GR Press Incentives Article

MOVIE MOGULS IN MICHIGAN
Friday, January 19, 2007

Michigan made its fame on the motorcar, but movies can offer the state a different brand of stardom. New tax breaks for film makers, which go into effect this year, will help draw producers, actors and directors -- and the considerable economic activity they generate -- to locations as diverse as Detroit and Grand Haven. But incentives alone won't do the work. The state's film office, overseen by Janet Lockwood, should now aggressively market these sweeteners to Hollywood moguls searching for a different backdrop.

This legislative magnet for the celluloid set is the handiwork of state Rep. William Huizenga, R-Zeeland. Mr. Huizenga shepherded the incentives through the Legislature, despite setbacks and challenges, earning him the nickname "Hollywood Huizenga." Future film makers who find reduced production costs on the shores of Lake Michigan or some urban mean street owe Mr. Huizenga a credit.

So do state residents. Movies are big business, and they generate spin-off economic activity that benefit construction trades, restaurants, hotels and others in a local community where filming occurs.

Allegan and Ottawa counties saw that potential six years ago when actors Tom Hanks and Jude Law, along with a crew from DreamWorks Pictures, came here to film the final scenes of "The Road to Perdition." Their community cameo poured hundreds of thousands into lakeshore tills and ledgers.

The incentives, which took effect two weeks ago, will give a 12 percent to 20 percent production cost tax rebate when $200,000 to $10 million is spent. The total the state will forgive is capped at $7 million a year. The legislation sunsets in 2011.

If experience in other states is duplicated here, lawmakers may want to renew the incentives at that point. Four years ago, Louisiana began offering incentives and watched the film industry's spending skyrocket from $12 million in 2002 to nearly $600 million in 2006.

Michigan beaches hold at least as much appeal as Louisiana bayous. But right now, feature-film spending in Michigan is about at $2 million a year. The state has lost business because it has, until this legislation, not offered competitive incentives. The Golden Globe winning picture "Dreamgirls" considered and rejected Michigan because the state lacked lures. Pitching Michigan as a film setting can't stop with tax breaks. Other states are in the hunt and either pursuing or offering similar incentives. Michigan has to sell itself aggressively as it competes for its piece of Tinseltown.

Those two steps together can realize Mr. Huizenga's vision of increased money and exposure for the state. When that happens, Mr. Huizenga will deserve a standing ovation for his leading role.

©2007 Grand Rapids Press

A little education on the incentives package

Recently WMFVA member Chris O'Hara was featured on Michigan Public Radio as
part of a report on the new motion picture incentives signed into law by
Governor Granholm last week. Take a listen - Chris, great job!

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/michigan/local-michigan-
558321.mp3

Welcome to 2007

I don't know about you but I would say an update is in order so here one goes!!

I am not quite sure where I left off with everyone so I will just start with getting off
the island for the summer.

I spent Halloween weekend on Mackinac Island as Sally from the Nightmare Before Christmas. My Birthday was of course on October 30 and I turned 27 this year. I am not sure what I am going to do yet at 27...I've never lived this long before but I seem to be finding things to keep busy with. I had a wonderful evening in Detroit for my B-day then I headed off to
Chicago for a week.

I stayed at a hostel in Chicago and met some really cool girls and we kicked around the city for a couple of days. Of course I visited the Museum on Contemporary Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago is actually free on Thursday nights and so me and Amy did this thrilling turbo 3 hour tour of the museum. If you know anything about this museum that gave us enough time to see not even one quarter of what they have there. I was happy to see a great photography exhibit while I was there though.
http://www.artic.edu/aic/exhibitions/story/
If you have a chance to look into any of these artists please take the time. I spent 2 of my hours looking at this exhibit and then the last hour running around trying to catch a little Dali and O'Keefe before the museum shut down. NOTE: Does anyone else besides myself think it should be the Chicago Institute of Art so we can call it the CIA?

