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Jobs at Unity Studios

unity — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:15:54 +0000

- Dance Instructor
- Screen Writing Instructor
- Acting Instructor

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“War Flowers” Starring Christina Ricci to be Unity Studios’ First Feature Film

unity — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:26:19 +0000

Unity Studios Announces Its First Feature Length Film

Civil War-era family drama to be filmed and produced in southeast Michigan

Detroit, Mich., (July 6th, 2010) – Unity Studios (Unity) announced the production of “War Flowers,” its first feature length film. The Civil War-era family drama, produced and financed by Unity and directed by veteran filmmaker Serge Rodnunsky is being filmed on the studios’ sound stages and at select off-site locations around southeast Michigan. “War Flowers” all-star cast was partially packaged by ICM and includes Christina Ricci (The Addams Family, Penelope), Jason Gedrick (Backdraft), Tom Berenger (Platoon, Major League) and introducing Gabrielle Popa.

“When I founded Unity Studios and the Lifton Institute for Media Skills (LIMS) my goal was two-fold: to bring a new industry to my home state and to put people to work,” said Unity Studios president Jimmy Lifton. “This movie is the embodiment of those goals because it is being crafted entirely in Michigan, and 55 LIMS’ graduates have been hired to put the skills they’ve learned to use as members of the crew.”

“War Flowers,” features a heartfelt family-focused storyline about Sarabeth (Ricci), a young mother whose husband has left her and her daughter to fight for the South in the Civil War. It follows the havoc and hardships the war creates for Sarabeth and her daughter, and explores their hopes, faith and belief that the man they love will return. All the while, they must decide the fate of a Yankee soldier (Gedrick) who enters their life. The movie also features impressive battle sequences and Civil War re-enactments.

The project, produced by Lifton, is in collaboration with Trivision Pictures and Interlight Entertainment. Distribution demand for “War Flowers” has fast tracked delivery in time for the Fall Markets.

Unity Studios and LIMS recently announced that more than half of the LIMS inaugural class, which began in October 2009, reported finding work on at least one film, TV or music video production within 90 days of their January 2010 graduation. LIMS’ second class graduated on June 21 and its third class begins this August.

About Unity Studios

Unity Studios is a full-service production and film industry training facility. It is owned and operated by Jimmy Lifton, formerly of Southfield, Michigan. With 30 years in the entertainment industry, Lifton has produced 16 feature films and is a principal of Oracle Post, www.oraclepost.com, one of the largest independent post-production audio studios in Los Angeles. Among its clients are ABC, Fox, HBO, NBC, Disney, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Lionsgate, Universal, Dreamworks, Warner Brothers, VH1 and MTV. For more information about Unity Studios, visitwww.unitystudiosmichigan.com.

About the Lifton Institute for Media Skills

Located on the grounds of Unity Studios, the Lifton Institute for Media Skills (LIMS) offers 14 programs in film production, including production management, set construction, camera grip & electric and post audio and video. For more information, please visit www.liftoninstitute.com.

Media Contact:

Michelle Zdrodowski

Franco Public Relations Group

(313) 567-5017, office

(313) 418-4033, mobile

zdrodowski@franco.com

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In Motown, tax credits lure music industry

unity — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:46:46 +0000

From Detroit Free Press: 3/14/10
Decades after Motown Records put Detroit on the world’s entertainment map, a little-noticed tax break could help usher in a new era of music-making in Michigan.

Unbeknown to many, the state is offering tax credits of up to 42% for the production of music CDs and music videos. The credits were designed to lure big-name artists to record in Michigan, which already is home to several chart-topping performers including Eminem, Kid Rock and Bob Seger.

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Unity Studios and The Henry Ford Create Jobs With First Feature Film

unity — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:28:49 +0000

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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Unity Studios’ CEO in Delta Sky Magazine

unity — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:34:50 +0000

Unity Studios’ CEO is quoted in Delta Sky Magazine article on film industries roll in diversifying Michigan.

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Unity Studios Update 10/22/09

unity — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:26:01 +0000

Unity Studios Moving Forward

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The following statement is from Jimmy Lifton, president, Unity Studios. Lifton is commenting on a news story expected to air tonight on WDIV-TV based on an ambush interview conducted yesterday with representatives of Unity Studios. We believe the story is likely to create the impression that Unity Studios is not moving forward or is somehow facing significant difficulties. That is simply false.

Unity Studios is moving forward. It is important however, for us to acknowledge that certain project milestones have been slow to reach its desired goal due to many factors out of our control.

This project, one that requires significant financing and government approvals, has been hampered by the depression engulfing our economy. In addition, the negative perceptions created by some politicians in Lansing who threatened to reduce or eliminate Michigan’s best-in-the-nation film tax credits have slowed down all the state’s studio projects.

Even with these hurdles, Unity is moving forward. The Lifton Institute for Media Skills begins its first classes next week. The construction process for the film stages, production services and post-production suites, all within the walls of its 600,000 square foot production building, has begun. The firm of Burton Share Management has been selected by Unity Studios as General Contractor for studio construction activities. Hobbs and Black out of Ann Arbor has been brought on as Architect for Unity. Movie projects have been slated and begin pre-production next month.

If Unity Studios has created public expectations we have not met based on those announced deadlines, we apologize. However again, Unity Studios is moving forward and any news story that creates a contrary impression is simply false.
We are proud to be moving forward, and doing it in Allen Park, Michigan.

We look forward to making important announcements in the coming weeks and months.

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Set Construction Course

unity — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:49:08 +0000

Considering a career in the movie business? Are you handy with a hammer? Maybe set construction is the new career you’ve been looking for.

One of the most important positions on a film production is set construction. Creating a unique environment that “sells” the scene can make or break a movie.

Lifton Institute for Media Skills is seeking students for our first set construction class beginning October 26th. In this course students learn the craft of set construction, a process by which a Production Designer works in collaboration with the Director to create the set for a film or television production. Course includes hands-on instruction in standard operating procedure in the set department, vocabulary and crew positions (Production Designer, Head Carpenter, Key Scenic, Greens Man, Set Painter, etc.) Students will learn the unique way of building sets for production including safety aspects, color schemes, building techniques and moving of sets. A comparison to standard construction and how it differs from set construction will be studied as well. Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. and have extensive building experience. Course includes up to 6 weeks of hands-on video and/or film projects.

To apply for our set construction class visit www.liftoninstitute.com or call us at 313-406-5405.

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