Neal Garon was one of Michigan’s many unemployed. A husband and father of four, who had been working for $9 an hour as an assistant at a recording studio had been laid off nearly two years ago. He was not sure where to turn or what his next step would be until he heard about the FIT Film Industry Training Courses being offered in Ferndale.  He took the courses in hopes of finding a higher paying job in the film industry here in Michigan and that is exactly what he did. After taking our FIT Overview Course and working on a few commercials, Neal was able to land a full-time job as a boom operator (a job in the sound department whose main responsibility is microphone placement to make sure they get the correct sound and leave all unwanted sound out of each take) on the set of “The Wannabes” a union category job that is paying $31 an hour.

Steve was a former pilot and consultant. Steve took the FIT Overview course and after a couple short internships he was hired as a Office Production Assistant (Also known as P.A., Entry-level position on all film sets that whose responsibilities can vary depending on many different aspects of production such as budget, size and whether or not the production is unionized) on the film “The Irishman” starring Val Kilmer, Christopher Walken and Ray Stevenson.  P.A.’s standard rates in film typically range from 112-150 dollars for 12 hours plus overtime.  Steve is currently working to join the local union and become an on set stills photographer.

Heathyr has been interested and involved in music and film production before coming to FIT. Heathyr took the FIT Overview and Art. Department Courses and was hired as a Production Assistant on the feature film “The Irishman.” She has moved up and is currently working in the Art Department on “The Wannabes.”

A former design engineer for an automotive supplier in Michigan. Julie took the FIT Overview and Introduction to the Film Art Department courses in hopes of working in the wardrobe department on a film. After a couple internships she was hired to work in Wardrobe department as a Wardrobe Assistant (Wardrobe Assistant’s tasks generally include assisting with the design of, and carrying out research into costumes; making, ordering and adapting costumes and accessories as well as overseeing continuity on sets) on the television series “The Wannabes.” Costume or Wardrobe Assistants can make up to $30 an hour.

Scott was a former student and ice hockey rink attendant who was looking for a full-time job. Scott took the FIT Grip/Electric/Generator Operator course in hopes of gaining employment in the film industry anywhere he could fit in. He was placed as a set intern on the feature film “The Irishman” and was noticed for his hard work and hired into the production accounting department. He had almost no accounting background but was able to work hard and learn the basics of the production accounting department. He is currently working as an assistant accountant (assistant accountants help the production accountant in the day-to-day running of the Accounts Office such as keeping records of all transactions, invoices, purchase orders, petty cash and payroll. Typically 1st assistant accountants make $1500-$2000 per week) on the television series “The Wannabes.”

My name is Andrea and I want to tell you about why and how I got the opportunity to work in the film industry. I was laid off from my job as controller of a small automotive consulting firm in April 2008, just as the economy here in Michigan was beginning to fall fast. I had never been without a job and in my mind was thinking that within 6 months I would be back to work. I networked with accountants I knew, met with various recruiters and was putting out resumes daily. Needless to say the economy just got worst and no one hiring. I had exhausted all my contacts and my recruiters were beginning to get laid off themselves. At this point it is now October and no one hires this time of the year. I did have some small businesses to work on along with personal tax returns during tax season but this was not enough to call it a career. My thinking now is after the first of the year things will pick up. Again I was wrong. Financially I knew I could struggle through tax season with what I had but not much longer after that. Then through a client of mine who’s husband attended a FIT overview session called me all excited and how they need accountants in Michigan in the film industry and I needed to go to an overview session. Thinking I need to get out of automotive and into a new industry I went. At the session S3G talked about the industry and the opportunities available. I knew at the session this is the industry to get involved in as Michigan is were a lot of movies will be made in the future. Not only that I knew I could travel throughout the country where ever productions were being produced. Right after the session I signed up for a 2 week course being offered by S3 and Oakland Community College on Production Accounting that May which would go over how production accounting is done in the filming industry verses everything else. The course was taught by a California Production Accountant who recently was the accountant on a production in Detroit. By now I had been laid off for over a year and excited about starting out new in the film industry. I stayed connected with my classmates and instructor along with S3G.  It is through this network that I was able to get my first job on a film in Grand Rapids. It is now July 2009 and has been 14 months since I was laid off.  One of my classmates was offered an opportunity to be the assistant accountant on a film being produced in Grand Rapids but was unable to accept the position…They were looking for a local in order to receive the incentive credit available.  She sent out an email to all of us in the class and I got not only the interview but the job. I have been working on the film since Mid July and have learned so much and met so many more people to stay connected with in the industry. The job should last till Mid September and than I hope to be off to another film. If I do not another film to go to immediately, I have built a network of people and relationships which will help in my finding my next opportunity. If I have any advice for someone who wants this it would be invest in yourself, believe that you can do the job and have fun. Be prepared to work long hours at a very fast pace. As S3 said in the overview course, this is an industry people that are more willing to work with those they have worked with before. So build your relationships and stay connected. That what will keep you working here in Michigan. Andrea Asaro Assistant Accountant (Assistant Accountants help the production accountant in the day-to-day running of the Accounts Office such as keeping records of all transactions, invoices, purchase orders, petty cash and payroll. Typically 1st assistant accountants make $1500-$2000 per week)

