Sleeping Bear

Journeys through some of the most significant events in America's rise to power, reliving the improbabilities that demonstrate what the Founders always believed: that events unfolded according to a master plan.

A dramatic re-enactment based on the true account of a nineteenth century shipwreck during the "golden age of sail" on the Great Lakes.

The feature documentary Searching for Mr. Rugoff is the story of Donald Rugoff, who was the crazy genius behind Cinema 5, the mid-century theater chain and film distribution company. Rugoff was a difficult (some would say impossible) person but was also the man who kicked art films into the mainstream with outrageous marketing schemes and pure bluster. Rugoff's impact on cinema culture in the United States is inestimable, and his influence on the art film business-from the studio classics divisions to the independent film movement to the rise of the Weinsteins-is undeniable. Yet, mysteriously, Rugoff has become a virtually forgotten figure. The story is told through the eyes of former employee Ira Deutchman, who sets out to find the truth about the man who had such a major impact on his life, and to understand how such an important figure could have disappeared so completely.

An elderly farmer finds out that he owes a huge inheritance tax. Land developers show up to offer him a predatory deal. His neighbors are having similar problems. That's when an old acquaintance of his arrives for a visit and lends a hand.

On the eve of deer-hunting season in Michigan, a family of hunters contends with the shame of their eldest son never having shot his own buck.

You know that one art critic you love to hate? The critic whose sole mission in life seems to be savaging the dreams of artists, curators and gallery owners everywhere? The critic who has learned, by heart, every possible snarky synonym for "bad" but couldn't spit out the word "good" even as flames licked at his stake-bound feet? The critic who we suspect hasn't enjoyed a 'romantic interlude' since 1992 and would, given the the opportunity, unapologetically slam his own mother's work hanging at the local district library? Yes. "Mr. Art Critic" is that heinous guy.

Paula, an inspector of the Historic Trust, visits an abandoned ship on a desolate waterfront and meets the unusual, self-appointed caretaker of the vessel, Vigs. From the outset, Paula's world is transformed into a fitful nightmare.

Danny Quinn (Seth Bernard) lives with one great dream... he wants to prove his late father was right about a pirate treasure in the depths of Lake Michigan.

It's been a year since the Dogman terrorized this Midwestern community and nearly killed Hank Purvis. But now, things seem to have settled down. Everyone has gotten back to their routine. Hank still enjoys the outdoors and loves to hunt. He and his wife, Dorothy, continue to live on their family farm in the rural Midwest. The picturesque autumn woodlands are a wonderful place to be. But things are not well. Unseen in the nearby forest, are a litter of grown Dogman pups, embarking on their terrifying destiny, and standing over seven feet tall. They are a bad batch. They have to be stopped.

Hanklin Purvis enjoys the outdoors, and he loves to hunt. He and his wife, Dorothy, live on a farm in the rural mid-west. For some reason, during the season before autumn, things start happening. The first victims are family pets, then wild animals. But it's not until people are injured that the police get involved. The attacker is not human, that's for sure and it needs to be stopped. Then they discover that the wounds have a deadly bacteria and the clock is ticking for those infected. Enter Hanklin's neighbor, Francis Wellman, a Native American who believes she has discovered an ancient antidote. And will they ever find the perpetrator of these horrifying attacks? They do.

Paula, (Renee O'Connor) an inspector for the Historic Trust, wraps up a successful and important project in the upper Midwest. On her way home to Chicago, she gets a call from her office and is asked to check out a new applicant. It's on her way anyway, and even though it's late on Friday, she takes a quick detour and heads to the site of once proud steamship along an industrial waterfront. The ships 400 foot black form looms against the sky, and collects dead fish in stagnant water near the pier. Moments after her arrival, her car is seriously disabled and her life is about to change forever. In the chaos that follows, she meets up with the self appointed caretaker, Vigs (Larry Joe Campbell) who is the odd caretaker on the ship. Making the best of a bad situation, she takes him up on his offer to spend the night in one of the cramped but historic staterooms. He invites her to dinner and bad beer...

The last time Hank Purvis saw a Dogman, it was 7 years ago on a lone country road - dead. Everyone thought that was the end of them. They were wrong. Hank now finds himself caught in the middle of it again and it's personal this time.

Tony loves ice fishing.

During a bittersweet reunion with his father Otis, Ted Garner recounts how he bonded with his own son by helping him make a film about the classic Native American legend, The Sleeping Bear. A heartwarming film for all ages.

When Tony's car is towed out of Lake Houghton (again), the D.N.R. decides to hit him with a huge fine. Luckily for Tony there is a fishing tournament that upcoming weekend with a grand prize of $20,000, and he has the boat and lure to win.

On Christmas Eve 1963, the events that took place at a small wilderness radio station in Michigan's Upper Peninsula demonstrate how distinguishing between a law-abiding citizen and a criminal can be a difficult, if not impossible, task.