MICHIGAN FILMMAKERS are fighting as hard as Wisconsin union members to keep their thriving film industry from being chopped off at the knees by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder.
“Incentives will only be saved in the legislature,” says the West Michigan Film Office, led by Rick Hert, urging filmmakers to make a serious effort to send letters to their state senator and representative.
Writing letters, hard copies and/or Emails, was put on the top of the list of an action plan to take at a recent Film Town Hall Meeting held in Grand Rapids. In addition to letters, filmmakers are urged to make 60-second testimonial videos and gather petitions of support.
Filmmakers also plan on holding a Legislative Day whereby West Michigan legislators would be invited to to a forum where filmmakers and their representatives may discuss solutions to the budget crunch that may involved some changes to the incentives – but do not cripple or kill them.
THE MICHIGAN FILM OFFICE annual report, states that 133 projects wrapped in Michigan since the program launched in April, 2008, and they spent $648 million; $365 million in incentives were approved and $95.6 million has already been paid to production companies.
The incentives have created 5,310 production jobs, as well as more than 8,179 hires of extras and day players.
Snyder’s proposal would cap the tax incentives at $25 million for fiscal 2012 and 2013. The budget must still be approved in the state legislature.
FILM INCENTIVES ARE IN TROUBLE in other states, as well. Pennsylvania has put a freeze on its 25% film tax credit, while it considers eliminating the program which began in 2004, “The Dark Knight Rises” and other features waiting for approval might leave Pittsburgh for other locations.
Georgia’s special tax reform council recommends doing away with the state’s 30% film credit. The council says there’s no conclusive proof the credit brings the state more money than what it costs.
The bipartisan Missouri Tax Credit Review Commission recommended eliminating the state’s $4.5 million program.
Sidebar: In fiscal year 2010, states with tax credit programs spent about $1.5 billion collectively to subsidize film and TV projects, according to a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report released in November suggesting states reduce or eliminate such programs.
