TicTock Studios of Holland, Michigan is en route to becoming Michigan’s leading production company, with a feature by a major screenwriter in the works, and the addition of a top level executive producer.

Jeffrey Stott, former EVP of Castle Rock Entertainment, will help to further advance bringing the motion picture industry to Michigan, said TicTock CEO Hopwood DeDree.

Stott’s first challenge will be to help launch TicTock’s new film crew training program held at Grand Rapids Community College Lakeshore Campus, a series of two-week classes aimed at redirecting Michigan’s unemployed resident to employable production skills.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of it,” said Stott, who will maintain a presence in both Holland and Hollywood.

Stott, who was executive producer on “The Bucket List,” starring Jack Nicholson and Freeman Morgan, was with Castle Rock from 1988-2002, overseeing production and post on more than 80 feature films including: “In the Line of Fire,” “Shawshank Redemption, “The Green Mile” and “Miss Congeniality;” and 30 TV pilots and series including Seinfeld and The Single Guy.

“This is an amazing addition for TicTock Studios and an incredible step toward creating more film production jobs in Michigan,” said DePree. “We’ve worked a long time to help make Michigan a major film production hub, and having trained workers is part of that vision.”

First feature tentatively slated to start in May TicTock is planning its first feature, the relationship comedy “Tug,” marking the directorial debut of L.A.-based screenwriter Abram Makowa. It’s tentatively planned to shoot in May, according to producer Rebecca Green..

“We’re still casting,” said Green, who is co-producing with DePree. TicToc is handling financing and casting in-house.

TicTock has a financing deal with investment holding company A-G Capital of Western Michigan to bankroll three $5-10 million productions, and a strategic partnership with Beverly Hills talent/production firm ROAR for financing and production.

Currently in development is family comedy “Toledo,” about the University of Michigan-Ohio State football rivalry, a selection of the Sundance Producer’s Conference.

DePree, a writer/producer and actor, founded the ten-year-old Waterfront Film Festival in nearby Saugatuck with Dori DePree, who is operations director of TicTock.

DePree wrote, directed and starred in the 1999 feature “The Last Big Attraction,” which Dori DePree produced. Green was VP of Lynda Obst Productions and a creative executive at Lionsgate.

TicTock’s production facility includes 7,000 sq. ft. of shooting space, a lighting truck, an Avid suite and several furnished cottages owned by DePree in the Columbia Art District that are used for visitors on long-term proects.

Call TickTock Studios at 616/393-6800; see tictockstudios.com. ¬ – by Ed M. Koziarski

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