WMFVA Kick-Off Event

Thursday, January 20th, 2005
Celebration Cinema, Grand Rapids, MI

Media Information

Event Sponsors

Digital Video Services

About the Kick-Off Event

Grand Rapids, Mich. -- The screening of a locally made film starring Oscar-winning actor Ernest Borgnine will serve as the kick-off event for the West Michigan Film Video Alliance. The WMFVA is a new non-profit group dedicated to promoting the region's burgeoning film community. Members of the new alliance will have special access to the Q&A Session and Reception, where they will be able to interact with Rich Brauer (filmmaker), Ernest Borgnine (Lead Actor), and other cast and crew members.

"Barn Red," a full-length feature shot on high definition digital video by Traverse City filmmaker Richard Brauer, will be shown. at Celebration Cinema, 2121 Celebration Ave. NE (corner of Knapp and East Beltline). Admission is $10 for the general public and free to WMFVA members. Proceeds will help fund future events and projects of the organization.

Barn Red” tells the tale of Michael Bolini (Borgnine), a cherry farmer hounded by real estate developers who want to subdivide his land. It’s the third feature film Brauer, head of a full-service film, video and multimedia production company with clients like Domino’s Pizza, Pixar, and Subway, has made in West Michigan in 27 years. All the movies, including Escanaba in da Moonlight starring Jeff Daniels, had budgets of less than $2 million, Brauer said.

“Professionals like Mr. Brauer stay in West Michigan rather than heading east or west because they like the combination of small town living and high-tech production facilities,” said Deb Havens, WMFVA Executive Director. “They realize that doing business in West Michigan isn’t LIKE a day at the beach, it IS a day at the beach...or a covered bridge, rural landscape or handsome cityscape. We have it all right here.”