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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Michigan Film Incentives on the chopping block...

thanks for the advice mike, point taken. some people just look at life in different ways. you have my respect.
 
For any of those affected and actually interested in doing something to try to keep the incentives rolling, I took this from FB:

An organizational and informational event to most effectively communicate to Michigan's legislators, governor and voting public why the film incentive program (among other issues), should be preserved.

WHEN: Thursday, February 24, 7:30pm
WHERE: Maxsar Studios
38099 Schoolcraft Rd. (east of I-275, on south side of I-96 freeway)
Livonia, MI 48150

Featured Speakers:
Mitch Albom, Free Press Columnist Mike Binder, filmmaker and Michigan native
Andy Meisner, Oakland County Treasurer, and former State Rep.
Philippe Martinez, Maxsar Studios CEO Emery King and Jim Burnstein, Chair and Vice-Chair, MFO Advisory Council Ken Droz, Consultant and former MFO Communications Mgr. Others to be announced.

Provided will be various evidence and informational points, legislators' names and contact info, and strategic methods on conveying the most effective message possible, for legislative officials and districts statewide.

Hosted by Mitch Albom, Kenneth Droz Consulting and Maxsar Digital Studios
Open to the press and general public
 
Greg Huson said:
What does that ' all that entail?'
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High rent. Low employment rates. If I could support myself in LA working in film, even a guaranteed minimum wage consistently, I'd move there tomorrow. I like the city a lot, though, it's just frustrating to see another tax rebate shut down so fast since not all of us have the connections to make it in LA.
 
Tax incentives going away is good for LA. It's good for people like me too. If there is work in LA, then some guy doesn't have to come all the way to Baltimore to take my lousy B cam operator job on a pos pilot.

Nick
 
So LA should have the strangle on the production industry?

I can understand LA players considering incentives as bribes, since they are, but how else do you recommend building an Industry? Consider this, if when young people want in to our craft, we tell them they got to pay their dues, and work for cheap (or get coffee or something along those lines), how is this any different? This are states/countries paying their dues. Some will make it thru, most wont. That's the chance they take.
 
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hunterrichards said:
I knew it was coming- very relieved.

These are the only people the program has helped:

1)Above the line/Studios
2)Local Caterer's/teamsters/pa's

Ive honestly been on a few "Big" sets here where every person (besides the noted few local's) Everyone involved in the production is from out of state- From The top to near the bottom, the Grip/electric rental is from out of state, the camera dept rental is from out of state. Crew is from out of state. And they still get the tax rebate. How? Because productions lie (or "stretch the truth") on this requirement: "40%-42% Resident Below the Line."
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This is very true!
 
Matt W. said:
High rent. Low employment rates. If I could support myself in LA working in film, even a guaranteed minimum wage consistently, I'd move there tomorrow. I like the city a lot, though, it's just frustrating to see another tax rebate shut down so fast since not all of us have the connections to make it in LA.
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Many, many of us who have made our lives in the industry had absolutely no "connections" when we first came here. It's talent, drive, perseverance, and a continuing devotion to learning that makes one valuable in this or any other industry. Connections are nice if you have them, but without the other traits any connections will soon cease to be a meal ticket. High rent is a relative term, not everyone needs to live on the West Side. Low employment is the new reality all over America. Many, if not most, of the people in the industry - myself included - went through periods of working in non-industry jobs while we pursued what we wanted. Giving up before you start is not a great way to ultimately succeed. If you want to move, move. Rationalizations as to why you shouldn't are only excuses as to why you don't.
 
paulherrin said:
like i said, my apologies. i'm not used to the ability to approach "superstars", and i'm still trying to figure out how one is supposed to know otherwise.
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Hell, you're not talking about me!

I'm not in the least bothered that you don't know who I am.

It does bother me that there's a web link at the bottom of every message I post and you couldn't be bothered to follow it.

