FILMING IN WAYNE COUNTY
Michigan a star in Hollywood
State locales, tax breaks are big hit with filmmakers
Detroit Free Press - April 29, 2010
SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- When thousands of independent filmmakers converged at the annual Locations trade show in Santa Monica two weeks ago, many made a beeline to see the booth of one state in particular: Michigan.
Although the state's reputation has taken a hit from job losses and budget woes, that's not the case in Hollywood. More than two years after rolling out the most generous film tax breaks in the country, Michigan has emerged as a key player in the movie industry.
"Michigan is always considered now," said Christine Marino, a Santa Monica producer. "Producers are chasing incentives."
Before and during the trade show, representatives from Film Detroit and the Michigan Film Office met with production executives in a nonstop series of meetings, lunches and dinners.
The end result: More movies are coming to Michigan. Film Detroit expects movie production spending in the state to hit $500 million this year, more than double the 2009 level. "June, July and August are going to be crazy this summer," predicted Christopher Baum, Film Detroit's senior vice president of sales and marketing.
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