HFCC offers film industry training

9/12/2008

HFCC PROVIDES TRAINING FOR GROWING FILM INDUSTRY

To assist in the economic development of southeast Michigan and help develop a workforce for the state's burgeoning feature film production industry, the Michigan Technical Education Center (M-TEC) at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn will offer a two-week, 40-hour Basic Film Set Training course in late September to prepare people for entry-level employment in the film and television industry.

For more information on exact dates and times of the training and cost, please call the Michigan Technical Education Center (M-TEC) at Henry Ford Community College at 313-317-6600. M-TEC is located at 3601 Schaefer Road in Dearborn.

Basic Film Set Training, offered by Henry Ford Community College and TicTock Studios, is a 40-hour course conducted over a two-week period and is designed to provide intensive, hands-on training to prepare individuals for entry-level employment in the film and television industry.

In the first week, students are introduced to the basics of film production, including gaining an understanding of the culture, vocabulary, and the tools necessary to begin their careers in film production. The second week is hands-on experience where students participate in the actual filmmaking process from scripting through editing. The course ends with a career day where students interact with other industry professionals, work on their resumes one-on-one with the instructors and walk away with strategies to gain industry employment.

Partners in this workforce development project are the Office of the Wayne County Executive, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG), the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) and TicTock Studios of Holland, MI.

Goals of the program are to help put Michigan's unemployed residents back to work and provide a trained local workforce to complement the incentives being offered by the State of Michigan to draw the feature film industry to Michigan, said HFCC President Gail Mee.

'We are very pleased to be a partner in revitalizing the economy of southeast Michigan by training people for job opportunities in the growing film industry,' said Mee. 'Henry Ford Community College's mission is to provide needed education and training for local residents and employers and our Michigan Technical Education Center specializes in customized training for business and industry.'

In April, Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed into law legislation for a film incentive program that is the most aggressive in the nation, which is designed to increase the number of productions filmed in Michigan, attract production facilities and increase industry activities that support film production, create jobs and train workers for those jobs.

'We are excited to work with the film industry as it continues to grow in size and stature in southeast Michigan, said Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano.' 'The arrival of this industry has brought with it specific demands, and it is imperative that we teach our businesses and governments not only how to deal with Hollywood, but perhaps most importantly, how to keep them coming back.'

The training program is Michigan Works! approved through the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA), one of 25 MichiganWorks! agencies created by the state to simplify public and business access to important educational, training, self-help and economic development opportunities. Individuals eligible for the Governor's No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) program may be qualified for funding to participate in the film training program.

'SEMCA is committed to helping the workers of our region develop the skills to be gainfully employed in Michigan's changing economy,' said Gregory Pitoniak, SEMCA executive director. 'Film production appears destined to be a rapidly growing industry in Michigan and we want to assure that the workforce of southeast Michigan has the skills to meet their needs. We are proud to be partners in this cutting-edge training partnership.'

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5101 Evergreen Rd. Dearborn, MI 48128
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1-800-585-HFCC