Unity Studios in Allen Park

Part 2



Part 3



A movie producer promising 3,000 jobs and almost $150 million in investments. A downriver city eager to reinvent itself, and hungry for economic development. It seemed like a match made in Hollywood, but as Action News Investigator Heather Catallo tells us, this is a story that’s not following a script. Take a few minutes to watch the clip from Channel 7 News WXYZ and tell me what you think. Does this damage the film industry's reputation in Michigan? How did this situation get so out of control? Would you attend a film school that is so new it hasn't established its credentials?

I did an online search for any information on Lifton Institute for Media Skills and came up with little other than the school's website which didn't provide any tuition rate information and a comment that was left under the Oakland Press article:

Jimmy Lifton as well as all the other "film schools" that have mysteriously popped up in the last 2 years are just a bunch of scam artists. They use Michigan WORKS! tax payer dollars to line their pockets.
Jimmy Lifton charges up to $12,000 a class for "film training"- you will never see a true film camera in his classes- you will never be taught by an industry professional. He holds his "classes" in beat up abandoned automotive office space with free rental equipment that he has borrowed from local rental houses- the gaff house and william f white.
He is stealing power from the plant next door, clearly a fire hazard as well as thievery. (please investigate if you have the means)
only saving grace...
You will make a short video on a prosumer digi camera starring JIM LIFTONS DAUGHTER!!!- hope its worth 12 grand!

I'd love to hear your comments on this issue. How did you react to the news story?