Professionalism

"So learn this as a first lesson about life. The only successful beings in any field, including living itself, are those who have a professional viewpoint and make themselves and ARE professionals" — L. Ron Hubbard

Over the past few days I've thought a lot about Professionalism. Why is professionalism so important? What should students learn about professionalism to prepare themselves for their futures? Are students willing to learn the importance of professionalism and how it affects them?

After a recent experience with a substitute teacher in my classroom, the lack of professionalism on the part of my students was astounding to me. As a filmmaker, there is nothing more important than your professionalism on the set. The way you portray yourself dictates how others will perceive you. I am at a loss as to why when I am out unexpectedly students lose all grasp of professionalism and literally run wild all over the school.

I am deeply upset by the behavior of my students, and I am at a loss as to what to do about it. Why would they assume that because I am not here, the rules do not apply? Why would they treat the expensive equipment so carelessly and actually cause damage to it? Do I really need to be physically present for the lessons I have taught to be imparted?

So I ask you, are you professional? Do you know what it means? Do you know why it is important? Have you thought about how difficult it will be for you to get a job in this economy, located in Southeast Michigan, just outside Detroit? Have you thought about how you will have to represent yourself as a professional who is a better person for the job than hundreds of others? Do you even realize that you are being prepared with important lessens that will help secure your future opportunities? Or is it just taken for granted?

Take a moment to consider the following, and consider your own professionalism:

A professional learns every aspect of the job. An amateur skips the learning process whenever possible.

A professional carefully discovers what is needed and wanted. An amateur assumes what others need and want.

A professional looks, speaks and dresses like a professional. An amateur is sloppy in appearance and speech.

A professional keeps his or her work area clean and orderly. An amateur has a messy, confused or dirty work area.

A professional is focused and clear-headed. An amateur is confused and distracted.

A professional does not let mistakes slide by. An amateur ignores or hides mistakes.

A professional jumps into difficult assignments. An amateur tries to get out of difficult work.

A professional completes projects as soon as possible. An amateur is surrounded by unfinished work piled on top of unfinished work.

A professional remains level-headed and optimistic. An amateur gets upset and assumes the worst.

A professional handles money and accounts very carefully. An amateur is sloppy with money or accounts.

A professional faces up to other people’s upsets and problems. An amateur avoids others’ problems.

A professional uses higher emotional tones: Enthusiasm, cheerfulness, interest, contentment. An amateur uses lower emotional tones: anger, hostility, resentment, fear, victim.

A professional persists until the objective is achieved. An amateur gives up at the first opportunity.

A professional produces more than expected. An amateur produces just enough to get by.

A professional produces a high-quality product or service. An amateur produces a medium-to-low quality product or service.

A professional earns high pay. An amateur earns low pay and feels it’s unfair.

A professional has a promising future. An amateur has an uncertain future.

The first step to making yourself a professional is to decide you ARE a professional.

Are you a professional?

Specs Howard Field Trip and Presentation

A HUGE Thank You to Specs Howard for putting together an incredible tour for the Advanced TV Production classes! Special Thanks to Renee Vitale and her staff! Another HUGE Thank You to Amber for coming to Fitzgerald High School on Friday March 12th to present to the Introduction to TV and Broadcast Speech classes!!

The Advanced TV class at Fitzgerald was the first group to tour Specs Howard's NEW campus in Farmington! We had the exciting chance to see a demonstration of a film dolly, and to tour the DE Power & Lighting facility next door! Check out some pictures!!

The Dolly::


The Super Light::


Scrim & Gel Demo



If you are interested in learning more about Specs Howard School of Media Arts, visit their website at http://specshoward.edu. This is the website that Amber showed you while she was here. You can also talk to me and I can put you in touch with the right people! I have had many students graduate from Fitzgerald and enter into the program at Specs Howard...and all have had a very positive experience! One of my graduates is even on the radio in Northern Michigan!

Those of you interested in TV Production, Broadcasting, Web Design, Graphic Design and the Film Industry should consider Specs Howard if you are looking for a school that is close to home and geared specifically to your field of study! One of the best incentives to consider the school is the fact that with a letter of recommendation from me, you can earn a $2500 scholarship! You can also take their scholarship tests and possibly earn a full ride to the school. We currently have one senior who is in the top 10 and will be taking part in a final interview next week! Remember, Specs Howard is a trade school, offering an 8 month or one year course of study. If you are planning on attending a 4-year University, go for it! But if you know you want to stay home and go right to work in the industry, Specs Howard might be a better choice for you!

As always, hard work pays off, and everyone has to start somewhere. The more opportunities you give yourself to network and experience the industry, the better you will do. Start volunteering and interning as soon as possible to get your foot in the door. Then put your best effort into being the employee that they can't do without!!

How do they DO that?

Have you ever wondered how exactly movies make actors appear bigger or smaller than they really are? Such as the Hobbits in the Lord of the Rings series? Well, its actually called Forced Perspective. It's all about tricking your depth perception! For example, this picture looks like it's a guy with a tiny wife! He appears to be dribbling her like a basketball!
Of course in real life there is no way one person could be that much bigger than the other person. It's all about Forced Perspective...

Leave your comments and let me know what you think! What other movies use this approach? Can you try and duplicate this on your next video project? Does this spark an ingenious ideas??? I look forward to hearing from you...

