Behind the Scenes - Film Fest Adds Twists
As people settle into the lond days of winter after the holidays, out of no where, like a bolt excitement, comes the Muskegon Film Fest. While the weather, as last year’s blizzard weekend attests to, can be unpredictable, it is sure to be warm and cozy inside the Frauenthal where artsy and innovative films will be screened. Main Street chatted with Sarah Rooks, one of the organizers, to hear what was new this year, and why everyone should be shoveling a path to this year’s Muskegon Film Fest.
MS: What is it about Film Fest that makes us all feel proud to have such a cool event downtown Muskegon?
SR: It’s always a good feeling when so many volunteers, sponsors and partners come together to create an event like the Muskegon Film Festival. We are proud to showcase the downtown as well as the talent of the various film makers - so many of which have ties to Western Michigan. We really think that being able to present films in the Historuic Frauenthal Theater is an amazing gift...and being able to watch them at the FCPA is a real treat. We appreciate the way the community has really rallied behind us to put together the festival. We feel that it is just one more event that brings first class entertainment to downtown.
MS: What are the nuts and bolts of Film Fest that will be easily remembered by past patrons?
SR:. A wide variety of films you won’t normally get to see anywhere, shown in a beautiful setting.
MS: And the new twists?
SR: In an effort to keep the Film Festival fresh we have added a few fun elements. A kick – off party is scheduled for Thursday, January 31st at 8:00pm. The party takes place live on the Frauenthal stage and will feature - “La Famiglia” as well renowned artist Bryan Barnes of Broadside Art. Bryan will create an original piece of art that will be raffled off at the show. Also new this year is a free film. We feel that films should be enjoyed by everyone so as a token of our appreciation we are showing “Napoleon Dynamite” hosted by Tracy Lorenz and the Winter Sports complex on Saturday, February 2nd at 1pm. Admission to the movie is free but a donation to the Winter Sports Complex is welcomed and appreciated.
MS: Still partnering with the Jaycees and the Snowfest?
SR:. We’re really flattered by the support they’ve given us this year. This year we are happy to be hosting the Battle of the Bowls and think it will add to the experience of those coming to the festival. We think the activities of Snowfest really compliment what we have going on, and we look forward to an incredible weekend.
We really like having the community involved in the Film Festival and in addition to the Jaycees we are also partnering with the LST 393, Spotlight Nightclub, and Muskegon Mainstreet. We feel very fortunate to have the support of these organizations/businesses.
MS: Well, it’s a great event that highlights some of the best in the creativity of the Muskegon area so thanks. . . .
SR:. You are welcome. Thanks for the support! We look forward to a great 2008 Film Festival. Please visit our website at www.muskegonfilmfestival.com for more event details.
Check it out on the web
Muskegon Film Fest
Napoleon Dynamite Flyer
Kick Off Party Flyer
www.broadsideart.com
Behind the Scenes
Before you set out and accomplish tasks, a logical thing to do is to plan. Cities and downtowns are no different and a critical component of community improvement is taking stock of where you are, and laying out a plan to move to the next level. The last formal planning undertaken by the City of Muskegon was in 1997 when a Master Plan was adopted along with a Downtown and Lakeshore Redevelopment Plan. Then in 2002 the community visioning process “Imagine Muskegon” took place focusing on the downtown area. With so much having been accomplished since 2002 and with an eye to influencing the next round of development, the City of Muskegon has engaged Williams & Works, a Grand Rapids planning, engineering and survey firm, to complete a Master Plan update focusing again on the downtown and the lakeshore. With plans for public input scheduled for January, Main Street was pleased to talk with Jay Kilpatrick, the principal for Williams & Works about the process and the eventual product of the planning process.
MS:How has downtown Muskegon community fared since Imagine Muskegon in regards to accomplishing what it set out to do?
JK: Downtown Muskegon has experienced many changes in recent years, most of which have been welcomed and embraced as ways for the community to emerge as an even more prominent destination. The downtown is transitioning into more of a pedestrian-friendly, economically-viable, environmentally-sustainable community center. The redevelopment that has happened – and is still yet to come – has been consistent with the public input expressed during the Imagine Muskegon process. I believe examples could include the conversion of the former mall site and the cleaning up and re-use of some of the lakefront industrial properties. Even the redirection of Webster and Muskegon Avenues was called for by Imagine Muskegon and has been undertaken.
MS: What makes the present time a good time to look at the past plan, and to create an updated plan?
