Posted on Sun, May 22, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.
Did Michigan-made films find critical and financial success?
By AnnArbor.com Staff
It was a mixed bag of critical and commercial success for films shot in Michigan the past few years, The Detroit Free Press reported today.
In other words — par for the course for Hollywood movies, according to the article.
About 90 feature films were filmed or partially filmed in Michigan from 2008 to 2010. Included in that number are films that completed post-production work in the state.
At least 2 films — "Gran Torino" and "Up in the Air" — were bigtime hits, the article says. Others didn't fare so well.
With Gov. Rick Snyder's plan to reduce the state's film incentive program, it's likely, the article points out, that Michigan won't see nearly as many productions in the coming years.
Comments
A2lover
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 11:40 a.m.
This fiasco all started when the idea of a Film Initiative was put in place. Anyone with an iota of business sense would know that if you have the money, you have the power. In this case Michigan "had the money", therefore should have asked for (at least) half a point of the gross income of the movie - No 1/2 point, No movie shoot or subsidy. I assume those that negotiated this movie deal did not have the expertise on hand to enter this in the contract. Maybe consulting with some movie people/producers ahead of time would have negated this (now problematical) standoff between artists and Government.
Mick52
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 4:56 p.m.
I would not agree that Michigan had the money. I think the idea was that the film industry would root itself in Michigan, with financial assistance, and eventually become a "new" industry for the state. Unfortunately there is no calculation of when or how the industry would no longer need financing from the state. You make a good point about receiving some of the gross income, which would make this effort look more like an investment with returns on profits. But that was not a part of the plan making it an unbelievably silly program. It would be much easier to support if there were some indications it would thrive, become self sufficient, and employ a lot of people.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 11:49 a.m.
The only reason the movies industry came here at all was that we presented the most attractive incentives in the nation by far. If we had asked for "...(at least) half a point of the gross income of the movie - No 1/2 point, No movie shoot or subsidy. ..." my guess is there would have been no takers. That actually would have been a good thing in hind site.
Awakened
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 11:17 p.m.
It is absolutely imperative that Michigan taxpayers sacrifice to help the movie industry in these hard economic times.
JSA
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 4:18 p.m.
I really hope you are being sarcastic. The subsidy stunk at the beginning and still stinks. T
mojo
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 10:01 p.m.
Why can't Michigan get a piece of the profits? Is that so hard? . If we give tax credit cash' up front for production - why shouldn't we grab some of the payoff at the end? If a movie makes more then the costs of production - Michigan should get a 1-3% kicker of gross ticket sales after cost are recovered.
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 8:54 p.m.
Even if every movie was a smashing success both critically and financially for the producers it doesn't change the fact that the subsidy as it stands is a fiscal disaster for the people of Michigan. Here is a link to an interesting paper done on film subsidies in general <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3326" rel='nofollow'>http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3326</a>
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 8:59 p.m.
here is another link with some info on who the study folks are. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_on_Budget_and_Policy_Priorities" rel='nofollow'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_on_Budget_and_Policy_Priorities</a>
Bones
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 8:49 p.m.
Thanks to to new gov. None of this matters anymore. They will not be doing that here. Ohio and other states will gain jobs and out of state money thanks to the new deal tax scam for businesses. Thanks Snyder. We really needed the loss of some six thousand jobs that were all due to the movie industry. Not to mention all the increased sales from the out of state money spent here. Way to go.
1bit
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 7:25 p.m.
The real question is whether the movies made in Michigan were financially more successful relative to a control group of Hollywood (or elsewhere) counterparts. That is, does doing business in Michigan with the film subsidy make it financially more viable than elsewhere. With that said, I would like to see any movie/TV series subsidized by Michigan to either run a "Pure Michigan" advertisement or prominently display MADE IN MICHIGAN (yes, all caps, maybe filling the whole screen) in the credits somewhere.