NOW That's WHAT I'm Talking About!

Lights, camera, action ... Michigan

In our Opinion / Editorial

Detroit Free Press

January 22, 2008

Having recently enjoyed dinner together, perhaps Gov. Jennifer Granholm, state House Speaker Andy Dillon and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop could next take in a movie.

And take in the possibility, too, of rolling out a deep red carpet to bring more of the movie industry to Michigan. If Lansing's leadership is looking for an issue to wrap themselves bipartisanly around in the early going of this year, a hefty tax break to lure filmmakers could be it.

While it's not the kind of heavy industry that made Michigan so prosperous and proud in the past, the film/video business is a growing field that uses cutting-edge technology and appeals to the bright, young "creative class" folks who are leaving Michigan for lack of opportunities. Beyond writers, performers and directors, moviemaking also employs technicians, builders, logistics and numbers people, and food service and hospitality providers.

It's a $60-billion-a-year business in the United States that is expanding with the number of outlets to show movies -- cable stations are hungry for original programming -- and the new means of delivering video information. It's not just about commercial feature films anymore, either, but also advertising, music videos, games, instructional DVDs and television shows. That DVD that came with the elliptical trainer you got for Christmas had to be made somewhere.

Michigan will never displace sunny southern California as the heart of the movie industry, but recent trends show that moviemakers will work anywhere if there's a tax payoff. That's why a number of recent movies set in Detroit ("Four Brothers," "Assault on Precinct 13," for example) were largely shot in Ontario.

Canada has enjoyed great success with a tax-break strategy; provinces are now competing with each other to offer the best deals. States have begun queuing up with tax plans and proposals, too. Put another way, Michigan is already late to this game.

However, language is being drafted for legislation that could set the tax rebate for filmmakers as high as 35%-40%, the best deal in the country. A state Senate committee is scheduled to consider the possibilities at a hearing this afternoon in Lansing, although a bill is not yet ready.

This seems like the proverbial no-brainer.

It brings new business and jobs into Michigan, even if only for as long as the filmmaking lasts, so whatever revenue the state gets is new money; 60% of something is better than 100% of nothing. There's no double-standard against other employers, since Michigan has a long history of offering tax breaks to coveted businesses or using tax incentives for the expansion of existing companies.

Successful commercial movies put a place on the map. Couples who see "Somewhere in Time" are still drawn to romantic weekends on Mackinac Island, where the movie was made in 1979. Michigan offers just about every kind of location, four seasons and, unfortunately, has a huge inventory of big, empty buildings that could be converted to sound stages. Not much happening inside the Wixom plant these days.

Movie companies can now get a 12%-20% state tax write-off on their costs in Michigan. Janet Lockwood, director of the Michigan Film Office, said "Michigan has to go big" in whatever tax plan is offered to compete with other states, such as New Mexico and Connecticut, which are aggressively grabbing larger shares of the movie business.

With bipartisan interest, the state House had a hearing on the tax-break idea last fall. and Lansing's Gongwer News Service reported Monday that Gov. Jennifer Granholm might have something to say about it in her State of the State speech next week.

Seems like the stage is set. Action!

PostPosted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:33 am Post subject: Lights Camera, Action!
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Could be a "Detroit Ticket" to ride. Creative Class and Content "Catalyst!" Sign-on for more at http://www.dwiff.blogspot.com

Best,

Jim Ross
_________________
Jim Ross
21st Century Digital Learning Environments
41810 Huntington Ct.
Clinton Township, MI 48038
586-228-0608


Albom, Binder say incentives can make state site for films

January 23, 2008

BY DAWSON BELL

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Michigan would become a preferred site for the film industry almost overnight if state government provided bigger financial incentives and other help to the people who make movies, according to testimony Tuesday from Free Press columnist and author Mitch Albom and Michigan native and filmmaker Mike Binder.

"This is a booming, growing business," Albom said, and "there is a simple way for us to get into it. Incentives will do it."

Albom, whose work has been adapted into several made-for-TV movies, and Binder, whose credits include "The Upside of Anger," urged the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee to act quickly on legislation to increase the tax breaks for movie and TV production from 20% to 40%.

They also urged the committee to create tax incentives for people who return to Michigan to work in the industry and beef up the state's Film Commission. Doing those things could spur a major industry and job creator within just a few years, Albom said.

Binder said the state needs to send a signal that its labor unions would welcome filmmakers.

Both said productions they are working on could be shot in Michigan as soon as this year if the incentives were put in place quickly.

Lawmakers attending the hearing signaled they were willing to move quickly.

State Sen. Hansen Clarke, D-Detroit, said his city was a perfect location for producers interested in "gritty urban reality." He also expressed hope that its appearance in film would make the city a more attractive place to live and work for young people.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm also supports increased incentives for TV and movie production, spokeswoman Liz Boyd said.

But details remain sketchy, and the actual legislation to enact the changes still is being drafted.

Contact DAWSON BELL at 313-222-6604 or dbell@freepress.com.



PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:25 am Post subject: Movie Industry and the Creative Class
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Politcally correct while generating CREATIVE vehicles for "capital formation" and addtitional revenue-generating activities.

These are also the kind of Creative Class assets that KEEP and ATTRACT 21st Century talent in and to our state.

Bring it On!

See more: http://www.dwiff.blogspot.com
_________________
Jim Ross
21st Century Digital Learning Environments
41810 Huntington Ct.
Clinton Township, MI 48038
586-228-0608