Adrian College On Set Of Major Movie Production Company posted 8/29/08
Adrian is only liberal arts college in state with a movie production company relationship

ADRIAN, Mich. - Adrian College is pleased to announce its relationship with Watermark Studios, the largest most complete movie production site in the United States outside of New York and Los Angeles. Adrian is the only liberal arts school in the state to develop such a relationship with a movie production company.

The College has established an internship relationship with the company and will send students to work on productions while earning credit at the College. The College is the first to have interns on site at Watermark Studios. The 375,000 square foot site is still under construction and is expected to host multiple productions next year.

Adrian College President Jeffrey Docking is enthusiastic about the relationship especially since Adrian College is the first.

“It is extremely exciting to know that Adrian College students will now work on major motion pictures,” says Docking. “This amazing opportunity for students to work closely with producers, directors, and screenwriters on major motion pictures elevates our internship program to wonderful heights.”

AC Student Matt Nesbary works on set creation techniques

ModernCiné, a New York production company recently relocated from New York to Muskegon and has agreed to host Adrian College interns on site at the Watermark Studios location. Krista Gall, production designer with ModernCiné, supervised the College’s first intern this summer, Matt Nesbary. Nesbary is an art student and worked on set creation techniques.

ModernCiné is a major “Hollywood” studio whose actors are credited with receiving Golden Globe awards, Emmy’s, and whose films have won multiple awards. Andrew Van Den Houten, president of ModernCiné, has directed and produced several films. The company has also produced numerous commercials; two of their clients include Visa and Volkswagen. More information about ModernCiné may be obtained by visiting their Web site at www.moderncine.com .

The purpose of this relationship comes under the College’s mission in the Renaissance II campaign. Through enhancing specific academic facilities and academic programs such as the communication arts and sciences department, the College is able to develop strong relationships which benefit its students. Such relationships include Specs Howard and now the movie production industry. It also provides the students with hands-on experiences.

“Adrian College is creating hundreds of opportunities for students to acquire real-life, hands-on knowledge through experiential learning,” says Docking. “These internship opportunities with major studios are consistent with this new focus at the College.”

The College is currently renovating Rush Hall on campus into a state-of-the-art million dollar multimedia facility. The $1.5-$2 million enhancements include digital media TV and radio studios, multiple control rooms, lab room with computers used for editing, sound stage, and classroom space. Dr. Dale Nesbary, vice president and dean of academic affairs, says the new facility will be nothing short of spectacular.

“Rush Hall will have all the tools used in any radio or television studio across the country,” says Nesbary. “It will have the most high-tech video cameras with the highest quality of lenses available.”

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is behind the move of bringing the movie industry to Michigan. Last spring, Granholm signed into law legislation designed to grow the film industry in Michigan. According to the governor’s office this legislation will set the stage for hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment that will create jobs in the state. Granholm proposed the legislation in her State of the State Address and is part of an overall economic stimulus plan to grow Michigan's economy and create jobs.

According to Granholm’s Web site, Michigan's film incentive program is now the most aggressive in the nation. Not only is it designed to increase the number of productions filmed on location in Michigan, it is designed to attract production facilities, grow industry activities that support film production, create jobs, and train workers for those jobs.

To learn more about the governor’s tax incentive program for movie production companies, please visit her official website at www.michigan.gov. More information about the College’s relationship with WaterMark Studios may be obtained by contacting Dr. Sheri Bleam, professor of communication arts & sciences, via e-mail at sbleam@adrian.edu.