Center for Film Studies

Today representatives from the Center for Film Studies came to speak to our Advanced TV Production classes. The founder, Mort Meisner explained to students the value of attending a 4 year University over a technical trade school. He explained that the Center for Film Studies offers short workshops (most are only six weeks long) that are designed for people who know specifically what they want to do on a film set. Workshops include: Set Construction, Technical & Grip Work, Costume and Stage Makeup, and Production Assistance. For more information on the Center for Film Studies, visit their website, or contact the school at 248-545-2222.

A few things to keep in mind from today's presentation: any person who wishes to be successful in their field should be skilled in building relationships with the right people, and networking. They should be able to seek out opportunities to build their resume and put themselves in the right position to succeed in whatever field they choose. Remember to follow up on job leads, once you submit a resume, be persistent and follow up with people to show your determination and abilities.

Kinetic Sculpture

The Kinetic Sculpture is a metaphorical translation of the process of form-finding in art and design. 714 metal spheres, hanging from thin steel wires attached to individually-controlled stepper motors and covering the area of six square meters, animate a seven minute long mechatronic narrative. In the beginning, moving chaotically, then evolving to several competing forms that eventually resolve to the finished object, the Kinetic Sculpture creates an artistic visualisation of the process of form-finding in different variations.

Click the link in the title above to watch the video of this art installation. Let me know what you think. What does it mean? How do you interpret the artist's intentions? Does this give you any ideas for future video projects? I'd love to hear your comments about this one!

82 Film Projects Made in Michigan!

This picture is from the set of the "Red Dawn" remake currently filming in Detroit.

The Michigan Film Office says 82 projects have been filmed in the state since April 2008, when it introduced tax incentives that are among the nation's most generous.

Spokesman Ken Droz (DROHZ) from the film office said Tuesday that 47 of those projects are from 2009. The TV pilots, documentaries, reality projects and feature films and represent a total expenditure of $216 million so far this year.

That amount includes all the money spent in the state on the productions such as crew, talent, extras, production offices, meals and the like.

The state hosted 35 projects and total expenditures of $125 million last year.

Michigan has become a magnet for filmed entertainment since creating a refundable tax credit of up to 42 percent on production expenses.

Michigan has been the set for over 120 movies prior to the incentive's beginning in 2008. Do you recognize any of these titles:
The Evil Dead (1982)
Doctor Detroit (1983)
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
The Evil Dead II (1987)
Action Jackson (1987)
Midnight Run (1987)
Presumed Innocent (1989)
Roger and Me (1989)
Die Hard II (1990)
Truth or Dare (1991)
Hoffa (1992)
True Romance (1993)
Renaissance Man (1994)
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
Out Of Sight (1998)
Detroit Rock City (1999)
Escanaba in da Moonlight (2000)
Driven (2000)
Hardball (2000)
American Pie 2 (2001)
Road to Perdition (2001)
8 Mile (2001)
Bowling for Columbine (2002)
Upside of Anger (2003)
The Island (2004)
Four Brothers (2005)
Dreamgirls (2006)
Transformers (2006)
Jumper (2007)
Semi Pro (2007)

These movies have begun production in Michigan within the past year:
20% Fiction (2009) – Comedy/Drama starring Martin Landau with locations in Troy.
Armored (2009) -– An action/drama starring Eric Bana.
Be Funny – Documentary about comedians starring Dave Coulier and Tim Allen (among many others) with film locations in Detroit
Betty Anne Waters (2009) – Biography starring Hilary Swank.
Butterfly Effect: Revelation (2009) – Sci-Fi Fantasy filmed in Detroit and Vancouver.
Clock Tower (2009) – A horror flick starring Brittany Snow
Demoted (2009) – Comedy starring Sean Astin filmed all over the Metro Detroit area, including Dearborn, Detroit, Inkster, Michigan, Milford, Novi, Plymouth (Bennigan’s Restaurant) and the Southfield Public Library.
(2008) – Clint Eastwood movie filmed in Grosse Pointe Shores, Royal Oak and Warren.
High School (2010) – Comedy starring Colin Hanks and Adrien Brody shot in Howell and Detroit.
The Irishman: The Rise and Fall of Danny Greene (2009) – A biography starring Paul Sorvino and Tara Reid
The Job (2009) – Comedy Satire starring Ron Perlman and Joe Pantoliano filmed in Detroit.
Killshot (2008) – Action Thriller starring Diane Lane and Mickey Rourke with film locations in Detroit.
Little Red Devil (2008) – Horror film starring Daniel Baldwin shot in Detroit, Livonia and Troy.
Miss January (2009) – Comedy starring Kim Cattrall and Brian Dennehy filmed in Detroit, Livonia, Romulus and Westland.
Street Boss (2009) – Movie about a Detroit mobster starring Nicholas Turturro and filmed in the prison in Jackson and Saginaw.
The Tower (2008) – Horror movie filmed mainly in Detroit and Pontiac.
Tug (2009) – A movie starring Haley Duff filmed in Grand Rapids and Holland.
Up in the Air (2009) – Comedy/drama starring George Clooney with film locations in Detroit and at Detroit Metro Airport.
Youth in Revolt (2009) – Movie starring Michael Cera, Ray Liotta, Steve Buscemi and Justin Long filmed in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Ferndale, Frankfort, Hazel Park, Lake Leelanau and Royal Oak.
Whip It (2009) – Drew Barrymore movie filmed in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Ferndale, Nov, Royal Oak, Saline, Troy and Ypsilanti.

Cross Border Communication

A band of Windsor artists -- Broken City Lab -- has started sending messages over to us via a projector. Read the article HERE.

Cross-Border Communication: We're In This Together from brokencitylab on Vimeo.