FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Do I get to shoot my own film?

A: Yes! Students electing to take Film Directing 3 (elective in the 3rd and 4th semester) will shoot their own thesis film project(s). Even students choosing other electives such as Production Lab 3 will work as crew on these films and will share in the process thereby earning valuable production experience.

Q: Is MPI a school for making horror films?

A: No. The curriculum focuses on the filmmaking process. Students write, produce, shoot, direct and edit their own films that can be of any subject matter (ACTION, COMEDY, DRAMA, SCI-FI and HORROR). Our curriculum is balanced to discuss all these genres equally. The only exception may come to the Feature Lab course which is currently making a project entitled "The Rain" which happens to be a horror film. Future productions in that course maybe a comedy, drama or action film.

Q: Do you offer a diploma when I graduate?

A: MPI issues each graduate a Certificate of Achievement. Students are also given copies of their transcripts that includes a complete credit list of films worked on and equipment certifications. But the most important document for students is their demo reel.

Q: Do you offer housing?

A: Yes. While MPI does not have its own facility to house students we do have an agreement with Oakland University in Rochester, MI to use their dormitories. MPI also has a list of local apartments that will offer students housing during the
school year.

Q: What percentage of students get jobs after they leave the program?

A: Placement rates constantly fluctuate and depend largely on what area of the film industry students wish to pursue. Most employment in film production is short term, freelance in nature, and may require students to travel or relocate. This renders
long term placement statistics irrevelant unless you consider first time placements (meaning students obtaining at least one film job). MPI’s rate for students seeking film production via MPI is around 60% in any given year. There are a variety of other aspects to the film industry that allow students longer term employment such as in post production editing, duplication, audio and fx. For the most part, the key to a successful career in film production is for graduates to be able to network, work well with others, show dedication, and become very good at what they do. Many MPI graduates are working gainfully in production in Metro Detroit and abroad including New York, Las Vegas, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Q: What have students gone on to do after they leave?

A: MPI grads have worked on major feature films such as Batman: The Dark Knight, Spiderman 3, 8 Mile, Rescue Dawn, Four Brothers, The Island, Transformers. Most recently students such as Melissa Bradac (2006) worked on Semi-Pro starring Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson and Sarah Goller (2004) is currently working on Avatar directed by James Cameron and A Christmas Carol directed by Robert Zemeckis..

Others have formed their own production companies such as Scrambled Visual (Gary Wohlfeill and Alfred Tomaszweski) who have shot music videos for Anti-Flag, Kanye West and most recently Western Union featuring Snoop Dogg in LA.

MPI Grad Zak Bagans is producing and directing a television series for the Travel Channel entitled Ghost Adventures that premieres Friday, October 17, 2008 at 9pm EST.

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