Specs Howard On Location Training

Specs Howard School, Michigan’s leading broadcast arts educational school, recently announced it is opening a new training facility “Specs Howard On Location” at the Studio Center motion picture production complex in Farmington Hills. Specs Howard’s initial workshops, a new 8-week “On Location Film Workshop” and 7-week “On Location Advanced Editing,” beginning on July 13th and 21st, are designed to provide participants with a fundamental yet comprehensive introduction to the film industry via Michigan-based creative arts professionals and instructors skilled in a range of disciplines.

Among the instructors is Specs Howard’s own Steve Julin, Director of Curriculum Development, who created the entire “On Location” film and editing workshops curriculum. Julin has worked on several independent films, including Between Brothers, Mutant Swingers from Mars, Hatred of a Minute and Walk This Way. He has worked with such well-known television companies as The Discovery Channel, ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS and the General Television Network. He is an Avid Certified Instructor, Certified Boris FX Instructor and Apple Certified Trainer, as well as a recipient of the Golden Eagle Award for documentary editing and an Emmy Award nominee.

The “On Location Film Workshop” will take students behind the scenes to examine and experience pre-production planning and scheduling; breaking down a script; fundamentals of filming a basic scene and principles of editing. Participants also will enjoy hands-on equipment usage including working with dollies, lighting equipment, microphones, editing software and cameras—from learning how to load the industry’s most popular film magazines to shooting footage with such high-tech, digital cameras as the Panasonic P2 HD camera.

“Our workshops will offer intensive, practical film industry training unlike anywhere else in Michigan,” said Lisa Zahodne, President/COO of Specs Howard School. “Over the course of several weeks, our students will learn the language and craft of film. Our instructors and facilities are here—now—and second to none.”

Specs Howard joins the campus of professionals at Studio Center, where filmmaking in Michigan has become focused since legislative support was enacted early in 2008. Operating for nearly 30 years, Studio Center is the only active studio production lot in Michigan and has quickly become the hub of new feature film production in the State. It provides a complete range of production services and resources, including three soundstages, post-production facilities, film processing, camera rental, lighting and production offices, all set on nearly seven acres centrally located near major Michigan filming locations.

“This is an ideal collaboration between two long-time Michigan entities, each of us with a history of dedication to the creative industry,” said Steven Wild, President of Grace & Wild, Inc. “We are ecstatic that Specs Howard is joining us at Studio Center, the only movie production facility that is open and operating—right now—in the state. Specs Howard will serve as an ideal training ground and talent incubator for future movie industry professionals living and working in our area.”

Specs Howard CEO Lisa Zahodne points out that " Next year we will have 40 years in this business and Grace and Wild has 30.  You cannot get this training in a one week course."  "Specs Howard On Location" training will offer students a deeper more comprehensive curriculum than other courses that are significantly shorter in length.  The Specs Howard program is also licensed by the states No Worker Left Behind and Michigan Works programs and offers financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Lisa Zahodne told MMM that that the states film tax credit "benefits are starting to materialize.  The economic benefits are starting to trickle down.  People are still skeptical, but they need to have patience and give it time to root."

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