stresses teamwork, selflessness and ultimately triumph.
BIG DADDY ENTERTAINMENT, INC
Michigan indie filmmaker Charles K Campbell wrote, directed, produced, and cast AON his first feature film. He took painstaking effort to blend fact and fiction to create a story
designed to resonate with all audiences. AON was filmed along the route believed traveled, covering 4 states in under 2 weeks, and includes original locations from the 1853 escape. Campbell says, “This was possible from the generosity of property owners, historians, and descendants who also appear in cameo roles.”
Insistent on originality, Campbell built a small but talented team collaborating with an antique weapons specialist, pyrotechnic expert, master boat maker, chorale director,
music producer, and School of Design to craft weapons, skiffs, music, choral arrangements, and wardrobe.
A Hollywood Foreign Press Scholarship recipient, Campbell believes a film portraying camaraderie among Underground Railroad network heroes and she-roes influences racial healing through education and dialogue. Although entertaining, AON is structured to spark introspection and conversation, tools perfect for Inclusion and Diversity programs in cultural and learning institutions. Campbell is dedicated to featuring quality films that showcase undiscovered talent both in front and behind the camera.
Charles K Campbell
Cell: 323-326-8664
Email: yeswecanland@yahoo.com
Website: www.allornothinmovie.com
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Upcoming Events
January 13-28 - North American International Auto Show - Cobo Center, Detroit
January 24-28 - Thunder Bay International Film Festival - Alpena
January 26-28 - Grand Rapids Film Festival's 36 Hour Challenge - Grand Rapids
January 26-27 - Ann Arbor Folk Festival - Ann Arbor
**Do you have a creative industry event that you'd like displayed on our website and/or through our social media channels? Please send us the full details of your event via email to mfo@michigan.org and we'll share it where appropriate.**
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