Written by new-contact on Jun 17, 2011. Posted in On Location

Michigan Production Alliance launches ad supporting tax incentives

Ramping up its campaign to hold on to the state’s filming incentives, the Michigan Production Alliance has launched an ad parading hundreds of local filming professionals to emphasise how Michigan has benefitted from the scheme. Keep It Rolling is airing locally in cinemas and on TV.

Airing in 30-second and 60-second spots, the ad features actor Peter Carey talking about how the incentive has benefitted Michigan to the tune of USD800 million and how the state makes USD6 from every dollar spent by visiting productions. The Governor plans to cap the existing scheme at USD25 million a year.

Although the downsized incentive scheme hasn’t yet been legislated, the Michigan Film Office is operating under the assumption that it soon will be.

Ken Droz is a Consultant and former Communications Manager with the Michigan Film Office who’s involved with Amend Don’t End, the campaign defending the incentive scheme. He said: “[The Governor’s revision] would be devastating to the industry as a whole, and the immense progress that has been made in the three years since the incentives were enacted. It intentionally retracts, downsizes, and lays off thousands of newly employed Michigan workers and I don't see how anyone can see that as a positive.”

Although the downsized incentive scheme hasn’t yet been legislated, the Michigan Film Office is operating under the assumption that it soon will be. The state recently lost big-budget Marvel production The Avengers because of uncertainties over the scheme, although Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great and Powerful is scheduled to start production at Raleigh Studios in Detroit in the next few weeks.