JK: First, there is a statutory requirement. Michigan communities are required to review their master planning documents at least every five years. Muskegon’s Master Land Use Plan was written in 1997. The update of the Downtown and Lakefront Redevelopment Plan will constitute the State-mandated 5-year review of the broader Master Plan. But more importantly, with the emergence of new investment downtown, this is an ideal time to refine, strengthen, and advance the Imagine Muskegon vision. The City elected to update the downtown and waterfront portions of the Plan because those two areas are seeing the most change; and it is necessary to further guide the changes to ensure they are consistent with both previous planning efforts and new concerns and ideas.
MS: Where, or what issues, have been raised as ones that should be dealt with in the plan update?
JK: We have had several meetings to receive initial input, and many issues and opportunities have been discussed. For starters, there is a desire to ensure that the future of Muskegon’s buildings and neighborhoods are environmentally-friendly and sustainable for future generations. There is a need to provide adequate and convenient parking by utilizing creative strategies that avoid large expanses of land consumptive surface parking. Architectural design and context-sensitive building form are also critical. We also understand that there is a desire to foster the creation of an iconic lakefront within the downtown that places emphasis on views, access, and public gathering space. However, this response is not exhaustive; certainly there will be countless other elements that will emerge as the planning process proceeds.
MS: An important part of any planning process is to consult all those affected by the plan. In the case of a downtown there can be quite a list of stakeholders. How do you plan to engage all those with an interest?
JK: The City has compiled a list of stakeholders that includes neighborhood associations, businesses, individuals, politicians, churches, developers, builders, community agencies, and the various commissions, foundations and boards which serve the community. Newsletters and other information will be disseminated to these entities. A website has also been established which will be updated from time to time to provide updated information to City residents and interested persons. The website is: http://www.muskegon-mi.gov/downtownplan.asp. On the webpage, you will find information encouraging people to participate in the Charrette scheduled for January 30th and 31st. Participation is imperative and we strongly encourage the public to attend and share thoughts and ideas on the future of downtown and the waterfront.
MS: And what will the final product look like, and be used by the community into the future?
JK: The final product will be a plan document and graphic renderings prepared by our consulting partners at O’Boyle, Cowell, Blalock and Associates. It will include a summary of current conditions and it will be very graphic intense, with illustrations and plans intended to guide the City with strategies for implementation. Narrative will support the graphics and a land use map, so developers and City officials and other plan users will have a clear understanding of the plan’s intent.
MS: I know Main Street plans to be actively engaged in the process. Thanks for your work on this project and your contribution to growing our downtown!
JK: We look forward to the project, as well, and to being a part of such an exciting urban evolution.
Check it out on the web
Imagine Muskegon Plan(pdf)
City of Muskegon Master Plan update page
Williams & Works homepage
City of Muskegon Winter newsletter(pdf)
As people settle into the lond days of winter after the holidays, out of no where, like a bolt excitement, comes the Muskegon Film Fest. While the weather, as last year’s blizzard weekend attests to, can be unpredictable, it is sure to be warm and cozy inside the Frauenthal where artsy and innovative films will be screened. Main Street chatted with Sarah Rooks, one of the organizers, to hear what was new this year, and why everyone should be shoveling a path to this year’s Muskegon Film Fest. 
SR: It’s always a good feeling when so many volunteers, sponsors and partners come together to create an event like the Muskegon Film Festival. We are proud to showcase the downtown as well as the talent of the various film makers - so many of which have ties to Western Michigan. We really think that being able to present films in the Historuic Frauenthal Theater is an amazing gift...and being able to watch them at the FCPA is a real treat. We appreciate the way the community has really rallied behind us to put together the festival. We feel that it is just one more event that brings first class entertainment to downtown. 
SR: In an effort to keep the Film Festival fresh we have added a few fun elements. A kick – off party is scheduled for Thursday, January 31st at 8:00pm. The party takes place live on the Frauenthal stage and will feature - “La Famiglia” as well renowned artist Bryan Barnes of Broadside Art. Bryan will create an original piece of art that will be raffled off at the show. Also new this year is a free film. We feel that films should be enjoyed by everyone so as a token of our appreciation we are showing “Napoleon Dynamite” hosted by Tracy Lorenz and the Winter Sports complex on Saturday, February 2nd at 1pm. Admission to the movie is free but a donation to the Winter Sports Complex is welcomed and appreciated. 
