Donald Harrison: A Mission to Support Artists

By Bud on March 22, 2008 TrackBacks (0) Comments (4)

The Ann Arbor Film Festival wants to increase its impact for artists.

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Filed under: Ann Arbor Film Festival | Ann Arbor, MI | Defining New Markets | Donald Harrison | Non-profit | Twelve Month Goals

This week, The Ann Arbor Film Festival is putting on its 46th annual film festival (download 2 minute iPod compatible video, 11MB). Donald Harrison, its director of community development, is already looking forward to its 50th anniversary. The organization's goal is to increase its impact for artists, providing them with a bigger platform to make their craft more economically viable.

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4 Comments

Lauren Lozen on March 31, 2008 9:53 PM
Dear Donald Harrison, I have been to the Ann Arbor Film Festival many times in my life and it is always nice to see the different artworks and the creative side of different people. This festival gives the artists a bigger platform, providing more recognition and a bigger audience. I definitely feel that you are using a focus strategy by focusing directly on artists and allowing them to do what they love to do. The 50th anniversary is coming up soon, you said, and I am sure that all of the artists in the area look forward to it every year. They feel empowered and appreciated as artists and love the experience and atmosphere the festival provides. I don't think that this festival will ever disappear because of its empact on artists and the empowerment that they feel. Lauren Lozen, Student Eastern Michigan University
Holly Eggleston on March 29, 2009 4:35 PM
Hello! I’m studying arts, entertainment and business management at Eastern Michigan University and was drawn to this because I love learning about trends in the industry, whether it be art, theatre, music or film. I’ve never been to the Ann Arbor Film Festival, but am definitely interested in it now after listening to Donald Harrison’s thoughts. As the film industry grows in Michigan, the Ann Arbor Film Festival is a great place to learn about upcoming changes and trends we can expect in films. The festival, a non-profit media organization that earns income from tickets, submission fees and merchandise, is innovative not only in the content of the films, but also the way the organization is managed. As a reputable organization for 46 years, the company is consistently looking for opportunities to keep things fresh by adapting to new technologies and keeping people informed through email. What I questioned is why this film festival? Why Ann Arbor, Michigan? What makes it tick? My answer to this is differentiation in the competitive strategy, where loyalty and interest is built by a unique product. What this film festival offers to visitors is completely unique; so unique that it offers a product that interests an immensely diverse group of people. This group of people has no limits. Teens through people in their 80s or 90s can be found at the festival. People from all around the region drive 1-5 hours to attend the festival and teachers even make it a part of their curriculum. The festival offers the best of the best and the most original as only 5-10% of 2000 submissions usually make it in. Anyone who loves the art of film can attend; there is no exclusivity. Pioneers in the industry also attend because there is a differentiation strategy used to draw film-makers in. The festival is credible with appreciative audiences and awards that you can only get here. There are many reasons why I think this organization is successful, but the differentiation strategy used both for visitors and film-makers stands out for me in showing how innovative the Ann Arbor Film Festival can be. –Holly Eggleston
Aaron on April 19, 2009 3:34 PM
This was a really personal article because a friend of mine is starting his own record company. His is focusing on hip-hop and R&B artists in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area. He has found two artists he is going to work with and is looking for more. He comes from a very wealthy family and money is not an issue but he is still committed to spending conservatively. I have been talking to him and he has been saying how hard it has been to find good artists and once he has how hard it is to make it. This is true in the film industry as well and critical in any media dealing with creativity and big money. I have heard of the Ann Arbor Film Festival but have never gone. Harrison’s goal of providing a venue for artists to be a creative artist is a fantastic vision and it looks like he has a solid model with plans for a big 50th anniversary celebration (the 46th took place in summer 2008 at the Michigan Theater). I think as an average movie-goer we feel we will not se quality films or even understand for that matter. Marketing the festival as a Sundance-type venue will attract more filmmakers and attract people like me who have lived in Ann Arbor for 22 years but never gone. I liked how Harrison distinguished a creative filmmaker between a “Hollywood” celebrity. He is not promising anyone they will be the next Steven Spielberg but he is hoping he can provide an avenue for filmmakers to creatively express themselves to people who may want to fund future film projects. I think this year I may take a walk to the Ann Arbor Film Festival and check it out because I saw this article. I hope they attract more filmmakers from other regions so they can possibly have a film get its first screening in Ann Arbor before it hits national screens. I think Harrison has a lot of work to do to create exposure for filmmakers in Ann Arbor but reaching out to the universities and internet could help his cause.
Ryan Ebright on June 14, 2010 11:20 AM
46 years to being one of the longest film festivals in America. That is something to be proud of. The audience is drawn from all over America, but also Canada. It is amazing that there are more than 2,000 submissions into the festival but only 150 are accepted. This sounds like it would be an exciting experience for young filmmakers to get a taste of what filmmaking is all about. Since it is close to Ann Arbor that is possible for many in this area. Keeping everything free to the public is a very important aspect of the festival. Obviously there is a huge difference between someone that is a Hollywood movie actor and someone that is in a film festival but they all have to start somewhere and get noticed. This seems like a good place to start.

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