HOLLAND, MI - Hopwood DePree, CEO of TicTock Studios, announced that Jeffrey Stott, Executive Producer of the current box office hit The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, has joined the team at TicTock Studios to further advance bringing the motion picture industry to Michigan. Stott's first challenge will be to help launch TicTock's new film crew training program.

TicTock Studios recently partnered with Grand Rapids Community College Lakeshore Campus to offer a series of 2-week classes aimed at putting Michigan's unemployed residents back to work.

"Many of the skills that manufacturing workers and trades people have can easily be redirected to be employable skills behind the scenes on a film production. This is a way to put Michigan's talented people to work in a new and exciting career in the movies. I'm thrilled to be part of it." Stott said.

Stott served as Executive Vice President of Castle Rock Entertainment from 1988-2002, overseeing production and post-production on over 80 feature films including: In the Line of Fire, Shawshank Redemption, City Slickers, Honeymoon in Vegas, The Green Mile and Miss Congeniality; and 30 television pilots and series including Seinfeld and The Single Guy. In addition, he was a producer on such hit movies as A Few Good Men, The American President, Misery, and When Harry Met Sally. Stott will maintain a presence in Hollywood as well as in Holland.

"This is an amazing addition for TicTock Studios and an incredible step toward creating more film production jobs in Michigan" said DePree, "We've been working for a long time to help make Michigan a major film production hub, and having trained workers is part of that vision." The state government is currently in talks to make Michigan the leading state in the nation to attract the thriving movie industry with a proposed package of tax incentives. Governor Granholm voiced her support in her recent State of the State address, announcing to a receptive crowd, "We agree that we must pass the most robust incentives in the nation to spur growth of the film industry in Michigan." The Michigan House and Senate is following up by holding a joint committee hearing on the widely supported issue in Lansing today.

"Other states that have implemented similar tax incentive programs have catapulted their film industry to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into their economies and create thousands of new and exciting jobs," said DePree.

Classes will begin April 7 at TicTock Studios' facilities in Holland. The intensive hands-on training will provide participants with the essential skills needed to begin working in entry-level jobs within the film and television production industry. The program is "Michigan Works!" approved. For additional information and to register for classes visit the GRCC website:
www.GRCCLearn.com
or call (616) 234-3058

TicTock Studios is a West Michigan-based production company with offices in Los Angeles.  The corporate headquarters and studios in Holland, MI were founded to attract more film and television production to Michigan by providing film financing, development and production support.  Holland native and CEO, Hopwood DePree, has over 15 years of experience working in Hollywood, and recently partnered with Holland native Scott Brooks of Brooks Capital Management and Beverly Hills-based talent management firm ROAR to form TicTock Studios.   "Manufacturing Movies in Michigan" has become a trademarked slogan in TicTock Studios' effort to market the winning locales, beautiful landscapes and dedicated employee base of Michigan to the Hollywood film industry.
www.TicTockStudios.com