U-M wins starring role in new Creative Film Alliance

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

The future of Michigan's fledgling film industry and the University of Michigan's role isn't being molded in Ann Arbor right now, but in northern Michigan.

That's where the 2010 Creative Film Alliance Summer Film Institute is taking place, bringing together faculty and officials from U-M, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University with film industry veterans and up-and-comers as part of a two-month program. The idea is to create collaborations and synergies at the state's major research universities so they can maximize opportunities and retain the state's talented young people who want to break into the film industry.

"There is a lot of talent in our schools but these kids don't know each other," says Jim Burnstein, coordinator of the screen writing program at the University of Michigan. "It's all about that collaboration. Michigan has an extraordinary number of people who have done great things in Hollywood. Those are people we educate and lose."

That is starting to change, thanks to the state's new film incentives that have attracted a bevy of new productions. Many people drawn to Hollywood's limelight are finding it easier to get a break by staying home and being the insiders ready and willing to help big productions.

"They (Burnstein's students) decided almost overnight to stay and see how this works out," Burnstein says. "The opportunities for them have been fantastic."

This summer retreat is part of a great collaboration that is allowing the three major universities to work together more often and leverage each other's strengths and resources for the betterment of the local film industry.

Source: Jim Burnstein, coordinator of the screen writing program at the University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke