Michigan Production Alliance through its dedicated and passionate members produced this PSA for film industry/film community members in Michigan. The Governor supports this and appears as do many other people, celebs and crew, musicians and caterers.

The MPA advocates seeking projects that will fit Michigan, developing scripts, financing and training and adding commercials back into the incentives as they were originally intended to be. Check out their new website, iliveinmichigan.com, which highlights the success stories of the budding film industry.

Specs Howard School is embracing the new projects coming to the area by offering training for students that want to be part of the film industry. Updates include additions to the curriculum in our Radio, Video & Film program and the new On Location Film Workshops. Specs Howard is one of the leading film training facilities in the state. We're excited to be part of something that is changing the future of our state.

I recently celebrated my 37th year at the Specs Howard School, so I’ve experienced my share of numerous benchmarks over the years. There was the first time I discovered one of my students was the daughter of a student I’d had years ago. Then there was the time that a grad just HAD to show me pictures of their GRANDCHILD!

The most recent episode is perhaps the most humbling for more reason than one. I attend the annual Associated Press Broadcasters Awards Banquet every year because many grads usually win awards. This year was no exception.

Pat Sweeting of WWJ radio was honored for her LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT as a newsperson and she was my student! Again, in case you didn’t catch that the first time (I know, I had to keep pinching myself), she won a lifetime achievement award and she was MY STUDENT!

I didn't know whether to say "OW" or "WOW!"

Seriously, I am delighted for Pat. She richly deserves this award -- even if it does remind me that I'm OLD. Yeesh!

Of course, I’m happy to report that many of our other grads received AP awards too. Also from WWJ were Bob Mundie, Bill Stevens (who won 2), Gary Lundy and Tony Ortiz. Corey Adkins and his wife Stephanie (from Channels 9 & 10 in Traverse City/Cadillac) won 5 awards for videography. Shelley Irwin of WGVU-TV & Radio (Grand Rapids), Amy Miller of WDET (Detroit) and John Hall of WSGW Radio (Saginaw) won awards. And finally, Jon King, Jessica Matthews and Lindsay Smith won “Station of the Year” with 15 awards between them for WHMI (Howell). I was a proud uncle.
 
GRAD ROUND-UP

Rich Rockwell checked in to let me know in the short four months since graduating, he and fellow grad April Hawker are doing mornings together on an Internet Station called Crush Radio in Hot Springs Arkansas.

Ivy Prosper let us know that she works for a talent agency called Film/Comm Talent their head booker in St. Catharines, Ontario and was just hired to host a pilot TV show called, "Sun Shop."  She was hired before she even met the producers on the strength of her demo reel.  I wish her the very best.

I ran into recent grad Laura Sutherland at a recent visit to WRIF and was pleased to discover that she's been hired to be Trudi Daniels’ news producer. Very cool.

I heard from grad Theron Dahlerup who has a similar position at 97.1 "The Ticket," except that he produces the entire morning show for Bill McCallister and Jay Towers.

Finally, the latest news from two of my favorite grads, Todd & Tommy Brunswick of The Skeleton Factory Films.  Their latest film, "Born of Earth," starring Daniel Baldwin, is now available on “Comcast On Demand.”  In further news, The Skeleton Factory will be holding “Fright Nights” all summer starting June 24th at the Emagine Theatre in Canton. They'll have contests and events all summer leading up to their horror convention, MOTOR CITY NIGHTMARES, which will be held at the Novi Sheraton in October.

Stay tuned...I'll have details!

Until next time.  
Your Great-Great (eep) Uncle Kernen