Greenwood District Studios Fundraiser
Donation protected
This project was started in the middle of a pandemic and at the height of the George Floyd murder aftermath. We made history in 9 months! Below is a quick summary of what has happened in the last 10 months. WATCH THIS VIDEO TO GET THE FULL SCOPE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING. =====> https://youtu.be/tZMIikZZi4w
#SmallBusinessRelief
Greenwood District Studios will be Michigan’s first Black-Owned Movie Studio with sound stages. What this means is industry movies can be filmed in their entirety in one location. The Studio is named after the 1921 Tulsa, Oklahoma, race riots. The area most affected was called Black Wall Street, which was in the Greenwood District. Due to the mental illness called racism, it was burned to the ground. Fast forward to 2020, and this horrific stain in our history has either been dwindled down to a myth or it just simply didn’t happen. We must never forget! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_massacre
Check out the interview below for a painted picture by its co-founder.
Michigan Reimagined with Chris Buck
PRESS RELEASE (NOV 17, 2020)
The First Black, Independently Owned, State-of-the-Art Movie Studio and Summer Drive-In in Michigan
LANSING, Mich., Nov. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Local resident and national touring stand-up comedian, triple Telly Award-winning Filmmaker/Writer/Actor/Director, Amaru has been inspired and encouraged by the world's chaos to find a solution. A solution that creates jobs and economic development within underserved and underrepresented communities and saves his career at the same time.
The industry will make a comeback because, as humans, and especially artists, always adapt. The industry is changing in real-time, including becoming more diverse and more inclusive. Amaru and his team, partnering with a local community organization for the youth called, The Fledge, bring over 100 years of entertainment experience combined, to bring Lansing, Michigan, its first black-owned, state-of-the-art movie studio with sound stages. The studio will also host a summer drive-in starting in the spring for 26 weeks. This studio will be modeled after Tyler Perry's studio bubble that he is successfully pulling off with no issues to date. With a little inspiration from an old boss Master P. and Tyler Perry, Amaru decided to put words into action. A GoFundMe campaign and many phone calls later, here they are.
Why Greenwood District Studios? The Greenwood District, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was burned to the ground in 1921 in an area once coined Black Wall Street. Our studio name is dedicated to the lives lost in this massacre. They decided to create a new company, the name seemed to be fitting and gave the studio's existence even more purpose and meaning. They will dedicate the theaters after the businesses that were burned down in the almost forgotten, tragic event. A film by the same name will be produced at the studio. They will build a Black Wall Street replica of the businesses that populated the strip of black excellence in 1921. This will be a tourist attraction for Michigan.
The location at 921 Mall Drive W in Lansing, Michigan, will be converted into the studio and drive-in over a 24 month period. The renovation of the 24,000 plus square foot facility will begin in late 2020. It will become a full production studio lot by end of 2022. They have just completed phase two, getting the property. It will be the largest dedicated movie and television production studio in Michigan.
How does the community benefit? The studio supports the community with direct community upgrades and up-keeps. Data from various film offices showed the rise in filming and commercial production had boosted local spending and job creation, while increasing commerce for local businesses, hotels, office and warehouse leasing, vehicle and equipment leasing and local tax revenues.
"Greenwood District Studios will show the industry what inclusion looks like!"
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kristen Kirsch / Lisa Michelle
517-449-3866 / [phone redacted]
Greenwood Commercial
WELOCME TO GREENWOOD!
Amaru was interviewed by WILX TV in Lansing MI
Fox47 News in Lansing interviewed Amaru talking about the Amaruflix drive in
SO FAST FORWARD TO NOW!
