By: Deborah Johnson Wood
By training Michigan residents to use carpentry, electrical, lighting and other skills for film crew jobs, Holland-based TicTock Studios has created a reason for out-of-state film crews to come to Michigan: a trained, skilled workforce.
Michigan’s burgeoning film industry got a major boost last April with the signing of legislation that offers feature filmmakers the most aggressive tax incentives in the country.
Around that time, TicTock Studios and renowned Hollywood producer Jeffrey Stott held the first class to train film crew wannabes. Since then, the studios and Stott have teamed up with Grand Rapids Community College's Lakeshore Campus in Holland, MichiganWorks! and No Worker Left Behind to make connections with out-of-work trades people.
This week, the Basic Film Training Program, which teaches industry terminology, skills and culture, launched in Wayne County at Henry Ford Community College.
“The expansion of this program to the Detroit area is the next step in our goal to grow the program to other areas of Michigan, including Lansing and Traverse City,” said Dori DePree, Head of Educational Outreach.
The program has generated national interest with calls coming in from all over the country.
On Oct. 6, TicTock will offer the Basic Film Set Training course again in Holland.
After students pass the basic training, they can opt to move on to other courses, including the grip technician course and a new electrical module.
“We’re trying to extend this training to as many people as we can in order to build a stronger crew base for the developing Michigan film industry,” says DePree.
State film offices expect the tax incentives will draw dozens of new film projects to Michigan over the next six months.
Source: TicTock Studios
Related Articles
Anticipating state incentives, Hollywood producer joins Holland filmmaker
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.