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Jen Pider -
Creating a Platform for Social Change
by: Chris Aliapoulios
photo: Seth Thompson
 The combination of: the sheer power of visual storytelling; the increased ease of filmmaking (filmmaking democratization); and the ability to quickly disseminate information through internet social media has created new avenues for social activism. Filmmakers and other change agents are catalyzing these developments. This trend is also being embraced by learning institutions like, Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership, which this year inaugurated the Gleisman Social Change Film Forum.
In its infancy, as a center for filmmaking, Michigan is already beginning to see films emerge that are promoting social change. Annabelle and Bear (MMM issue V) and Grown in Detroit (MMM issue VII) are early examples. Individuals motivated by these new opportunities to change the world around us are devising broader platforms to encourage it.
Jen Pider, of Grand Rapids, is one of the state’s visionaries following this path. Jen is working toward the objective of planning “international festivals for social justice issues.” Inspired at an early age by Bob Geldof’s Live Aid, which utilized music and video clips to educate people on urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia, she recognized the power an individual can have to rally others in community building and social change.
Jen has utilized her skill in community building toward the planning and execution of the Michigan Film Festival (MFF) which celebrates its second year in Grand Rapids Nov. 12-14 and is free to the public. The theme selected for this year’s MFF is: Harvesting Films in Michigan. The agenda for the three days centers on filmmaking education and community building in Michigan’s filmmaking community.
“Michigan has sown the seeds for a thriving filmmaking industry,” said Pider. “It’s up to those who care about sustaining this industry to take it to the next level, and that’s what the Michigan Film Festival is all about.”
This year’s festival includes multiple film screenings, film workshops and panel discussions with topics like: Nurturing Michigan’s Filmmaking Community, Anatomy of a Short Film, Film Incentives Impact Discussion, Business and Legal Aspects of Filmmaking and Retraining Michigan’s Workforce, along with others.
MMM recently caught up with Jen Pider and asked her a few questions about the MFF and the emerging film industry.
MMM - How has the MFF evolved now that it is in its second year and what can attendees expect?
Pider - The most exciting evolution this year is the expansion of our campus; the GRAM and UICA are joined by Grand Valley State University (downtown) and ACTIVESITE @ 40 Monroe Center. The additional venues increase our programming ability. Of course, the focus is a celebration of the Michigan filmmaking community, so all the participants and the films are from Michigan.
One unique community-building aspect of MFF is our submissions process. Though, we have invited certain feature length films to screen like Frontier Boys by John Grooters, Art House by Victor Fanucchi and Fitful by Rich Brauer, most of the films are referred to us by other Michigan film festivals. This strategy is one designed to promote film festivals as they increasingly become the new curators of film, serving as gatekeepers, weeding through submissions and exhibiting the very best selections for public viewing. Participating festivals include: Traverse City, Waterfront, Ann Arbor, Detroit Independent, East Lansing and more.
Finally, the Production Workshop (a live filming of a short written in our screen writing workshop) is a great activity for anyone who is interested in the process of creating a short. From screen writing, to costuming, set design (this year a crime scene), directing and editing, this workshop produces a three minute short over the span of the festival. The short will be screened on Sunday at GVSU.
Oh, and just like last year, MFF is free to the public.
MMM - What do you have to say about the Michigan Film Incentives now that they have been in place two and one-half years?
Pider - The incentives have drawn attention to filmmaking in Michigan and brought dollars into the state that we would not have otherwise. The figures reported by the MI film office point to a significant impact. Moreover, these incentives have created sustainable work for Michigan’s creative class and provided viable options for displaced industry workers.
However, I think our communities should use caution in regards to ‘offering the keys to our cities’ to production companies not from Michigan. Though it’s important to show hospitality to the out-of-state productions, it’s equally important to guard the value and reputation of our resources.
MMM - What, in your opinion, would improve the long term outlook for a sustainable film production industry in the state?
Pider - Education and training for Michigan’s displaced workers, informing them of ways to reinvest their skills into this specialized industry. MFF recognizes this endeavor in our ‘Retraining the Workforce Panel’. Moderated by MFO representative Richard Jewel, this panel informs and celebrates the collaborative work of educational institutions in providing this training.
Networking and team building opportunities within the filmmaking community are also important. MFF addresses this in our ‘Nurturing Michigan Filmmaking Community’ panel featuring leaders in this field such as: Deb Havens of WMFVA, Mark Adler of MPA, Gary C. Shifflet of MCA-I, and Rick Hert of WMFO.
The enthusiasm and respect of residents toward projects being shot in their communities is essential to the sustainability of the industry. Demonstrating this process in an instructional way through the MFF Production Workshop facilitates understanding and appreciation for the industry.
MMM - Do you feel that Michigan’s filmmaking community could come together in affecting social change regionally and perhaps at a broader national or international level?
Pider - Yes. Of course - multimedia compositions are exceptionally compelling. Conveying a social justice issue through images and sounds generates a viewer reaction. If filmmakers record the truth in a way that not only educates but invites the viewer to participate in the solution, then they’ve paved the way to social change. When working with event planners, marketing professionals, NGO’s and politicians to craft a strategic campaign, these efforts can be wildly successful.
Still, it’s not just the product or the end that creates social change. It’s the process of coming together for a common good—realizing the importance and unique abilities of all gathered, and blending each person’s individual strength toward the goal.
The filmmaking community does this with every production. Concentrating these efforts would undoubtedly prove fruitful.
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