There is a bit of a debate going on here in Michigan. A few years back, as Michigan watched countless manufacturing jobs disappearing, the state government decided to try and entice new, growth industries into Michigan with generous tax credits. One of the industries they tapped was Film.

Michigan joined forty some other states in competing for film work by offering the most generous film tax credit incentives in the country. The idea was that film is still a thriving US industry which exports product all over the world, and that it employs many people in jobs that are ideal for retrained auto workers. But in addition, it is a very attractive industry for young, creative people, and Michigan has been watching a steady exodus of young people for years, all heading to more creative environments elsewhere.

Well, it has worked beautifully! Michigan has become a hotbed of film making, brought in stars and excitement, employed many people and caused many young creative people to stay in the state after college, plus attracting many more to move here. Films shot in Michigan this year alone had injected more than $300 million into the state economy by mid summer while costing the state less than $70 million. By the end of the year the amount spent by film crews in Michigan is projected to top $600 million. And far more growth is promised in the future.
Brick and mortar studios are under construction which will allow for production to continue year round!

Still, politics being what it is, misguided and poorly informed critics are trying to dismantle the incentive package before it has had time to bear all of it’s promised fruit. Kind of like plowing under your corn crop in June because you can’t eat the corn yet. We are hopeful that wiser minds prevail in the State Capitol and head off this madness.

Well now, what, you are asking yourself, does this have to do with school assembly programs? Film and Television are areas of the economy that continue to grow even through bad economies. And these fields promise creative and fulfilling careers to many young people.

For years, Mobile Ed has offered a program specifically intended to introduce elementary and middle school age students to the field of television production through a wonderfully fun program called Lights Camera Action. With multiple tours available, elementary and middle schools on both the East and West coasts, as well as throughout the Midwest can all have access to this marvelously fun program. Lights Camera Action introduces children to all the various techniques of television production through interactive play before a green screen background. Almost all special effects now utilized by Hollywood involve “green-screen” technology, and Lights Camera Action, employing dazzling state of the art digital technology,allows students to learn about this field by participating in news broadcasts, music videos, weather reports, flying, water-skiing and more. It is a wonderfully fun day that teaches children about a career path that is not only potentially lucrative but also a lot of fun. At the end of the day the school receives a DVD featuring all the content from the day so that schools may revisit their memories whenever they wish.

There is no better way to kindle imagination and ignite a future ambition than through hands-on exposure to the field itself. Countless students have been inspired to explore possible careers in this growth industry through a simple yet exciting visit to their school by Lights Camera Action! If you are looking for ideas for school assembly programs in Michigan or anywhere else, Lights Camera Action should demand your attention!

Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN