CALENDAR

Editor 's note: submit events, meetings, workshops and conferences at least one month in advance to cibm@news-gazette.com for inclusion in Mark Your Calendar.

Untitled < Aug Sep Oct >

September 7
Business Success Human Resource Seminars - Seminar 1: Recruiting and hiring right the first time 8:30 a.m.
Chamber Large Conference Room 1817 S. Neil St., Suite 201, Champaign These seminars are designed specifically for chamber members who are seeking quality, practical and affordable education on managing and grow their companies. Interested individuals can choose the sessions that are right for them -- or they can plan to attend all the sessions. Cost for chamber members is $32 per session or $145 for the entire series. Interested individuals can contact Norma Wesley at (217) 531-4679 or NormaW@champaigncounty.org.

September 9
Chamber breakfast 7:30 a.m.
Hawthorn Suites 101 Trade Centre Drive, Champaign Public affairs analyst Thom Serafin will discuss the November elections and their impact on Illinois.

September 9
Chamber ambassadors meeting 4 p.m.
Chamber Large Conference Room 1817 S. Neil St. Suite 201, Champaign For more information and to get involved, contact Paul Caravelli at PaulC@champaigncounty.org.

September 9
Project management certificate 6 to 9 p.m.
Class continues every Thursday through Dec. 16 Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign This program assists in taking the PMP Certification Exam sponsored by the Project Management Institute. For additional exam requirements, visit the PMI website: www.pmi.org/CareerDevelopment/Pages/AboutPMIsCredentials.aspx Participants will be assigned a project to work on by the instructor. Upon successful completion, students receive a certificate of completion from Parkland College. Deadline to register is Sept. 2. Class fee is $1,895, including book. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 13
Community Spanish: A survival guide for English speakers 6 to 9 p.m.
Class continues Mondays until Oct. 11 Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign Deadline to register is Sept. 7. Class fee is $225, including book and CD. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 13
Introduction to home inspection (Pre-licensing)
Class begins online on Sept. 13. Online sessions continue through Nov. 5. Classroom sessions are Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 30, Nov. 13 Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign E-mail access and an Internet connection are required. Deadline to register is Sept. 6. Class fee is $1,275, including book. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 14
Business continuity management certification 9 a.m. to noon
Class continues Tuesdays and Thursdays through Nov. 18 Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign Complete an online certification exam from the National Institute of Business Continuity Management as well as the requirements for the Professional Development Series offered by the Emergency Management Institute. Deadline to register is Sept. 7. Class fee is $1,995. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 14
Food service sanitation certification 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Class continues Tuesdays through Oct. 5. Test is Oct. 12. Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign In addition to becoming state certified, candidates who successfully complete this course are eligible for the ServSafe food safety certification examination for an additional fee. Deadline to register is Sept. 7. Class fee is $105, not including book. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 16
Agribusiness Council 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
Carle Development Foundation 911 E. University Ave., Urbana Contact Andrew Proctor, public policy manager, at andrewp@champaigncounty.org.

September 16
Correcting performance problems 8 a.m. to noon
Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign Deadline to register is Sept. 9. Class fee is $125, including workbook. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 16
Business After Hours 5 to 7 p.m.
Benefit Planning Consultants 2110 Clearlake Blvd. Suite 200, Champaign Proceeds from the $5 per person donation at the door will help fund Chamber programs. The donation for non-members and guests is $8.

September 21
Business Success Human Resource Seminars - Seminar 2: Getting your new employee to quickly be productive and connected to your company 8:30 a.m.
Chamber Large Conference Room 1817 S. Neil St., Suite 201, Champaign Cost for Chamber members is $32 per session or $145 for the entire series. Interested individuals can contact Norma Wesley at (217) 531-4679 or NormaW@champaigncounty.org.

September 24
Building Operator Certification - Level 1 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Class continues Thursdays and Fridays: Oct. 8, 22, Nov. 4, 5, 19, Dec. 3, 17 Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign All sessions are taught by MEEA instructors and require some out-of-class projects. Deadline to register is Sept. 17. Class fee is $1,250, including BOC certification exams and books. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

INNOVATION > THE OUTER LIMITS September 2010

mini-Hollywood in the Midwest

Dreamscape makes feature films right here in Champaign

By Sarah Lohman
CIB Staff Writer

Robin Christian's goal is to make Champaign a mini-Hollywood.

Christian is the CEO of Dreamscape, a local company that produces award-winning movies and interactive media. The company started as an ad agency in Champaign, but after the recession in 1990, Christian decided to hire more programmers and move into the new era of marketing -- interactive designs. He also decided to try his hand at moviemaking -- a dream of his since he was 12 years old. He is now also producer, director and writer for the company.

Years ago, they were making 3-D images with their own software on floppy disks, Christian said. They were always a step ahead.

Today, technology moves so fast no one is a step ahead for very long, so Dreamscape has found another way to keep ahead of the curve.

"If everyone's caught up, what can you be better at? Creating," Christian said. "That's what we bring to it. ... We're really trying to not just do a cool program, but how can you do business with this and how can you wow people with creativity?"

They have a service side and a product side. On the service side they have produce high-tech visuals such as commercials, 3D renderings and websites. They have designed and hosted websites for national companies like NASA and M & M Mars and local companies such as Carle. They have also built applications to be used with a touchscreens, iPods or the Droid operating system. They also do high-end TV spots for some of their clients.

On the product side, the company makes movies. Right now they are working on a family fantasy, and have already produced several thrillers.

"Movies are not a typical thing you find in the middle of the country," Christian said, so actors are surprised when they are called to the Midwest to make a film. "And then they get here and they love it."

Dreamscape has four regular employees, but they sometimes have as many as 60 people working on a feature film.

The company usually has one marketing intern and four interns working on movies. Christian also mentors local students on the filmmaking process, and they get hands-on experience with all stages of a film.

The company moved to the UI Research Park late last year.

"With the research park, we're pushing the envelope and, besides the fact that we're always trying to develop things ahead of the curve, we're trying to do it in a way it's never been done before, trying to research new methods for video," Christian said. "The research park, being able to research all this, really helps us."

They also opened an office in Hollywood last year that serves as a meeting place for Christian to attract talent.

"I'm always trying to find a way to get bigger names," Christian said.

In the future, they hope to expand into a larger space and to make a film in 3-D. Christian said he hopes to keep the company in Champaign.

They also hope to educate local investors on what they do.

"If you are going to make an investment in something, why wouldn't you make it in one that is helping college kids, helping the community, making you look good because you're making a movie and currently affecting life by a high production value movie that was made right here?" Christian said.