Staff Report
Published Sept. 30, 2009

Genesis Studios President Cliff Springs announced Monday the formation of Emergent Films, a statewide job and industry development initiative designed to facilitate the growth of the motion picture and film industry in South Carolina.

“What began last year with the opening of Genesis Studios continues here today with the announcement of Emergent Films,” Springs said. “We are committed to building a motion picture industry in this state, one brick at a time. Had someone begun this sort of process years ago, the film industry would be alive and kicking in South Carolina. We at Genesis and Emergent Films want to make sure that, five years from now, producers, writers, directors and all crew positions are better off than they are now.

Springs met with Mark Ellis, a sports coordinator working in films, and Les Carroll, the public relations director at McEntire Air National Guard Base and a published author and screenwriter, two years ago to discuss ways of creating more filmmaking opportunities for South Carolina. The idea for Emergent Films came out of that meeting.

“We want to see experienced professionals in the state having opportunities to work year-round while also working as mentors to college students and recent graduates so that they can become the filmmakers of tomorrow,” Carroll said.

Springs and Carroll are spearheading the venture, and Ellis serves on the board of advisors.

Emergent Films consists of two components: Emergent Foundation and Emergent Films. The foundation is the nonprofit portion, focusing on fundraising efforts for the educational process of Emergent; Emergent Films recruits investors to fund each individual project.

Each year, two or three short genre films and one feature-length, family-friendly film will be produced using professionals as paid department heads. Students will train under the professionals during a preparatory boot camp and on the set.

The venture will be launched with the production of two projects to be produced back-to-back in October and November: “Saying Goodbye” and “See No Evil.”