Showing posts with label Detroit On Film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Detroit On Film. Show all posts
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| Photo: Shark Tank |
That’s what happened to Jess Sanchez-McClary. The CEO of Detroit’s McClary Bros. originally pitched her drinking-vinegars business on the season premiere of the ABC-TV reality show in late September, seeking $100,000 for 15 percent of the company.
Her product was drinking vinegars, a modern version of a colonial-era cocktail and soda mixer made with natural and organic ingredients. She came up with it while studying preservative techniques at culinary school, and told the sharks that her mixes are aimed at the growing craft cocktail movement.
The Sharks weren't initially impressed. Not only did she not get an investment, she got an aggressive dismissal from O’Leary, whose criticism went over the line in the opinion of guest shark Ashton Kutcher. The reason: O’Leary's comment to Sanchez-McClary that, “Let’s be honest -- it’s four guys and dog that drink this stuff. Why are you doing this to yourself?”
Kutcher actually called him out: “You’re belittling people and that’s not OK,” he told O’Leary. “She gave you an answer, and if the answer’s not suitable, that’s fine, but you don’t have to belittle people.”
That may have buoyed Sanchez-McClary’s spirits. But what happened immediately after the Friday episode aired probably did even more: McClary’s website took in 1,000 new orders the very next day. By Monday, Sanchez-McClary was able to say, “We have done now, on the website, as much in sales as we did on the website the whole of last year.”
In the three months since, things have gotten even better. Sanchez-McClary now says she’s doubled her full-time staff from three to six people, reopened a tasting room to draw in retail customers, connected with several distributors and grown the business so much that she’s opening a second production facility next month.
And her bottom line? She estimates today that sales prompted by her Shark Tank appearance have brought in $200,000 – more than she was seeking from the sharks in the first place. “Before the holidays started, we had already done more than twice in revenue than the amount we had requested from the sharks,” Sanchez-McClary says. “I really don’t need an investor anymore.”
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Comedy Central has given a series order to Detroiters, its Motor City comedy pilot executive produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video and Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis who will have a recurring role on the 10-episode series.
Detroiters stars cast member-turned-SNL writer Tim Robinson and Veep‘s Sam Richardson, Detroit natives who performed together at Chicago’s Second City. The project, which Richardson and Robinson co-created, co-wrote and executive produce with Joe Kelly and Zach Kanin, revolves around Sam (Richardson) and Tim (Robinson), two small-time Detroit ad men who aspire to help turn their hometown back into the glittering jewel of the Midwest that it once was. Sudeikis will appear in a limited number of episodes as a successful automotive executive Sam and Tim relentlessly pursue in an effort to land their first big-time client.
“The creative team on Detroiters is so ridiculously funny, we’re not even sure we deserve them,” said Comedy Central’s Kent Alterman.
Richardson, who joined Veep in Season 3 as recurring, playing wide-eyed political staffer Richard Splett, was promoted to regular in Season 4. Richardson is expected to continue on the HBO comedy in addition to his commitment to Detroiters.
While the pilot for Detroiters was shot on location in Detroit, it’s yet to be determined whether the series will film there or in Los Angeles or New York.
Click HERE For The Full Article!
Part One: Detroit
Can Soup Change the World?
Episode 1 of 2
Once the engine of America, Detroit has fallen on hard-times. The decline of the auto industry hit the city hard, and in 2013 Motor City finally went bankrupt. Detroit Soup is community project breathing life back into the city with its monthly dinners. It's a simple concept: members of the community pay five dollars at the door, and for that they get soup, salad, bread - and a vote. Social entrepreneurs present their ideas, and whoever has the most votes at the end of the evening walks away with the money raised, and a chance to put their idea into action. Since it began in 2010, Detroit Soup has raised over 85,000 dollars which has been used to kick-start a broad range of initiatives in areas such as urban farming, art and theatre, literacy and learning, and blight clearance. It has also helped launch small businesses with a social mission - such as The Empowerment Plan and Rebel Nell, which today employ people recruited directly from homeless shelters. The BBC meets the project's founder, Amy Kaherl, and some of the urban pioneers who have put the money raised to good use, rebuilding their city a dollar and a vote at a time.
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In a world premiere television event, Planet Green and General Motors present DETROIT IN OVERDRIVE, the story of a diverse citizenry working together to overcome tremendous odds to rebuild their cherished Motor City -- and create a 21st Century Detroit. The three-part documentary, DETROIT IN OVERDRIVE, premieres on Planet Green on Thursday, August 4 starting at 8PM ET.
"It's been an honor to partner with General Motors on this inspiring project, as there is no more steadfast supporter of the Detroit community," said Laura Michalchyshyn, president and general manager of Planet Green. "It was our goal to document and inspire new awareness of a once-thriving city being resurrected by its devoted citizens and communities. We are thrilled to offer America a close look at the struggles Detroiters have had to face -- and how they are fighting back for the city they love."
"In addition to doing everything we can to support the city of Detroit, we also need to support the efforts to communicate the City's progress and positive stories," said Joel Ewanick, General Motors Chief Marketing Officer. "Working with Planet Green, we are pleased to present this story about the great American spirit and the great stories behind the rebirth of this important American city."
