Opening the doors on the Aaron and Helen L. DeRoy Center for Film Studies

On October 7, four searchlights lit up the pine trees overlooking the Bowl and made it very clear that something big was happening at Interlochen. As the institution prepared for its 80th year, it opened the doors on a new facility that will house Interlochen's newest arts discipline.

The 26,000-square-foot building on the Interlochen campus will bring together key elements of filmmaking under one roof, including: a film studio, editing and production areas, a sound stage and a movie screening room. It is the only building of its kind in the country, built to benefit young artists interested in developing their skills as filmmakers. The building also offers 24 dorm rooms and a commons space for Academy students where they can study or relax.

At the dedication ceremony, Interlochen Center for the Arts President Jeffrey Kimpton explained how the established arts institution made a move into a new direction. "Interactions with the other arts are such a critical part of quality filmmaking. This depth of experience can only happen at Interlochen, and we are proud of this great advancement of our mission."

This incredible state of the art facility, coupled with challenging coursework, provides young filmmakers with the tools they need to get started in a career in motion picture arts. Students edit high definition video using industry-standard software. Four editing suites connect to a shared server with seven terabytes (7000 gigabytes) of data storage and a sound stage allows students to create and film on sets. A movie screening room seats more than 200, allowing student work to be showcased.

The $6 million project was launched with a gift of $1.5 million from DeRoy Testamentary Foundation, which is based in Southfield, Michigan. An active supporter of arts and educational causes in the Detroit area and around Michigan, DeRoy made the initial gift to the new program.

"We are proud to be a major supporter of the new Motion Picture Arts program at Interlochen," stated the President of the DeRoy Testamentary Foundation, Arthur Rodecker, who was present for the building's dedication. "For years, DeRoy has been attracted to Interlochen because of its programs in education and the arts. With the opening of this new facility, students will now have the opportunity to extend their education in the arts, preparing themselves for successful entrance into any college or university film program."

As part of the building dedication ceremonies, the Arts Academy students enjoyed a weekend-long film festival, which featured seven classic films and plenty of fresh popcorn.