I have been interested in the film industry ever since I was a kid, when I wanted to be an actor. Well, that was a long (long!) time ago, but I never got around to it. Eventually, my interests changed from working in front of the camera to working behind it. Unfortunately, I’ve only gotten around to it once in a while. I got some experience through Public Access Television, but it hasn’t been enough for me.  Until now with the Michigan Film Incentives and the FIT program. I will now be able to look back when I’m old (OK, older!), and say, “I did it!” I was impressed with the FIT program from the start. The things that sold me on the FIT program were the industry professionals doing the training, and the fact that the success of the program will be judged on how many people get jobs. I don’t know of any other training programs that say that. One of the most important aspects of the FIT program is the contacts you will make. I met many great people during the training, and I am gratified at how helpful my fellow students have been at sharing leads with one another. Plus, it’s comforting to walk onto a new film set and see several familiar faces! I have had several interesting internships already, and now a paying job. In addition, through my affiliation with FIT and its students, I’ve learned about (and worked on) several other productions this year. I couldn’t ask for more! I just started working on Little Murder this week as a Production Assistant in the Post Production department. I’m excited, and thankful for FIT. Without FIT, I’d still be waiting (and thinking about it) until I could “get around to it!” Joesph Dinda Post-Production Coordinator (A person who works many facets of the post-production process, including ensuring the smooth operation of the editorial department, coordinating the production and delivery of final delivery elements, scheduling and coordinating ADR sessions, managing the administration of the department including post-production accounting and final delivery paperwork, organizing final post-production related documents, and coordinating the final wrap and proper storage of final video and audio masters and offline editorial materials.)

December 2008, I was laid off from my job. Having had a career in advertising for over 25 years, the thought of any change was frightening. It started to become apparent that I was going to have to make a transition into another field. After attending the orientation presented by S3, I realized the film industry was for me! I attended the S3 “Overview” class to get a complete “overview” of the different responsibilities of the departments on a film production set. It allowed me to see the breakdown of a film set and helped me narrow my interest. I then took the “Production Accounting” class that S3 offered.  In the meantime, I took the advice of all the speakers from the “Overview” class and continued to network, network, network. Through S3 I was able to meet a Production Accountant who decided to take me under his wing.  While attending the “Production Accounting” class, I was fortunate enough to be able to intern in the Accounting Department on a feature film. Taking the class gave me the tools and knowledge that I could then apply while I was interning.  The instructor was excellent, enthusiastic, and passionate about her work. I learned a lot! I am currently scheduled to start another feature film, as an official crew member, in the Accounting Department, working with the same team that I interned for.  I am very excited and thankful to S3 for helping me transition into a new and challenging career. Andrea Amato Assistant Accountant (Assistant Accountants help the production accountant in the day-to-day running of the Accounts Office such as keeping records of all transactions, invoices, purchase orders, petty cash and payroll. Typically 1st assistant accountants make $1500-$2000 per week)

My background is in advertising and marketing—a successful 20+ year career until the bottom fell out of the economy last year. I signed up for FIT on a hunch, to see if my skills could transfer to the film industry; something I’ve always wanted to be involved in, but never had the opportunity to pursue, at least not living here in Michigan.

The film tax credits brought the movie business to the state, and FIT made it possible for me to get a job. Not telemarketing or running a cash register at Wal-Mart, but a real job in a thriving industry, one that utilizes my skills and talents, one that has a future. I’m not going to say that FIT made it possible for me to walk right into a top-level position on a big-time movie. It didn’t. But what it did do was give me a solid overview of the industry from an insider’s perspective. I learned who does what, where I might fit in, and how to position and market myself to those doing the hiring. And through the connections I made at FIT, I was able to land a mid-level position on a big budget film paying a decent salary. I’m learning more than I ever imagined and making tons of new and valuable connections, which will inevitably lead to my next position, and the next and the next after that. Voila! A new career!

Joanne Froh Art Department