Film / Video

Royal Oak’s PixoFactor Entertainment hires 10 smartphone app developers

By Newsroom

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July 21, 2011

PixoFactor Entertainment continues on its steady, accelerated growth plan in downtown Royal Oak, hiring 10 new people to develop smartphone applications over the last year. "We feel mobile has enormous potential in Michigan in the near future," Hurwitz says.The 3-year-old start-up has 30 employees, two interns and a few independent contractors. It develops digital content for both video games, mobile apps and special effects for the film industry, and has benefited handsomely from Michigan's film incentives.PixoFactor Entertainment recently received a $78,000 digital media incentive from the state for production of the Ben Hogan Lessons Mobile Application. The project adapts the classic book, Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf, by golf icon Ben Hogan, into an instructional and interactive app for smartphones."We could see phases of the book coming to life in the next 60-90 days," says Sean Hurwitz, CEO of PixoFactor Entertainment. "We could have a multi-phase launch."PixoFactor Entertainment has also been working on the Nintendo Wii and Internet adaptation of that book. Source: Sean Hurwitz, CEO of PixoFactor EntertainmentWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

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Metro Detroit’s creative community gets its own incubator

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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July 14, 2011

In the rush to create new economy jobs in metro Detroit the talk has mostly centered around incentives and support for engineering, life sciences, green energy, and computer technology. But building a creative class is more than hot on the job market front. Enter Detroit's new Creative Ventures Acceleration Program, an incubator oriented toward design, film, music, and social media. And it's getting national attention.Excerpt:"The Creative Ventures Acceleration Program offers local entrepreneurs access to resources, services, strategic counseling, development support and other services that seek to "increase the density of creative-sector businesses in the downtown area," according to the Detroit Creative Corridor Center, a business accelerator that developed the program.Backed by $500,000 in funding by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the U.S. Small Business Administration, among other groups, the program features a 12-month curriculum for "ventures-in-residence" to better identify development goals and best practices."Get the rest of the story here.

Solar panels power the silver screen in Royal Oak

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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June 16, 2011

It's one thing when a business decides to go green because it's good for the environment. It's another when they do it to improve their bottom line. Not only does Emagine's new theater / bowling alley have solar panels on its roof -- installing them made the business' finance packaging possible.Excerpt:"After seven years, the solar array will have paid for itself. With a 25-year guarantee on the panels and rising electricity costs, Glantz said, the investment will cut the 71,000-square-foot theater's annual electricity bill by about 20 percent.But Glantz said the key to completing the theater project was the solar panel investment. As part of the financing package, Emagine was preapproved for a $3.5 million subordinated second mortgage with a 20-year Small Business Administration 504 loan."Read the rest of the story here.

Luxe bowling, movies come to downtown Royal Oak

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 19, 2011

An entertainment complex that takes movies and bowling up a few notches - leather, club seating instead of hard, fiberglass chairs; real dishes instead of styrofoam and paper; restaurant wait service; and high tech bells and whistles - opened Monday in Royal Oak.The Emagine Theater and Star Lanes in Royal Oak is Emagine's sixth theater in Michigan and the first in a downtown Main Street location (Main St. and 11 Mile, near the Main Art Theatre). it's also their most ambitious.Inside 71,000 square feet of space are 10 movie screens and 16 bowling lanes, and a bar and restaurant that serves lunch and dinner at its own tables, or to bowlers and movie-goers. The latest in technology will operate on the lanes and in the theaters, including Smartphone movie tickets and more. There are also four electric car charging stations and solar power panels on the top of the buildings, which is LEED certified, says Ruth Daniels, senior vice president of marketing for Emagine Entertainment and Star Lanes. "It's the greenest entertainment venue in town," Daniels says.The $19-million project was christened with three charity preview parties last weekend. At least $200,000 was raised and benefited the Judson Center and Gleaners Community Food Banks, she says. Separately, the business created 100 jobs. "It's not your typical bowling alley," Daniels says.In fact, the company doesn't call them bowling alleys. They're bowling lanes. And banish any thoughts of stale, throwback bowling joints. The Royal Oak location follows a nationwide trend to step up bowling and movies in competition for the consumers discretionary entertainment dollar.Daniels says the downtown location was sought after, and she sees the company pursuing other downtown locations, possibly for a theater or bowling lanes on their own or together.Royal Oak is an ideal location…."It's a great place to hang out," she says. "If we can get the right space we need we would definitely look for another downtown area."Emagine's other theaters are in Woodhaven, Canton, Novi, Rochester Hills, and Birch Run.Source: Ruth Daniels, senior vice president of marketing, Emagine Entertainment, Star Lanes Writer: Kim North Shine

Raleigh Studios brings its moviemaking to Pontiac despite threats to film tax credits