DETROIT IN OVERDRIVE is a case study of the dynamic individuals who are tackling issues -- both big and small -- and working together to re-establish a community that has slowly fallen apart due to years of an ailing economy. Each hour-long episode features four stories of residents working to revitalize, and bring attention to the city, with hopes of boosting its struggling economy. Individuals and stories featured in each episode include:
Episode One: Reinventing the Motor City
World Premiere: Thursday, August 4 at 8PM ET
Fashion designer Joe Faris moved back to Detroit from New York City to start a garment company. His line of jeans, Motor City Denim, are designed and constructed in a retrofitted factory -- TDIC -- that has made protective covers for robots for the automotive industry for more than 30 years. Joe's new denim designs incorporate seatbelts, rivets and other car inspired elements found around the factory. Five-time Grammy nominated rocker and Detroit native, Kid Rock created his own beer label, Badass Beer, to create jobs and give back to the city he loves. John Bradburn is an environmental engineer at General Motors, whose family has worked in the automotive industry for multiple generations. The Bradburns have adapted to changing times and a shifting economy. FIRST Robotics is an afterschool program created by American inventor Dean Kamen for high school students to pique their interest in robotics. A local Detroit high school, Finney High, is a prime candidate to introduce underprivileged students to the world of engineering. Meet 18 year-old-senior, Jacob Durrah, who has acquired a newfound interest in robotics and engineering through this groundbreaking program.
Episode Two: Art Saves Detroit
World Premiere: Thursday, August 4 at 9PM ET
Tyree Guyton, best known for the Heidelberg Project, is an artist recognized around the globe. His new installation, Street Folk addresses Detroit's homeless problem head-on. In a sweep of inspiration, Tyree plans to pave an entire city street with 10,000 shoes collected from all over the world. In the wake of record moguls like Barry Gordy, Woodbridge Records is a start-up record label with three bands under its belt and a drive to make a mark on Detroit's illustrious music scene. Andrew Beer, the founder of the label is at the helm of nurturing, producing, promoting and distributing the bands on the label. College for Creative Studies is one of the leading design schools in the world with a distinct focus on automobile design. Here, adjunct professor, John Manoogian, a 33-year veteran car designer for General Motors, teaches a rigorous, yet gratifying design studio class. The Sphinx Organization puts musical instruments in the hands of Latino and African American children to expose them to classical music and encourage a career in the arts. High school senior China Leitner has been playing trumpet in the Sphinx Program for years, has an upcoming audition with Wayne State University where a big scholarship is within reach, a determining factor as to whether or not China will go to college.
Episode Three: It Takes a Village
World Premiere: Thursday, August 4 10PM ET
Veronika Scott, a fourth year student at the College for Creative Studies, has designed a heat-capturing coat that turns into a sleeping bag. Made for the homeless, and constructed by the homeless, her product has become a multi-stage program that aims to provide housing, food and jobs. Viewers sit in on a monthly event called "Soup," where young artists pay a small fee to come together for a simple dinner of soup and bread, and pitch projects to better their community of Hamtramck (a neighborhood completely surrounded by metro Detroit). The Russell Industrial Center (RIC), originally a 1925 auto body plant is a 2.2-million-square-foot, seven building complex. A community unto itself, RIC is now home to many artists, craftspeople, and small businesses. Eric Novack, operations manager, visits with Mike Dion, an artist who makes sculpture out of junk and Andy Kem, a furniture designer and digital sculptor at General Motors.
Some Detroiters are spearheading a local food movement. Edith Floyd takes matters into her own hands and starts an urban garden where abandoned and blighted houses once stood. She is one of a growing number of Detroit's urban poor, determined to eat healthy and become self-sufficient in a city with very few food options. Kristyn Koth and Malik Muqaribu feed Detroiters in their 1956 Airstream, "The Pink Flamingo," delivering fresh organic food to Detroiters in a unique mobile food truck.
DETROIT IN OVERDRIVE is a co-production between Planet Green, Discovery Studios, LLC and General Motors. Michael Selditch is director and executive producer. For Planet Green, executive producers are Lynne Kirby, Lynn Sadofsky and Laura Giacalone. For Discovery Studios, LLC, executive producers are Robin L. Sestero and Bill Gardner.
Trailer 'Grown in Detroit' from Mascha Poppenk on Vimeo.
Dutch filmmakers Mascha and Manfred Poppenk have captured the interests of educators, community organizers and social activists around the world. Their recent documentary Grown in Detroit shines light on an incredible effort that is currently taking place in a city often discredited as one of decay and despair. For this, they received the Community Empowerment Film Award from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. Reverend Jesse Jackson presented the award to Mascha Poppenk during the annual NCRC conference on Friday, March 12 in Washington D.C.
"We are honored that Grown in Detroit received this prestigious award from the Coalition," said Mascha Poppenk, filmmaker. "It’s a powerful, uplifting story about the rebirth of the city told by the actions of teens and their educators. The message they teach us applies to the world, not just the residents of Detroit. The award is for the people of Detroit, CFA in particular. It’s their story, we were privileged to capture it."
Grown in Detroit features urban organic farming efforts organized by the Catherine Ferguson Academy, a public school of 300, mainly African American, pregnant and parenting teenagers. In Detroit alone, there are more than 3,000 pregnant teenagers who drop out of high school each year, nationwide more than 500,000.
While Detroit may have a reputation as one of the most impoverished and dangerous cities in the U.S., this award winning documentary exposes a different side; the side about residents who are emerging by using their resource and creating unique solutions.
Ironically, after the destruction of many abandoned homes, nature has taken over and the city. Detroit is literally greening from within. Satellite images speak for themselves; more than one third of the city has become green again, just as it was before the industrial era. This new landscape is creating opportunities and hope for the city and its residents. Land that was used for farming a century ago has again been cultivated, this time by the urban farmer, out of necessity and resourcefulness.
This “back to the roots” concept is a simple, yet effective solution for a city that has to start all over again and perhaps a lesson to be learned for the rest of the world.
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