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Young owner of production company has drive to survice
by Carol Cain, Detroit Free Press
February 27, 2007

Martin Scorsese's win as best director at the Oscars Sunday night was inspiration for 25-year-old James Sholtz.

Sure, he admits he's a long way from making blockbuster films like "The Departed" or "Raging Bull," but the Northville resident would love to direct his own movies through Ascend Multi Media and Film, a video production and photo editing company he started three months ago from his home.

For now, he is spending all his free time growing the company, taking on production projects such as archiving family footage and handling corporate work for businesses.

He has invested about $15,000 on video and computer equipment.

His biggest project to date?

"Editing an entire library of someone's old home movies. It was about 15 hours splattered across 100 VHS tapes. I transferred them to four DVDs, edited them and added in sound tracks, even movie credits," he said.

He made $4,000 and spent about 40 hours on it.

"I am taking baby steps toward my goal," he said.

Full plate

Sholtz has always known he wanted to run his own company.

To learn more about the movie business, he is taking classes at Wayne State University (he will complete his marketing degree in 2008) and courses at Schoolcraft Community College in Web design.

Like many young entrepreneurs, he is wearing several hats until his firm gets more business.

He's working four days a week as a waiter at Claddagh Irish Pub in Livonia.

Sholtz is also learning about becoming a business owner from reading books.

"Accounting, marketing, you name it, I've read something on it," Sholtz said.

Nationwide outreach

Many educators and political leaders are doing more to reach out to budding entrepreneurs like Sholtz.

And that focus extends well beyond Michigan's borders.

We are in the midst of EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, a national initiative to inspire young people to explore their potential as business owners.

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, Mo., and the Public Forum Institute are spearheading the project, and it is getting support from educators, politicians, economic development agencies and state and local governments from across the country.

The weeklong event (which continues through Saturday) is being held in all 50 states.

There will be 41 events in Michigan during the week -- all listed at www.entrepreneurshipweekusa.com

"We've had a long run in Michigan where people have not behaved entrepreneurially," added Robert Swanson, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. "They have worked for major employers their entire careers. But that is changing."

Sholtz wishes such an event had been around when he was just starting out, but he said it's great that schools are doing more to provide information for young people.

He also offers this advice.

"You need motivation and a desire to work hard to make it as an entrepreneur. I have a lot of ambition, but unless that's matched by motivation you won't be successful."

For more information about Sholtz's company, call 734-233-5448 or visit www.ascendmultimedia.com.

Learn more about EntrepreneurshipWeek USA

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