A Recap of What we Have Accomplished
Came up with a mission, concept and name
Created a business plan
Put together a team
Incorporated the company
Found a location and set up the deal and the owners accepted
Opened a G.D.S. bank account
Created a highly visited website
Strengthened our social media presence via marketing
Created several revenue streams to establish our presence/brand
Hosted our groundbreaking January 30, 2021
Began interior clean up of the building
Made donations and currently sponsoring various functions throughout the city
Joined the Lansing Chamber
Joined the Lansing Visitors Bureau
Secured a private meeting space rental for October
Secured the Greenwood property March 8, 2021 #BlackHistory
Ribbon cutting April 30, 2021 11:30 AM
Everything we said we were going to do in July of 2020, we have executed! As we always say, don't listen to what we say, look at what we have done. Look at our actions. We are serious about this mission and will do everything in our power to make it to the finish line. If you go to our Facebook page, or our website, you can catch up on everything we have done so far. (https://greenwooddistrictstudios.com)
Greenwood District Studios is a member of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Lansing Convention Visitors Bureau. We are also a proud co-sponsor of The Lansing Built to Last competition https://lansingbuilttolast.com/
Until recently, we have been doing fine with cash on hand. What we need right now is an influx of cash for our newfound plumbing issue and purchasing the equipment needed for our drive-in, which opens in May. The new plumbing issue came today when the water was turned on to the building and the downstairs began to flood.
Pics below
We have also been targeted by vandals, because we are a black owned business. A rock was just recently hurled through our window in broad daylight. We have commissioned a company to install a security system until we can put a fence around the studio. We have hired a plumber to check into our pipe issues. These are our pressing needs to date.
WHY NOT GO TO THE BANK AND GET A LOAN?
We want to stay away from that as long as possible. We have been able to manage that up until now. On top of that, while applying for business credit, we got hit with a penalty on our credit report, which is stupid. They gave us a line of credit and penalize us for getting it as well. A 54 point hit is a lot. So if we must go to the bank, we need time for that number to be restored, so we are in great credit standing once again. Whatever money we can raise via Gofundme will offset whatever we have to ask the bank for if that is what we have to do at a later date. These funds will help us get to the next step in our development of revenue streams, starting with our drive-in, which opens May 1, 2021.
WHAT ABOUT A GRANT?
That's tricky because most grants are COVID-19 relief small business grants that require COVID-19 to be the reason why your business has shuttered. The problem is we started this venture in the height of COVID-19, therefore we don't qualify.
Bottom line... this is continuous history in the making, and it is going to take some hard work. There is just too much the studio has to offer to explain in this Gofundme campaign. This is a huge opportunity we have brought to the city of Lansing, and people are excited about it. This is and has been a great investment for us and those involved! Will you help us?
We are a proud co-sponsor of The One Up Cup
Amaru / CEO / Greenwood District Studios
#SmallBusinessRelief
Greenwood District Studios will be Michigan’s first Black-Owned Movie Studio with sound stages. What this means is industry movies can be filmed in their entirety in one location. The Studio is named after the 1921 Tulsa, Oklahoma, race riots. The area most affected was called Black Wall Street, which was in the Greenwood District. Due to the mental illness called racism, it was burned to the ground. Fast forward to 2020, and this horrific stain in our history has either been dwindled down to a myth or it just simply didn’t happen. We must never forget! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_massacre
Check out the interview below for a painted picture by its co-founder.
Michigan Reimagined with Chris Buck
PRESS RELEASE (NOV 17, 2020)
The First Black, Independently Owned, State-of-the-Art Movie Studio and Summer Drive-In in Michigan
LANSING, Mich., Nov. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Local resident and national touring stand-up comedian, triple Telly Award-winning Filmmaker/Writer/Actor/Director, Amaru has been inspired and encouraged by the world's chaos to find a solution. A solution that creates jobs and economic development within underserved and underrepresented communities and saves his career at the same time.
The industry will make a comeback because, as humans, and especially artists, always adapt. The industry is changing in real-time, including becoming more diverse and more inclusive. Amaru and his team, partnering with a local community organization for the youth called, The Fledge, bring over 100 years of entertainment experience combined, to bring Lansing, Michigan, its first black-owned, state-of-the-art movie studio with sound stages. The studio will also host a summer drive-in starting in the spring for 26 weeks. This studio will be modeled after Tyler Perry's studio bubble that he is successfully pulling off with no issues to date. With a little inspiration from an old boss Master P. and Tyler Perry, Amaru decided to put words into action. A GoFundMe campaign and many phone calls later, here they are.
