Ypsilanti city wants filmmakers to help pay their way
Hollywood filmmakers are welcome to make movies in Ypsilanti, but now they’ll have to help pay their way.
Ypsilanti City Council passed a resolution last week requiring filmmakers to get a permit to shoot movies in the city.
Chantal Cotton, a city administrative intern, said the permit is a way to both prevent unauthorized filming in the city, and to make sure the city gets its fair share of money from filmmakers using city personnel for their productions.
"We just want to, as much as we can, cover staff costs,'' Cotton said.Fees charged under the permit will vary based on how many city personnel are used and how long the shooting takes place. The city’s fee schedule for film productions is as follows:
• $250 one-time fee to film on public property.
• $100 one-time fee to shoot on private property.
• A $3,000 deposit may be required to use city services while filming.
• $53/hour for a police officer.
• $69/hour for a police lieutenant.
• $46/hour for a firefighter.
• $80/hour for the fire chief.
• $29/hour for a sanitation worker ($37 with overtime).
• $8.09/hour to rent a police cruiser.
• $450/hour to rent a fire truck.
The permit is required for filmmakers making motion pictures, educational films, or TV commercials. It is not required for filming of news stories, private videos such as weddings, school projects, city-sponsored films that promote commerce or tourism or live sporting events.
Michigan has become a popular state for filmmakers since a 40-percent refundable or transferable tax credit for producing films in the state was implemented in April 2008. Both Drew Barrymore and Rob Reiner have filmed features in the area recently. Barrymore’s “Whip It” opened in theaters this month.
David Wak is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
AndyYpsilanti
Tue, Oct 13, 2009 : 3:15 p.m.
This is not going to chase film makers out of Ypsi, it is going to make it easier for them to work here. Large scale film productions already have to pull permits and pay fees, but up untill now these have been taken from the city's special event schedule. The special event schedule is the same one used for Heritage fest, beer fest, car shows, what have you. So, in the past, a location scout had to try and figure out what kind of permits or fees a film company would be paying from that schedule, written for an entirely different purpose. Now a location scout can go to the city website and look up the Film Ordinance and Fee Schedule, and know almost exactly what it will cost to work in Ypsilanti before they even make a call to City Hall. It saves work, time, and effort for film makers and for city hall employees. By the way, if you read the actual ordinance, you get a pass on personal video, news, youtube, live video projection, student films and most anything else that you would do with a video camera outside of shooting a major motion picture or tv show/comercial. Oh, and if you have a film studio in the city and are already established and zoned as such, you don't need a permit to work on your own property. The reason that you need a permit for filming on private property? Most productions fill the surrounding streets with trucks, trailers, and equipment. If you don't own a zoned film studio, you have to get a permit to do a professional film production and all that goes with it. That simple. So, no, you won't need a permit for your student film or filming little Jack's birthday party. I'm all for calling out city council when they waste money and time or scare away buisness, but in this case, they have done the opposite.
YpsiStimpy
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 9:38 p.m.
I'm sorry. My comment should have been addressed to EZ12C.
YpsiStimpy
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 9:34 p.m.
Dading: The permit clearly states that it does NOT include school projects.
oldblueypsi
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 2:39 p.m.
I'm in full agreement that users of city services, equipment and personnel for entertainment purposes should have to pay for same. I certainly hope that Drew Barrymore's and Rob Reiner's film companies covered the city's expenses for the two films made so far. If not, there should be some serious housecleaning at city hall. [For both of those people, the entire annual Ypsilanti City budget would be a line item in a budget for one of their films.] Under what theory or principle of law does the city have a right to charge someone for performing a legal act or acts with my permission on my property as long as those acts do not create a disruption requiring city personnel or equipment. If I decide to video my grandchildren in my yard, does the city expect $100? Think again geniuses! In attacking this "problem", perhaps the city should look at the carrot and the stick to see which might generate the best public good. My mother retired to Ocean Grove, NJ after my father passed. All of OG is on the national historic register. It has the largest (one square mile) collection of victorian and early 1900 homes in the US. The great Auditorium is the largest wooden auditorium in the US. In the late 1970's, the auditorium externally fell into disrepair. The paint was peeling, exterior lighting was failing, windows became inoperable, and awnings had long since been destroyed. The centerpiece of OG was beginning to look like its neighbor, Asbury Park, NJ. In 1978/1979, Woody Allen was seeking a location for what became the Stardust Hotel in "Stardust Memories", the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association invited him to look at the auditorium as a potential backdrop for the movie. (Being from Brooklyn, Woody had been to the Jersey shore [Asbury Park] and knew of the Auditorium.) Once he came and looked, he decided he wanted the carrot. His offer, which was accepted, was a complete refurbishing of the exterior (cost of repaint? - how much does it cost to repaint a three story building the interior of which is larger than a football field). Windows were repaired, awnings replaced, the lighted cross on the front (inop for several years) was replaced (after filming) with a new one. Entry doors were replaced and improvements were made to the interior. All improvements were made at Woody Allen's suggestion, and at his expense! Without any ordinance, any municipal expenses were covered by Woody Allen. When filming ended, a nice donation check was deposited into the municipal coffers. Yes, the carrot does work! If you're worried about the horse taking the carrot without paying for it, either don't do business with the horse, or suspend the carrot from a stick! Don't just swagger around like Buford Pusser swinging a big stick. Now that filmmakers know their way to Ypsi (even if some can't pronounce it), let's sell them on the positives. Now that Generous Motors has become Government Motors, we need a new cash cow!!!!
ez12c
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 8:59 a.m.
Though my son has not made a college choice yet, he will be studying graphic arts. You can bet that if he needs HUNDREDS to THOUSANDS of dollars in fees for each homework assignment, I will forbid him from considering EMU and the Ypsilanti community et al. Great work city government.
dading dont delete me bro
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 8:29 a.m.
hey city council...why kill a golden goose? so i'd expect these film makers to move onto where they don't have to pay these permit fees...i can understand public services or 'props', i.e.police cruser, fire truck, clean-up crews. question, why is the city entitled to a fee for filming on private property? i would expect this to be worked out between the producer and that private owner...? what's anybody else think?
emu2009
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 5:25 a.m.
Once again the "copy-editors" aren't on the ball " $100 one-time feel to shoot on private property." I am not so sure how private property owners are going to like a one-time "FEEL"