Local filmmaker Jamie Sonderman wants to show the world that “Detroit is the perfect place to make a movie.”

“In Detroit, nothing is concrete, it’s very pliable … some buildings are dying to be used, (while) other places are established … it has that broken city feel,” said Sonderman of Detroit’s landscape, which he feels gives filmmakers plenty of opportunity to be creative, as there is a distinct dichotomy between the new developments and abandoned, aging structures of downtown Detroit.

As a co-founder of Detroit-based film company Thought Collide Productions, Sonderman had a vision to revitalize the film industry in Detroit, creating “a collective of creative people interested in making a difference in Detroit,” which eventually led him and his peers to found The Mitten Movie Project, a monthly film festival that has been taking Michigan-made movies to the next level by providing a venue for filmmakers to showcase their movies and receive feedback from other filmmakers and audience members.

“Well, I knew I wanted to connect with (other) filmmakers in Detroit … Detroit had pockets of filmmakers that don’t connect,” said Sonderman, who feels that bringing local filmmakers together is essential to creating a strong film industry in Detroit.

“We love supporting independent film, and the (Mitten Movie) Project is a way to do that. … I think Detroit is an untapped market … there is a lot of creative talent that (needs to be) exposed, nurtured,” said Connie Mangilin, “InZer0” producer and co-founder of Thought Collide.

On the first Tuesday of every month at the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak, film buffs have the opportunity to see a truly alternative film, meet the director and the actors, and give their opinions on what worked in the film and what needs work, providing the filmmaker with essential feedback to improve the quality of the film and achieve MMP’s goal of showcasing world-class movies in Detroit. The endeavor has proven successful, with attendance growing steadily since MMP’s first screening, which had only 60 attendees.

“It’s an honor to have 200-plus people show up every month,” said Sonderman, adding that the festival attracts “a generally very eclectic crowd — filmmakers, indie film lovers and ‘normal’ moviegoers,” each giving the filmmaker a different perspective.

Sonderman has experienced the benefits of the interactive screenings firsthand with his post-apocalyptic, sci-fi stunner “InZer0” — a series of 12, 20- to 30-minute episodes that chronicle the fear, pain, anguish and loneliness in a world where life as it is known is lost and humanity is teetering on the brink of demise — that was shot completely in Detroit. It was audience feedback that helped Sonderman “determine what people enjoyed and didn’t understand,” and led to the creation his upcoming feature film, “InZer0: Fragile Wings.”

“The upcoming ‘InZer0’ feature film is an awesome opportunity for people interested in film to get their feet wet, learn new things, and find their strengths and weaknesses,” said Mangalin of the opportunity that the production provides those new to the industry, likening the experience to that of a hands-on film school.

The next MMP screening will feature “InZer0” episodes 10 and 11 on April 3 at the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak, 118 N. Main St. As always, MMP organizers are always on the lookout for quality Michigan-made movies to showcase at the monthly Mitten Movie Project screenings. For more information and show time, visit www.myspace.com/mittenmovieproject.

For more information about Thought Collide Productions or “InZer0,” visit www.thoughtcollide.com or www.thebrokenfuture.com, respectively. Thought Collide is also looking for financial backers, who will be invited on set to be a part of the movie-making experience, and creative people to join the cast and crew for the upcoming feature film, “InZer0: Fragile Wings,” which is scheduled to start shooting in June. For more information or to make an appointment for the April 11 casting call for “InZer0: Fragile Wings,” contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

reprinted from C&G newspapers,