Film Fest To Feature Award-Winning, Local Filmmaker

LAPEER (WWJ) - The Made In Michigan Film Festival is now accepting entries for the festival, which takes place later this year in downtown Lapeer.

WWJ's Entertainment Reporter Terri Lee spoke with Filmmaker Lance Kawas, who has carved out an impressive career for himself. He definitely knows the ins and outs of making movies in Michigan. Kawas made his award-winning feature film, Street Boss, here. It's the subject of a speech he'll give to the festival's Film Society at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, 2011.

"It was such a pleasure making a feature film about a subject matter that is so important and so, so attractive ... it's basically about the mob in Detroit," Kawas said. "How a single man, by the name of Phil Kirby -- a special agent who's retired -- brought down one of the largest mobsters in the city of Detroit."

Kawas says no matter what happens with the state's film incentive program, he intends to keep making movies right here in Michigan.

"I'm from Michigan, I live in Michigan and I don't plan to move from Michigan."

Click here for more information on the Made In Michigan Film Festival and Kawas' upcoming presentation to the Film Society.

Click here for more information on Lance Kawas' latest project, The Deported.

- Terri Lee, Entertainment Reporter