As some of you know once I got back from Chicago I had a hell of a time with unemployment. Finally everything got straightened out and mid December I finally started getting my checks. Things were a little hairy there financially for a little while.

I was happy to spend Thanksgiving with my family this year as well I didn't have to be working at a video store some where like I usually am.

During November I had a lot of ideas about what I wanted to do next but wasn't quite sure which was going to work out for me. Obviously I decided to stay in GR for the winter and have been busy with a lot of things actually. It took sometime and research before I decided what I was going to pursue...but if you read on you will find that I found plenty to keep myself busy.

As some of you know I am on the Board of Directors for and organization called the West Michigan Film Video Alliance. We have been working very hard to drum up support for the Motion Picture Incentive Package. This bill was finally passed in December. This is good news for Michigan and hopefully we will start seeing its effects within the next couple of years.
It was just signed into action by Governor Granholm last week. You can check out more about the bill and what I am talking about at:
www.wmfva.org

The WMFVA is also working on other big things right now as well. We have had a task force in place since last summer planning and researching the creation of a regional film office in West Michigan. We are currently planning an Oscar Party on Feb 25 that is going to be a fundraiser for the WMFVA and the West Michigan Film Commission. We are hoping to have this office open this summer of 2007. I would love to see as many people come and support our efforts
on February 25 so if you are interested save the date on you calendar. The event will start at 7pm at Celebration Cinemas North off of the East Beltline. You have the time and the place and its Oscar night! What more could you ask for!!!

So between an Incentive Package, a Film Commission, a planned Film Office, and a Oscar Party Fundraiser the West Michigan Film Video Alliance has a lot to look forward to this year.

That doesn't necessarily take care of my future though. I have been working on a little application myself this past month which recently have been taking up my every waking moment. The Directors Guild of America has been taking applications for its Assistant Directors Training Program and I just sent mine in this past Friday. Check more of this program out at:
www.dgatrainingprogram.org
Pretty much its like applying to graduate school only maybe a little harder...I guess that depends on the graduate school you compare it to. I sent in a very complicated resume and two letters of recommendation. Plus I needed to write a letter of purpose. It only needed to be one page and I spent a month writing it. Over and over I wrote it and I was never really happy with it at all. Of course the day before the application is due all my thoughts come together for me!! No matter how hard I try to get it done in advance still to this day my words don't come together until the day before the paper is due. I was very happy with the result though and proud of what I sent in...until the day after I sent it and I noticed 2 typos that got past me and the 5 people who proofed my letter. How they got by all of us is beyond me. I am in a bit of an upset over it but I guess I have to give it up cause its on its way whether I like it or not.

The program takes place in New York city. It is a 2 year program where the Directors Guild finds productions for you to work on and its PAID!! Plus they provide health care at no cost. SWEET!!

So the deal is I have just sent in my application and I am assuming I will receive some sort of information on the next step soon. Phase 2 as they call it is a test that I have to go to New York to take February 24. A battery of tests they call it...hmmm...something involving temperament. Wish me luck, pray, meditate and throw pennies into fountains for me wishing that I get into this program. Or whatever you do.

Now that I don't have that application to work on I don't quite know what I am going to do with myself...but as you can see even though I am unemployed I have managed to keep busy.

This Holiday season was one of the best I have had in a long time and very relaxing. I am pretty sure I ate more this year than I ever have. Christmas Eve at my sisters was a tapas
type of dinner. Then Christmas morning at my house with my roommates and I made a huge breakfast. Then Christmas day at my moms...the best steak I have had in a damn long time.
Then I traveled to Mt Pleasant for a couple of days. I was happy to see friends that I have not seen in so long from Blockbuster to college friends. Then up to my Dads in St Ignace for Christmas up there and another big dinner. Then New Years Eve weekend in Detroit with my best friend Liz. What a week. Fun Fun Fun...

Well here I am mid January... where are you? what are you doing?
Keep in touch and I will keep everyone updated as to what
happens with the Assistant Directors Training Program.

Peace, Love and Production
Jax