Why Greenwood District Studios? The Greenwood District, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was burned to the ground in 1921 in an area once coined Black Wall Street. Our studio name is dedicated to the lives lost in this massacre. They decided to create a new company, the name seemed to be fitting and gave the studio's existence even more purpose and meaning. They will dedicate the theaters after the businesses that were burned down in the almost forgotten, tragic event. A film by the same name will be produced at the studio. They will build a Black Wall Street replica of the businesses that populated the strip of black excellence in 1921. This will be a tourist attraction for Michigan.
The location at 921 Mall Drive W in Lansing, Michigan, will be converted into the studio and drive-in over a 24 month period. The renovation of the 24,000 plus square foot facility will begin in late 2020. It will become a full production studio lot by end of 2022. They have just completed phase two, getting the property. It will be the largest dedicated movie and television production studio in Michigan.
How does the community benefit? The studio supports the community with direct community upgrades and up-keeps. Data from various film offices showed the rise in filming and commercial production had boosted local spending and job creation, while increasing commerce for local businesses, hotels, office and warehouse leasing, vehicle and equipment leasing and local tax revenues.
"Greenwood District Studios will show the industry what inclusion looks like!"
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kristen Kirsch / Lisa Michelle
517-449-3866 / [phone redacted]
Greenwood Commercial
WELOCME TO GREENWOOD!
Amaru was interviewed by WILX TV in Lansing MI
Fox47 News in Lansing interviewed Amaru talking about the Amaruflix drive in
SO FAST FORWARD TO NOW!
A Recap of What we Have Accomplished
Came up with a mission, concept and name
Created a business plan
Put together a team
Incorporated the company
Found a location and set up the deal and the owners accepted
Opened a G.D.S. bank account
Created a highly visited website
Strengthened our social media presence via marketing
Created several revenue streams to establish our presence/brand
Hosted our groundbreaking January 30, 2021
Began interior clean up of the building
Made donations and currently sponsoring various functions throughout the city
Joined the Lansing Chamber
Joined the Lansing Visitors Bureau
Secured a private meeting space rental for October
Secured the Greenwood property March 8, 2021 #BlackHistory
Ribbon cutting April 30, 2021 11:30 AM
Everything we said we were going to do in July of 2020, we have executed! As we always say, don't listen to what we say, look at what we have done. Look at our actions. We are serious about this mission and will do everything in our power to make it to the finish line. If you go to our Facebook page, or our website, you can catch up on everything we have done so far. (https://greenwooddistrictstudios.com)
Greenwood District Studios is a member of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Lansing Convention Visitors Bureau. We are also a proud co-sponsor of The Lansing Built to Last competition https://lansingbuilttolast.com/
Until recently, we have been doing fine with cash on hand. What we need right now is an influx of cash for our newfound plumbing issue and purchasing the equipment needed for our drive-in, which opens in May. The new plumbing issue came today when the water was turned on to the building and the downstairs began to flood.
Pics below
We have also been targeted by vandals, because we are a black owned business. A rock was just recently hurled through our window in broad daylight. We have commissioned a company to install a security system until we can put a fence around the studio. We have hired a plumber to check into our pipe issues. These are our pressing needs to date.
WHY NOT GO TO THE BANK AND GET A LOAN?
We want to stay away from that as long as possible. We have been able to manage that up until now. On top of that, while applying for business credit, we got hit with a penalty on our credit report, which is stupid. They gave us a line of credit and penalize us for getting it as well. A 54 point hit is a lot. So if we must go to the bank, we need time for that number to be restored, so we are in great credit standing once again. Whatever money we can raise via Gofundme will offset whatever we have to ask the bank for if that is what we have to do at a later date. These funds will help us get to the next step in our development of revenue streams, starting with our drive-in, which opens May 1, 2021.
WHAT ABOUT A GRANT?
That's tricky because most grants are COVID-19 relief small business grants that require COVID-19 to be the reason why your business has shuttered. The problem is we started this venture in the height of COVID-19, therefore we don't qualify.
Bottom line... this is continuous history in the making, and it is going to take some hard work. There is just too much the studio has to offer to explain in this Gofundme campaign. This is a huge opportunity we have brought to the city of Lansing, and people are excited about it. This is and has been a great investment for us and those involved! Will you help us?
We are a proud co-sponsor of The One Up Cup
Amaru / CEO / Greenwood District Studios
Organizer
Amaru Lewis
Organizer
Lansing, MI