Origin

The EFEX Project was initiated by Sultan Sharrief, during his last undergraduate year at the University of Michigan. In addition to filmmaking, he has a background in arts programming and community service. He used this experience in 2005 when he produced his first 35mm feature film. The Spiral Project, which was budgeted by Hollywood agents to cost 3 million dollars, was shot in metro Detroit for $100,000.00 through the use of creative producing, dedicated students, and community involvement. This film was nominated as a finalist for the 2006 MTV MOVIE AWARDS out of over 500 entries.

The cast and crew were sixty students strong, putting in eighty hour weeks, using all of their resources, and running all over metro Detroit to make the film happen. As a diverse group of students they had a rare type of networking power and resourceful dedication that can make a difference not only in regards to filmmaking, but in the community as well. People were donating things left and right, free locations were acquired, and they even had a fraternity donate a kitchen for our caterer (their chef).

This experience led Sultan to believe that this low-budget filmmaking model could be reproduced, this time to make a film that accurately portrayed the community, actively engaged community member participation, and created a piece of art that the whole community could be proud of. This concept was proposed and accepted as an actual film course at U-M. The result--The EFEX Project and Bilal's Stand.