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 12, 2011

The debate over Gov. Rick Snyder's plan to cap film tax credits goes on, but a movie studio has opened in Pontiac nonetheless.This week Raleigh Studios Michigan, the newest division of Raleigh Studios Worldwide, officially opened on the site of the former General Motors truck plant and office complex at Centerpoint. The new location joins studios, production facilities, and other film-making locations in Hollywood, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Playa Vista, Calif., Baton Rouge, Atlanta, and Budapest.Raleigh Studios Michigan has nine sound stages totaling over 175,000 square feet, the latest in filming equipment and technology, and 360,000 square feet of office space on three floors, some already leased to production companies, production service firms and other vendors. There is also a set lighting department, on-lot cafe and "premier dressing rooms," according to a news release from Raleigh, which says it is the longest continually operating movie studio in the country.The Michigan studio is owned by one of Michigan's most prolific developers and businessmen, A. Alfred Taubman, along with Linden Nelson and John Rakolta Jr. Supporters of Michigan's fledgling movie industry oppose Gov. Snyder's $25-million cap on film tax credits and are lobbying for a $180-million annual spending limit.Raleigh promotes the film incentives on its website, walking producers through the application process and also lists more than 20 films, TV shows and other productions currently happening in Michigan.Source: Raleigh StudiosWriter: Kim North Shine

Michigan’s film incentive debate gets considered by popular movie site

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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March 17, 2011

For years Film Threat has been the voice of indie cinema. A site for geeks, makers and wannabes, it is an unabashed champion for films and filmmaking. Six months ago they sang the praises of the Michigan film incentive. Now, they're lamenting its possible demise.Excerpt:"Ten cents earned per dollar spent is a far cry from the $6 earned per dollar spent that the supporters of the film tax credits claim. Thus, both sides are digging in and preparing for a lengthy political battle.One thing I'm sure of is that numbers can be manipulated. It all depends on what factors or conditions are ignored during the calculations. Thus, both sides of the Michigan Film Tax Credit battle will go to their deathbed claiming their numbers are true, because those numbers reflect what each side wants them to reflect. In short, it's a big mess."Read the rest of the story here.

Lights, Camera, Michigan!

By Ashley C. Woods

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Arts & Culture

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March 8, 2011

Premiering three major films that were shot in the Mitten State, as well as a host of local reels, the brand-new Uptown Film Festival hopes to celebrate Michigan's growing film industry -- with a dash of Hollywood glamour.

How We All Benefit From Film Incentives: An Industry Insider Weighs In

By Dave Krieger

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Arts & Culture

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March 3, 2011

Former Metromode managing photographer Dave Krieger has been busy working on one film set after another the past few years. He makes an appeal to the governor and the state legislature to keep the lights, cameras and action rolling.

Specs Howard adds 39 jobs via digital media expansion

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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March 3, 2011

Specs Howard School of Media Arts continues to grow with the expanding media landscape that shapes its curriculum, hiring 39 new people in 2010 thanks mostly to its digital media arts classes.The 41-year-old school has traditionally created careers in broadcast industries, such as radio and TV. It expanded to graphic design in 2008 and the digital media arts (Internet, video, film) last year."We think these are the up-and-coming areas," says Lisa Zahodne, president of Specs Howard School of Media Arts. "That's where we saw the growth and continue to see the growth."The Southfield-based school plans to continue to expand its curriculum in the digital media arts this year. It has boosted its enrollment to more than 1,000 students this year, up 300-400 people from just a few years ago. The school is on track to add another 10-11 jobs this year to keep up with its rising enrollment.A new satellite campus opened in Farmington Hills last year. There are plans to expand facilities by a few thousand square feet at both locations, and potentially even beyond Metro Detroit soon."We are looking at branches on the west side of the state or possibly another state," Zahodne says. "We haven't decided yet."Source: Lisa Zahodne, president of Specs Howard School of Media ArtsWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Stage 3 Productions diversifies workload to spur growth

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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February 24, 2011

Before the Great Recession hit, Stage 3 Productions relied almost exclusively on the automotive industry. Now that the downturn is starting to let up, the Warren-based studio has survived and grown, thanks to a newly diversified client base.Stage 3 Productions relied on automotive photography and other media for at least 80 percent of its work just a few years ago. Today automotive accounts for 50 percent of its business. The rest is a mishmash of computer generated imagery, photography touchups, studio rentals for events, the defense industry, and even music videos."The automotive work has turned around in the last 2-3 months," says Art Bonus, business manager for Stage 3 Productions. "We're shooting some projects right now that we hope will turn into long-term things."The 25-year-old company employs nine people, an intern, and draws upon a stable of about 20 independent contractors for some of its projects. Those include a recent video for a duet song between local rapper Sean Forbes and Academy Award winner and Dancing With The Stars contestant Marlee Matlin. Both entertainers are deaf and are behind the song "Lets Mambo." It is also doing some defense work through TACOM.Bonus expects this new variety of work, along with the rebound of the auto industry, to boost his business significantly this year. The studio hopes to add to its staff in 2011 and is even considering the possibility of expanding its space in Warren.Source: Art Bonus, business manager for Stage 3 ProductionsWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.