I love the availability of people on the net and how you could suggest that I'm not approachable is beyond me, for crying out loud, I started CML which is all about sharing and approachability.
 
I'm happy with this. What's close to Michigan and already has those production support networks already in place? TORONTO!!!!!!!

Which is where I live and work, so I'm ok with it if Michigan goes under. I feel bad because they spent all that money already trying to build that network, and get those jobs going, just to see it fail so quickly.

it's also troubling because Michigan thrives on automotive and manufacturing businesses, which given the economy are not the most reliable at this point. A new industry would be great for them.

Though, one person's trouble is anothers success
 
Mark Collins said:
I'm happy with this. What's close to Michigan and already has those production support networks already in place? TORONTO!!!!!!!

Which is where I live and work, so I'm ok with it if Michigan goes under.
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Not to slight Toronto - a very nice city with a lot of great people and a film industry that has existed for quite some time - but nobody was going to Michigan because of the weather, landscape, or because it was close to Toronto. They were going because it's cheap. Which is the primary attraction of all incentivized locations, because quite frankly if it wasn't the case, probably 80% of all production would be in and around Southern California, if only for the fact that nearly all of the above the line talent, as well as the production companies and studios themselves, live there. In fact, prior to the introduction of incentives by Canada and others, that was largely the way it was. The hard truth is that for the vast, vast majority of projects, there is nothing needed in the way of locations, services, infrastructure, or talent that is not available in and around greater Los Angeles in abundance. The attraction of going elsewhere is money. Pure and simple.

Being near Michigan isn't going to get Toronto anything that Toronto wasn't up for already even if production completely disappears from Michigan.
 
Chris, sorry to hear about the troubling times that may be coming your way.

Its unfortunate that they dont have the vision to understand that it was a long term marathon, not a sprint (the way to build industry that is)
 
M Most said:
Many, many of us who have made our lives in the industry had absolutely no "connections" when we first came here. It's talent, drive, perseverance, and a continuing devotion to learning that makes one valuable in this or any other industry. Connections are nice if you have them, but without the other traits any connections will soon cease to be a meal ticket. High rent is a relative term, not everyone needs to live on the West Side. Low employment is the new reality all over America. Many, if not most, of the people in the industry - myself included - went through periods of working in non-industry jobs while we pursued what we wanted. Giving up before you start is not a great way to ultimately succeed. If you want to move, move. Rationalizations as to why you shouldn't are only excuses as to why you don't.
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I agree in principle, but all I'm looking to do is work as a grip or PA, maybe make $1000 a month for the first year or two and then start saving up. I don't want to work in retail or food service in order to support myself while I climb the PA ladder so I can then climb whatever lies past that. It used to be high school students got PA gigs in their spare time; now you need a film degree or to know someone in the industry just to get on set.

These tax rebate states have an entry point into the industry for those willing to move to them. It's frustrating to me to have that cut off is all. I agree otherwise.
 
Matt W. said:
It used to be high school students got PA gigs in their spare time; now you need a film degree or to know someone in the industry just to get on set.
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Which brings me back to what I was trying to tell you in my last post. What you're saying just isn't the case, even though you seem to be convinced that it is. If you really want to pursue whatever career you want to pursue, you have to be aggressive and proactive, more today than ever before. Resigning yourself to thinking these things are not available or possible is a sure way to never achieve them. Besides, it seems to me that you and everyone else here do "know" people in the industry, because that includes a lot of people who post here. Reach out to some of them as a starting point. In short, show some "chutzpa." The ability to directly contact the people you seem to want to contact has never been more available. I wish I had that advantage way back when I started out!
 
Frank Cueto said:
Chris, sorry to hear about the troubling times that may be coming your way.

Its unfortunate that they dont have the vision to understand that it was a long term marathon, not a sprint (the way to build industry that is)
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It's a bit difficult to have long term vision when you're broke. That goes for the entire country, not just Michigan.
 
You said it so well, it's difficult, definitely not imposible :-)
 
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