Unity Studios and The Henry Ford Create Jobs With First Feature Film
Unity Studios and The Henry Ford Create Jobs With First Feature Film
Today’s Lifton Institute for Media Skills Graduates Will Work on Civil War-Era Film
ALLEN PARK, Mich. —Unity Studios and The Henry Ford today announced they are partnering to produce a Civil War-era feature film, “A Christmas Dream.” The film is the first Unity Studios production and was announced at today’s graduation ceremony for the first class of Lifton Institute for Media Skills (LIMS) students.
Many of the 106 LIMS students graduating today will be hired to work on “A Christmas Dream,” a heartfelt movie about a mother and daughter living in the south during the Civil War.
“Today we are celebrating the fulfillment of a promise – the promise to train and hire Michigan workers on film projects,” said Unity Studios President Jimmy Lifton. “Unity Studios is proud to partner with The Henry Ford to take this Civil War-era story into production creating economic opportunities for our state.
The Henry Ford will co-produce the movie and will provide filming locations and lend their unique Civil War-era expertise to the production. The Henry Ford annually produces one of the nation’s most authentic Civil War reenactments on Memorial Day weekend.
“The Henry Ford is a global resource for American history and innovation with unparalleled collections and expertise. We are happy to have been invited to collaborate with the institute and Unity Studios on this project,” said Patricia E. Mooradian, President of The Henry Ford.
“Civil War Remembrance” will be held at The Henry Ford May 29-31, where guests are invited to become a part of living history as they travel through reenactments of the American Civil War. Union and Confederate soldier re-enactors, civilians, musicians and historic presenters—all in period costume—are eager to immerse you in the life of this turbulent era. Civil War Remembrance is free to members of The Henry Ford and free with Greenfield Village admission.
Production for “A Christmas Dream” will begin in March. The movie is being financed by a group of private investors.
Enrollment for the Lifton Institute for Media Skills’ next class is open until February 15, 2010. Classes begin March 1, 2010.
About The Henry Ford
About The Henry Ford: The Henry Ford, in Dearborn, Michigan, is the world’s premiere history destination and a National Historic Landmark that celebrates American history and innovation. Its mission is to provide unique educational experiences based on authentic objects, stories and lives from America’s traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation. Its purpose is to inspire people to learn from these traditions to help shape a better future. Five distinct attractions at The Henry Ford captivate more than 1.5 million visitors annually: Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre. The Henry Ford is also home to Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school which educates 485 students a year on the institution’s campus and was founded in partnership with The Henry Ford, Ford Motor Company and Wayne County Public Schools. For more information please visit our website thehenryford.org.
About Unity Studios and Village
Unity Studios is owned and operated by Jimmy Lifton. Originally from Southfield, Michigan, Lifton has been in the business of entertainment for 30 years. He has owned an internationally distributed record label, produced 13 feature films, and is principal of one of the largest independent post-production audio studios in Los Angeles, Oracle Post. Some of the most famous and familiar TV and film industry giants use Oracle Post including Fox, HBO, NBC, ABC, Disney, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Lionsgate, Universal, Dreamworks, Warner Brothers, VH1 and MTV. For more information about Unity Studios, please visit www.unitystudiosmichigan.com.
About the Lifton Institute for Media Skills
Located on the grounds of Unity Studios, the Lifton Institute for Media Skills (LIMS) has begun what will be one of the largest retraining programs ever in Michigan. Out-of-work skilled and unskilled workers will receive on-the-set training and production experience, giving students production credits. All aspects of production will occur at Unity Studios: workforce training for LIMS, production, post-production, distribution and marketing. LIMS currently offers programs for 14 different below-the-line film production careers. For more information, please visit www.liftoninstitute.com.
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Nathan McAlpine says:
February 4, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Very excited to see this film. Very fitting to begin the new era with cooperation from Henry Ford. Very cool! Hope I get to work on a film here in the near future. Any other projects in the works yet?