August 2010 Archives | Special Events Corporate Rentals

Archive for August, 2010

Michigan Movies We’ve Supplied Props For

Friday, August 27th, 2010

michigan film props Michigan Movies Weve Supplied Props For As I’m sure you know the movie industry in Michigan has been going gangbusters for awhile with the tax incentives. Display Group has played a large part in being a Detroit Prop House (a movie prop supplier) for these movies. We thought it would be great to go through the recent movies and t.v. shows we’ve supplied props to. I don’t know about you but I’m always excited to see Michigan and Detroit as back-drops to the movies so I’ll be watching all of these!

The Wannabes

Follow six teens who wanna be pop stars even if it means dressing up like fruit and rocking out in a local café. The series begins as five freshman teens attend an arts academy boarding school where they assume they’d learn to become pop stars, but unfortunately not. The stuffy academy only teaches the classics: ballet, instrumental music, and Shakespeare. After a contemporary singing battle in the student lounge, the five teens are given one week of punishment to work at a local café, for free! The Wannabes Movie

What we supplied: Diner boothes, sweet shop props, concert staging/lighting, Mirror balls, linens, market carts, warterfall trees for exterior shots, Drapery for stage, Spandex Walls, Aluminum Divider Walls, and Stone Walls.

Street Kings Motor City

“In addition to Golden Globe-nominated Liotta (Goodfellas), the film stars Shawn Hatosy (Alpha Dog). The sequel to Street Kings, which starred Keanu Reeves and Forest Whitaker, follows police corruption on the streets of Detroit as an undercover narcotics detective (Liotta) teams up with a hothead detective (Hatosy) to uncover the truth behind a string of cop murders.” Street Kings Motor City Movie

What we supplied: Asian statues, lounge furniture, an exam table, and USA/Michigan flags.

Scream 4

“Ten years after the murders, Sydney has become a successful writer publishing her first book,”Out of the Darkness” based on her story. With Gail’s help, the book becomes a huge success. When Sydney’s book tour goes through Woodsboro, she asks Gail and Dewey to join her. There she connects with her aunt and cousin (Jill). Only the homecoming turns out to be deadly as ghostface returns to start a new trilogy. Who will survive?” Scream 4 Movie

What we supplied: Cut up Mannequins, Corpses, Body Parts, Ghoul Statues, Body Forms

A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas (working title)

“Six years have elapsed since Guantanemo Bay, leaving Harold and Kumar estranged from one another with very different families, friends and lives. But when Kumar arrives on Harold’s doorstep during the holiday season with a mysterious package in hand, he inadvertently burns down Harold’s father-in-law’s beloved Christmas tree. To fix the problem, Harold and Kumar embark on a mission through New York City to find the perfect Christmas tree…” A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas

What we supplied: Holiday Décor; Candy Canes, Snowflakes, Large Presents, Director Chairs, Christmas Tree, Wagon, Stanchions Roping, Glass Showcases,Lighting, Lounge Furniture, Gold Statues, a Green Fountain, ornaments.

Home Run Showdown

“Two little league teams take on their coaches sibling rivalry, and end up doing battle in a place the baseball world never expected it: in the outfield of the Home Run Derby.” Home Run Showdown Movie

What we supplied: Lockers, Locker room benchs, Lounge Furniture, Coolers, Chalkboards, Red White Blue Banners, signage, an Italian bar scene.

Crave

“A downtrodden photographer, haunted by the urban violence and decay around him, retreats into an inner world of dark fantasies. Those dangerous visions explode in reality with deadly consequences when his intoxicating new relationship with a beautiful young woman goes sour.” Crave Movie

What we supplied: Stage Riser, White Poly Cyc Drape

Real Steel

“A future-set story where robot boxing is a popular sport and centered on a struggling promoter (Hugh Jackman) who thinks he’s found a champion in a discarded robot. During his hopeful rise to the top, he also discovers he has an 11-year-old son who wants to know his father.” Real Steel Movie

What we supplied: Western Bar Décor, Grass Matting, Linens, Tables, Industrial Merchandisers, Road Cases, Chrome sign holders.

Hung

“Desperate times call for desperate measures and Ray Drecker’s situation couldn’t be much tougher. The former high school sports legend turned middle-aged high school basketball coach is divorced and struggling to provide for his kids when his already run-down house catches fire. Looking to take on a second job, Ray decides to exploit his best asset in a last-ditch attempt to change his fortunes.” Hung t.v. show

What we supplied: Lounge Tables and Stools, furniture.

The Double

“Story kicks off with the mysterious murder of a senator bearing the marks of a Soviet assassin, who was long thought to be dead. To hunt down the killer, a retired CIA operative, who spent his career going toe-to-toe with his Soviet nemesis, is teamed with a young FBI agent.” The Double Movie

What we supplied: Low Aluminum Cocktail Tables, Stanchion and Roping.

Vamps

“Two female vampires in modern-day New York City are faced with daunting romantic possibilities.” Vamps Movie

What we supplied: Dragon Vampire, Gravely Butler, Moan Eek Waitress, Mad Scientist, Rats, Gargoyles, Bats, Skull Lamps, Stage Riser, Mohaghony Bar, Stools, Stanchions, Red Ropes.

Vanishing On 7th Street

When a massive power outage decimates the population, a small handful of people band together inside a deserted tavern in a desperate struggle to survive. Vanishing on 7th Street, an apocalyptic thriller from director Brad Anderson (Session 9, Transsiberian, The Machinist) wrestles with the nature of existence itself in a terrifying vision of the end of the world. Vanishing on 7th Street Movie

What we supplied: Street Signs, Wood Benchs, USA and Michigan Flags, Bomb Shelter Sign, Snowflakes, Candy Canes.

