NEWS
Attempts are now underway in the Michigan legislature to limit the amount available per year for production rebates. Currently there is no limit or cap, but last week an amendment bill which would put a $50 million per year cap on the rebate was passed by a Senate committee. The House is now out of session until after the election; legislation not approved by both the Senate and House by December 31 may not be carried over to 2009, so passage is unlikely this year. But it is probable that an amendment will be introduced again next year.
Meanwhile, the Michigan Treasury Department has ruled that mileage reimbursements, meal allowances and per diems will not qualify for the rebate unless they are subject to Michigan taxes.
Posted 30 August, 2008 in MI News
MICHIGAN continues as the incentives state de jour, with 53 films approved to date, 45 applications currently under review, and 16 films either in production, in prep, or wrapped. The state has just posted regulations for the incentive
http://michigan.gov/filmoffice/0,1607,7-248–198439–,00.html
Posted 30 August, 2008 in MI News
By BASHIRAH MUTTALIB
The largest production rebate in the U.S. could result in nearly $300 million in revenue from film shoots this year. New studios are also in the works for Michigan, which is seeing a production boom in the wake of the rebate.
“There are quite a few films scheduled to shoot,” said Michigan Film Office director Janet Lockwood. “Right now we have three in production, three in prep, five finished although not yet gone, a dozen or more incoming.”
Lensing on “Whip It,” with Drew Barrymore directing Ellen Page, began in July; the Weinstein Co.’s “Youth in Revolt” recently completed principal shooting; and Lifetime’s “Prayers for Bobby,” with Sigourney Weaver, wrapped a few weeks ago. Production on an HBO pilot will begin soon, while ABC/Disney TV recently completed its pilot “Prince of Motor City,” a “Hamlet” set in the automotive world. Production on Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” continues, and indies “Red and Blue Marbles,” “The Detroit Job” and “Street Boss” have recently wrapped.
Projected Michigan revenue from the 47 productions approved so far is $288.4 million, while film revenue last year was $2.2 million. “Heck of a difference!” enthused Lockwood.
Michigan has one 15,000-square-foot studio, Grace Wild, and several smaller facilities. The proposed Center City Studios (Daily Variety, June 24) has yet to break ground but is slated for a mid-2009 completion date. Joining it on the drawing board, Watermark Studios is skedded to break ground later this summer in Muskegon.
Watermark Studios, a $60 million project, is a venture that partners Moses Gross, president of Brooklyn-based ANM Group, with Andrew van den Houten, owner and president of Moderncine, a New York City-based production company. The studio will be a component of Watermark Center Lofts, a 1 million-square-foot mixed-use residential center being developed by ANM Group.
Watermark developers hope to capitalize on Michigan’s 40% rebate by offering three major soundstages, the largest at 17,000 square feet and 52 feet to the grid, and fully equipped lighting and grip production vehicles to service multiple on-location productions.
Once completed, Watermark Studios will allow filmmakers to process and edit their film, transfer footage to HD and create and render visual effects in HD color correction suites. Also to be available: 3-D animation, tape-to-film transfers and 3-D film processing, along with dialogue replacement, foley, sound design and sound mixing on THX- and Dolby-certified stages. Screening rooms and theaters are also planned.
Financial consulting, bridge loans for film and television projects, casting, location scouting and distribution services complete the one-stop shop.
Adding to Michigan’s film roster, Moderncine’s van den Houten is currently directing “Offspring,” which is lensing in and around the Muskegon area as well as on-site at Watermark Center Lofts. Pic is based on the novel by Jack Ketchum, who also wrote the screenplay.
Posted 8 April, 2008 in MI News
http://fox17.trb.com/news/040708-wxmi-mifilm,0,1874855.story
Posted 29 March, 2008 in MI News
Incentive was passed through the senate and the house, awaiting signature with the governor. They are hoping to announce on April 7th.
Posted 9 March, 2008 in MI News
If everything goes as planned, Michigan may soon become one of the main production hubs in the U.S. The reason? A forty percent rebate, no per picture or yearly cap, and (later in the year) a production loan program. There is an additional two percent incentive for shooting in any of 103 Core Communities. The expected effective date is April 1st, with the required Application Form available in 10 days. Anyone needing to start pre-production prior to April 1st should discuss retroactivity with the Michigan Film Office. There is a salary cap of $2 million per person.
While details are not yet final, the following information is accurate as of this writing. Cast and crew need not be Michigan residents to qualify, but they only qualify if Michigan state income taxes are paid. Purchases and rentals must be from a Michigan vendor to qualify, but the vendor may arrange a sub-rental from an out-of-state supplier and still qualify if the required items are not available within the state. Services must be provided by in-state vendors to qualify.
The rebate will be paid in 30 to 60 days, to a maximum of 90 days after all materials have been submitted in good order; the producer will be responsible for providing an appropriate audit. It is NOT necessary to file a state tax return prior to receiving the rebate; however, uncompleted film will not qualify.
The Detroit IATSE reports between 120 and 140 active members with motion picture experience; Michigan IA is on area standards, Maryland rates.
There is one large sound stage, and a 35mm processing lab.
Detroit, on the Canadian border, is the largest city in the state, with a population somewhat under a million. Other cities include Lansing (the State capital), Ann Arbor, Flint, and Grand Rapids, with populations between 100,000 and 200,000. The state is divided into two Peninsulas - the Lower, with a population of just under 10 million, and the Upper, which is as large as Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island combined but has fewer than 330,000 inhabitants. The two peninsulas are connected by a 5-mile suspension bridge; the Upper Peninsula stretches across the top of Wisconsin, and touches Minnesota.
Posted 22 December, 2007 in MI News
MICHIGAN is working on a new incentive program that, if approved, will be one of the most generous in the U.S. Details to follow soon.
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