New Creator Workshop: Top Ten Lessons to Do Something Big (For Less)
- The Sunset Project
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Led by Traverse City filmmakers Joseph Beyer and Jordan Anderson, the evening will offer an inspiring and practical look at how independent creators can bring ambitious ideas to life, even on limited budgets.
Alpena, Michigan | The Sunset Project is proud to host a special filmmaker keynote and creator workshop on December 19, 2025, at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center Theater in Alpena, Michigan.
Interested in attending?
RSVP at the button below before December 12, 2025!
Presented as part of The Sunset Project’s sponsorship of the upcoming documentary Junk Art Rebel, the event is designed for emerging creatives, community members, and the general public interested in filmmaking, storytelling, and the power of resourceful creativity. Attendees will learn from Beyer and Anderson’s experience producing their acclaimed feature Marqueetown, which they created and toured across Michigan on a total budget of only $52,000.
Their keynote, “Top Ten Lessons to Do Something Big (For Less),” distills the most important takeaways from that journey — insights that anyone can apply toward making something meaningful with limited means.
The evening will begin with a short behind-the-scenes film, The Making of Marqueetown, before transitioning into the filmmakers’ keynote and an open Q&A exploring storytelling challenges, creative resilience, and the realities of independent production. Participants will also be introduced to Junk Art Rebel, a new documentary that tells the story of Upper Peninsula sculptor Tom Lakenen, whose free outdoor metal-sculpture park, Lakenenland, has become a beloved destination and a symbol of recovery, community, and the unconventional paths art can take.
Following the presentation, attendees will break into small production and distribution groups to gain hands-on experience. The production team, led by Anderson, will learn how to identify and film subjects, gather releases, and manage footage. The distribution team, led by Beyer, will explore strategies for pitching and coordinating community screenings. Participants will then have the opportunity to apply these skills directly to Junk Art Rebel as it continues production through 2026.
The workshop also launches two student project tracks for 2026: a Production Track, due May 1, asking students to create short films answering “What is Art? What makes an Artist?”; and a Distribution Track, due August 1, supporting community screenings of Junk Art Rebel across Michigan. These components are designed to connect young creatives with real-world filmmaking experience while strengthening The Sunset Project’s commitment to offering practical, career-shaping opportunities for artists in Northeast Michigan.
The RSVP deadline is Friday, December 12. Community members, students, and emerging creatives are encouraged to register and take part in an evening built to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of filmmakers and creatives across the region.
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