Detroit 187

“Fictional documentarians follow and film Detroit homicide police.” Detroit 1-8-7 t.v. show

What we supplied: Burgundy Drape, Stage Valance, Leopard Drape Walls.

That’s quite a list of movies as you can see. We’ve worked well with the Michigan film industry and look forward to doing much more as a Detroit Prop House.

Tags: Detroit, films, michigan, movies, props
Posted in Client Focus, Movie Industry, Props | No Comments »

Crain’s Detroit Article on Our Props

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Crain’s recently did an article on Display Group as a Detroit Prop House. In addition to all of the corporate and social events that we provide decor, lighting, and furniture to, we have also been busy supplying props to many of the main feature films in Michigan.

With one of the largest inventories in the Midwest of cool props — items ranging from a replica of Michelangelo’s David to a huge mahogany bar — Portwood, president of Display Group, and his staff of 16 full-time and 10 part-time set and graphic designers, are up to the challenge. Housed in a 200,000-square-foot warehouse west of downtown Detroit on Fort Street, Display Group is an event planner’s dream come true.

Because we have such a large warehouse of decor and many different services that we provide, we’re usually only portrayed in articles as being a theme and decor company so it was great to see the Crain’s article go a little more in depth on the variety of projects we’ve completed lately.

Display Group’s services include basic pipe and draping for corporate meetings, elaborate theme decorations and rental furniture for major events, large format graphics and signs, temporary and permanent displays for trade shows, and exhibits for museums. Recently it has designed and created movie sets, including a room to look like heaven for the latest installation of the “Harold & Kumar” comedy film series.

They go on in the article to mention some of our higher profile clients like Compuware, Quicken Loans, The Parade Company, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan. There’s also a good mention of Studio dg our event loft space for rent in our 1920′s era building.

You can read the entire article at Something to see: Display Group makes a go of being all show

Posted in Company News, Props | No Comments »

Office Furniture Rental: 4 Reasons You Need It

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Certain benefits of office furniture rental are well known, such as the low initial cost. However, many businesses assume that the total cost would be so much greater than it would be were the furniture purchased, that they associate rental with short-term thinking. This is not necessarily the case, as rental can not only be the most cost-effective strategy in the long run, but also the best branding decision companies can make.

Production Studios and Temporary Offices

Production studios, for example, which normally only operate for two to four months at most, typically rent their furniture because it is more cost effective than purchasing and reselling when they are finished with the project. Additionally, these companies enjoy the benefits of renting from Display Group, such as design, setup and cleanup, which translates to a significant amount of savings. The same is true of temporary offices that expect to be in operation for only a few years, due to anticipated expansion.

Lower Taxes

It is a less commonly known fact that rented furniture can be expensed for the total price each year, whereas purchased furniture is amortized over a longer period. So, even though the business has paid a lump sum, only a portion of that is reflected in tax benefits. For a number of years, then, the company operates at a tax deficit in comparison with rented furniture. Meanwhile, inflation reduces the value of the total expense, furthering the benefits of office furniture rental.

Office Morale

Furniture has a considerable effect on office morale, efficiency and employee loyalty. Not only does it reflect company resources that reflection also sends a critical message to staff members who depend on their paycheck. By renting, new companies who do not yet have the resources to buy office furniture outright can still uphold a confident image internally, not to mention the effect on new hires, investors, and clients/suppliers, who are actively looking for assurance in the company’s future prosperity.

Flexibility

The versatility of renting can be an enormous selling point for new companies and even established companies which may be anticipating a shift in function or market. Whereas purchasing furniture sets the company ambiance for five years at least, renting can entail commitments of fewer than three years, allowing for quick adjustments to consumer demand and market price. When the business changes its function, the office needs to shift, as well. Flexibility is security.

Display Group will listen to company concerns, target goals, and requirements, draft an office environment to suit them, and with our client’s go ahead, construct the business office from the bottom up. We make the entire process as easy and painless as possible because design, set up, and execution is what we do best, so that clients can focus on their strong suits. Located in Detroit, Michigan we are easily able to service the metro-Detroit areas as well as the whole of lower Michigan.

Tags: Detroit, michigan, office furniture, rental
Posted in Furniture Rental | No Comments »

Mayor Archer Collection – Portable Display Installation

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

We were tasked by Mayor Archer and his family to create a visual collection of the mayor’s accomplishments and highlights during his tenure as the Mayor of Detroit. What we came up with was a unique display using sturdy aluminum supports with stretched fabric to display photos and highlights. This unique design and system not only provides a visually stunning display but also makes it very portable as the display travels across the country. The first stop, with a setup in Strohm Hall at the Detroit Public Library, created the perfect room for the display’s unveiling.

Here are some specifics about the Mayor Archer Collection at the Detroit Public Library

Dennis W. Archer, former Detroit mayor and Michigan Supreme Court Justice, served two four-year terms as mayor of the city of Detroit (1994-2001), and was president of the National League of Cities in 2001. After leaving the mayor’s office, Mr. Archer was elected chairman of Dickinson Wright PLLC, a 200-person, Detroit-based law firm with offices in Michigan and in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Archer gave his personal and municipal records of his mayoral years, as well as his Supreme Court papers, to the Detroit Public Library upon leaving office eight years ago. Mr. Archer and his wife Trudy also donated to the Library $25,000 to process the collection, which will reside in the Burton Historical Collection at Main Library.

Here are some pictures including the original spec drawings that we created for approval.