Filmmaking in West Michigan has had an interesting three decades, from Martin Scorsese’s favorite screenwriter Paul Schrader, shooting films in the '80s, to the implementation of film tax credits by Governor Granholm, which we all know resulted in the filming of what seemed like countless 50 Cent vehicles. After taking office in early-2011, the newly elected Governor Rick Snyder, in a controversial move, decided to pull the tax credits for studios to make movies in Michigan. Many figured this was the end of movie making in the state. After all, who would come all the way to Michigan unless they could get a bargain? Compass College of Cinematic Arts, located at 41 Sheldon Blvd. SE in downtown Grand Rapids, is banking on the idea that rather than be the place where people in the trade come, West Michigan can be the place where the talent is developed.
“We teach students how to be content producers in a digital world,” says Tom Lowe, development director for Compass. “We’re a viable part of the growth [in Grand Rapids].”
If Lowe is correct and Compass can “export entertainment,” as he puts it, then the college’s location alone is significant. 41 Sheldon is the building that formerly housed the Urban Institute for the Contemporary Arts (UICA), and the building that Compass currently shares with ArtPrize. Clearly, such a location is destined to be a place for maximum creative output.
The way Lowe sees it, downtown Grand Rapids is prime positioning for Compass and its view on how to foster a larger creative community in West Michigan. Even beyond the existing infrastructure -- the building which houses Compass has nearly every kind of room and piece of professional equipment imaginable for filmmaking -- both Lowe and Evan Koons, who serves as Compass’ Industry Relations Specialist, see the region as ideal for training new filmmakers and crew members.
“There’s so many collaborative efforts [in downtown], and so much more going on,” Koons states. “I mean, Dog Story Theater is a block away.”
“[With] all these old buildings and churches [and] the river here, you have a real, organic, moving film set,” Lowe adds.
Despite their new home in the former UICA/ArtPrize building, Compass actually has a history in Grand Rapids dating back over a decade. Lowe explains that the school started off as a production company. However, they eventually realized that many of their employees' skill sets were well suited towards teaching the next batch of film production workers.
Today, Compass stands as an accredited school by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), and fills a unique niche in the area.
“To my knowledge, we are the only film school in West Michigan,” Lowe says.
By having that stronghold in the local marketplace, Compass is able to be selective in who they admit as students, allowing Compass to stay small, with well under 100 students each semester.
Lowe makes it clear that while Compass has put itself on the cutting edge of the technology side of the film and media industries, they are not simply looking for aspiring filmmakers who have seen too many brainless summer blockbusters.
“It’s all about [the student’s] heart -- about the potential for great storytellers,” Lowe explains. “We’re looking for artists.”
Koons holds the same sentiment. “It’s about drive and ambition," he says. "If we said yes or no, would you still want to do this?”
Aside from simply teaching the practical aspects of developing a screenplay or showing a student how to hold a boom mic, Compass prides itself on training its charges in the entrepreneurial side of the film industry. All students are required to complete an internship during their 14-month study, and several classes are geared towards the business of movie making.
“[Movies are] a business,” Koons says. “If you want to make a movie, you have to be able to sell it.”
To accomplish both these aspects, Compass maintains a faculty of seasoned movie making veterans, many of whom are Compass graduates themselves. These former students and faculty members have worked on major productions such as
30 Minutes or Less (shot here in West Michigan),
Moneyball, "Dexter," and "BIg Love." The school also maintains relationships with local production companies like
Gorilla Pictures, located in nearby Eastown.
Seeing these industry veterans, experts in their respective fields, train the next generation of young filmmakers is the best part, according to both Lowe and Koons.
“[What] makes me the proudest is when students are living their purpose in life,” Koons says. "When they have defined what success is, and then they are doing that thing that brings them success.”
Lowe also loves seeing that growth in students, but points to the growth of the school as well, citing how Compass has quadrupled their enrollment in a decade.
“We have an impact on the digital infrastructure in the Grand Rapids area,” he says. “We’re sort of a Juilliard!"
Prospective students can visit the school online at
www.compass.edu.
Nick Manes is a freelance writer based in Grand Rapids. His work has appeared in Rapid Growth Media, Revue Magazine and other publications. He blogs at NickManes.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nickmanes1.
PHOTOS:
Tom Lowe, left, and Evan Koons teach film making.
Tom Lowe, left, and Evan Koons with a small sample of film making equipment at the Compass College of Cinematic Arts.
Photography by
ADAM BIRD