Photo: Kathleen Galligan ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
LANSING July 13, 2023 ~ Some members of the Michigan Legislature are looking to bring a media boom back to the state.
The bi-partisan, two-bill package known as the Multimedia Jobs Act was recently introduced in the Michigan House and Senate. The bills aim to incentivize visual media projects, talent, and jobs to stay in the Mitten State.
The bills would give transferable tax credits to commercials, photography, film, television, and streaming projects that operate in the state. The bill package would also give tax credit preferences to Michigan-based companies and productions that hire Michigan residents. Additional credits would be awarded if productions include “filmed in Michigan,” “Pure Michigan,” “Michigan Film & Digital Media Office,” and the Michigan Film Industry Association logo.
PODCAST:
July 13, 2023 ~ Michigan State Rep. John Roth (R–Interlochen) talks to Guy Gordon, Lloyd Jackson, and Jamie Edmonds about the new plan to create a tax credit to promote Michigan-produced films.
(CONTINUED) The bills would also require production companies to spend at least $50,000 for commercial photography, advertising commercials, and projects under 20 minutes, or at least $30,000 for productions over 20 minutes. Michigan vendors must have brick-and-mortar presences, inventory, and full-time employees at production sites.
One of the legislation’s co-sponsors, Michigan State Rep. Jon Roth (R–Interlochen), said on “‘JR Morning with Guy Gordon” that the bill would attract long-term jobs, and media talent to the state.
Some Michigan local multimedia makers also see benefits with the state incentivizing media productions, including Detroit independent producer Dave Krieger. He has worked in visual media since the 1980s, specifically in film and commercial productions since incentives were introduced under former Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
Krieger said Michigan is lagging behind other states and cities nationwide in attracting film shoots since the program was heavily limited under former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. Even shows and movies set in Detroit are mostly shot and produced in other cities with film incentives like Atlanta, with productions only shooting in Michigan for some outdoor footage.
Both Roth and Krieger said these bills would stop short-term video shoots from leaving Michigan with production money once they finish shooting, an issue Roth saw with film incentives under Granholm.
Roth said he does not support long-term tax incentives but believes in using them in the short term to draw film productions to Michigan.
Krieger said that the incentives do not just benefit big production companies, but local Michigan businesses and multimedia productions as well.
“It is another (way) for these producers to raise funding and to have local productions with local producers, directors, or writers that understand the community,” Krieger said. “(They) want to reflect the community, but are prohibited because there is not an incentive compared to other states.“
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