This is kind of a reposting from Sunday, as I think I was likley run over in a justified GOTV climate (thanks to the three people that did comment though!).
You may have heard that Michigan's a hard place to live in right now, with an economy that was in recession for years before the rest of the nation and a foreclosure rate that rivals Nevada and Florida. It's not as bad as it could be though, as the state was granted a stay from further woe by President Obama when he staked out the tough political ground to bailout/restructure the American automotive industry and save over 1 million midwestern industrial jobs.
Fortunately, Governor Granholm (and a variety of other forward thinking Michigan lawmakers) saw the writing on the wall when Michigan's recession first hit ( as a life long resident of this beautiful state, I'm going to peg that at 2005) and started working on drawing another major industry to Michigan. The industry in question is unionized, pays living wages, has little negative environmental impact, meshes extremely well with the hospitality infrastructure already in place, capitalizes on Michigan's natural beauty, and brought 340 million dollars to the statewide economy in 2009.
Jump below the fold if your wondering what this new midwestern industry could be.
The new industry in question? Movie production!
In the last 6 months Detroit has hosted the likes of Steven Spielberg (producer, Reel Steel), Michael Bay (Transformers 3), Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackson, Edward Norton, and a host of other talent to work in Michigan's newest industry.
This was made possible by a tax incentive in which film makers can receive up to 42% of their spent production dollars back via tax rebate for shooting in Michigan and hiring Michiganders.
Of course, Rick Snyder, our republican Governor-elect doesn't support these incentives..... Though following the election his stance seems to be moderating just a touch, noting that he won't end the incentive overnight.
As a social worker / creative type I've always loved how powerful a well produced show can be; in presenting new ideas, educating, and helping to illustrate otherwise abstract situations.
This can be seen in the effect The West Wing had during the Bush years, or how instrumental Star Trek was to the civil rights movement. Well constructed ideas told in an entertaining way can really help to illustrate a hard to understand or poorly framed concept (like how important Social Justice really is, and how it's not actually a socialist form of terrorism) .
That brings me to the core of this dairy. I and all of my unemployed or underemployed creative friends have gotten together and created a proof of concept called SCOURGE for what we feel could be a great series or movie. The story is allegorical to a vision of the future promoted by the Tea Party Cohort, a land of libertarian paradise akin to Somalia.
So we lose the elections on Tuesday and a new wave of Republican "leadership" is ushered in. Corporations begin to reap the rewards of their unchecked contributions to the political process via Citizens United. Corporate rule dominates the legislature, environmental and social protections are gutted. The earth warms and potable water grows scarce as the new peasantry grows desperate and riots. Economic collapse ensues.
EPOCH: A NEW AGE
LOG LINE:
In the new age, only two types of people remain: The makers and the takers.
SERIES SYNOPSIS:
Epoch: A New Age: After the decline of civilization, the land is poisoned and the human population has plummeted. Violence, subjugation, and superstition rule the day as new social orders rise. Brazen bands of neo-vikings march among the crumbling remains of northern cities, landfill miners extract valuable relics and metals from a forgotten past, half-feral urban nomads compete with the animals where wilderness has reclaimed the land, and water farmers keep society alive and themselves wealthy by purifying water with technology handed down through generations. As these groups clash and struggle for power a new and unexpected threat emerges; the mysterious and deadly warlocks, ruled by a mad tyrant who is reanimating the dead. A band of misfits, including an ex-mercenary, a young engineer, and the warrior women of the water farm, bridge the societal divide to fight for what little scraps of humanity they have.
We created a proof of concept for the series called SCOURGE that seeks to illustrate what the series might look like.
Here's the synopsis:
Scourge Synopsis, a Proof of Concept within the Epoch: A New Age World
Scourge follows three harried water farmers through abandoned streets, running from an unmentioned and very perilous foe. They are desperately seeking safety and have come upon the outskirts of a marauder camp. Quickly weighing the considerable risks, the group rushes to gain admittance, knowing the jeopardy they enter by seeking aid from such a warlike band. The group gains entry and, as they beg for their lives, the threat becomes known as an undead-piloted human capture wagon blasts through what was thought to be an impenetrable wall. As the horrified marauders look on, the jaws open and the marauders become the prey.
produce
Our biggest problem? We don't live in L.A, we don't have an agent, and we don't have any money. So, I'm reaching out to the community for advice/help. I know that people from all over the world read KOS to get their news a week ahead of time (and as can be seen from my user ID, I've been doing this since I was campaigning for Howard Dean), and was hoping someone might be able to help us get Michigan working again. If not, no problem, hopefully you'll enjoy the short!
More info on the project is available here.
A couple of of the production stills can be found here if your interested.
Thanks for checking it out!