Written by new-contact on May 20, 2011. Posted in On Location

Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great and Powerful first film at Raleigh Studios Michigan

Oz: The Great and Powerful, the new feature from Sam Raimi, will film at Michigan’s Raleigh Studios with production likely to start in August 2011. The film is the first to shoot at the new studios and could be the last to benefit from the existing incentive scheme.

Oz will be spending a little over USD100 million in the state and will receive a USD40 million tax credit. While it’s clearly good news for Michigan, the film may be the last to benefit from the state’s current 40% tax credit. Governor Rick Snyder is planning to massively reduce the programme to cut public spending.

As we move forward in the budget process [for Oz], it is important that we keep the discussion regarding the film tax credit open.

Randy Richardville, Michigan Senate Majority Leader

Randy Richardville, Michigan Senate Majority Leader, said: “As we move forward in the budget process [for Oz], it is important that we keep the discussion regarding the film tax credit open. As we can see, Michigan has the potential to attract many more film-related business opportunities and more opportunities for our skilled work force.”

Carrie Jones, Director of the Michigan Film Office, added: “This project is a great opportunity to highlight Michigan’s world-class film infrastructure as well as our talented and skilled workforce. We are excited to showcase all this state has to offer.”

Michigan industry professionals have set up a group called the Amend Don’t End Coalition, which aims to find a compromise regarding the state tax credit.