Oakland Press Features MPI Instructor: Robert Butler

Filmmaking is an art that takes training to master. You have to understand the tools and techniques that are deployed in the industry to make the script come to life on screen. This takes time and dedication because you have to find your creative...

When Letitia McIntosh walked into her first class at the Motion Picture Institute, we knew she had an eye for detail. She quickly learned that on film sets there are plenty of details that need to be taken care of....

  Finding your way around a film set is easy for people like Keith Arnold. He went to the Motion Picture Institute and worked on sets everyday as part of his classes. He also shot his own films and worked on the sets of his fellow...

Alums Brendan Bauer and Ben Murphy are paving their own way with independent projects that support not only their interests but also advance their earning potential. We sat down with them to record our latest episode of the Crew Call podcast.

A massive part of our industry exists ON SET. This is where you'll find protocol being practiced, this is where you learn from the pros, and this is where you build connections and test relationships.  Simply put, if you hope to work on...

People with creative powers like MPI grad Allison Martin can succeed anywhere they choose to be. Their confidence stems from the film school education they have received and the practical experiences they have mastered on set.   In...

Being an actor is no easy feat! The process of acting is multifaceted, from finding a way to bring characters of varying complexities to life to evolving your technique based on the demands of the script. Getting training and much experience is key...

While there are plenty of film ‘idea’ makers to be found, the same can’t be said for people who can turn their vision into a real movie. To do that, you have to train and practice through building your technical skills. What better...

 Are you ready for your next call back? Prepared enough to be cast for anything? Before you get the part, you will need to audition for it. Auditions can make the sharpest of actors nervous, especially when the stakes are high. It doesn't...

Calvin Johns (left) pictured with mentor Scott Galeski From the beginning, Calvin Johns knew that he was creative. He started editing in middle school and quickly took to the craft. Fast forward to high school and he enrolled in his first...

When you watch a film, you do notice what the characters are wearing, how they are styled, where they go and what they do. There is a reason why the story unfolds so seamlessly. Behind the scenes, there is an entire crew that takes care of details...

With the right spirit, anything is possible. What is a better way than to share your passion with the world than through film? Every creative storyteller has a passion for something but most don’t have the technical skills to write, board,...

Feeling Fancy - An Oscar Night Celebration Event Recap   People are at their best when they feel included. What better way to feel included than to come together and celebrate an interest that we all have - films and filmmaking. There is...

Today in the film industry, there is no standard formula for success. Making it as an actor requires just as much savvy as it does actual talent. Some might even say talent comes secondary to savvy. Because of this, MPI is finding more and more...

MPI Asks... What Type Of Film Student Are You? For 22 years the Motion Picture Institute has been offering a cost and time-effective career path into the movie industry. For many, MPI offers a sensible alternative to costly four-year...

MPI Alumni, Heidi Philipsen (Class of 2007), launches the kick-off of her feature film, "LOVE & VODKA."   A team of native Michiganders and University of Michigan alumni have partnered with the Ann Arbor Distilling...

MPI Welcomes its Newest Faculty Member: Ric Viers Meet Ric Viers, MPI's newest Professor. Ric will be teaching Field Audio Recording and Production Lab 1 this coming Fall.       Ric Viers is a producer,...

Golden Hour for Golden-Oldie Cars MPI Honors Dream Cruisers at  Berkley's CruiseFest - August 16, 2019  A one-hour parade of nearly 200 classics--edited into 29 minutes! What began in 1995 as a local...

We are very pleased to welcome, Kevin Walsh, to the MPI team as our new Director of Enrollment & Marketing.   Together with MPI’s, Elise Mansour, Kevin will help brand and evolve the institute on local, national, and...