Edward A. Gardiner
ed.gardiner@theagencyadvantage.com
Ed
Gardiner, partner in THE AGENCY studied Radio, TV and Film at Wayne
State University where he worked as in intern at WDET FM and produced
weekly film screenings on campus as the Rainbow Collective. He was a
founding member of the Detroit Film Collective, which produced several
award-winning documentary and educational films in the early 70's.
Ed
moved to Chicago in 1975 and then to San Francisco in 1978. After
leaving Detroit he became involved in event production and produced
many major events in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Lake Tahoe
and Sacramento. While in LA he supervised all production for Along Came
Mary Catering, the largest special event company in LA that did
virtually all the major film events in Hollywood. Ed had a chance to
work with many of the big names in the movie business on back lots and
sound stages all over southern California.
Since returning to
Detroit in 1998, Ed has been producing events for major corporate and
select private clients. He is the founder of Edgewise and created the
Avenue of the Arts along the downtown stretch of Woodward Avenue as
part of Fourth Fridays. From its humble beginnings it grew to encompass
7 buildings showing the work of 25 local artists.
Ed was a
founding member of Thought Collide Productions and served as lead
producer for Thought Collide’s first feature film, “The Passenger” and
the twelve-month episodic Science fiction serial, “Inzero” which became
a cult favorite around Detroit.
Since leaving Thought Collide in
February 2007 Ed has been a driving force in bringing the vision of a
viable film industry in Detroit into being. First, he opened Studio
601, a performance venue for theatre, improv comedy and music in the
downtown district. Then in 2008 he established the Motor City Movie
House as a gathering place at the Russell Industrial Center.
Ed founded
the Detroit Film Society to create events and structures that would
offer homegrown talent a chance to network and succeed without leaving
the Detroit area. He consulted on the film incentive package that was
passed in May 2008 and continues to advocate for a sustainable local
film industry not dependant on Hollywood to survive. He is working
toward the creation of a Funding Pool for Michigan made movies and new
ways of securing distribution. He has several feature films in
development and is frequently seen on movie sets assisting with
production.
Ed has sat on the board for The Contemporary Art
Institute of Detroit and The Russell Center for the Creative Arts,
which produces The Peoples Art Festival. He continues to volunteer with
other industry and community groups to foster the creative community of
Detroit.