Today I sent 21 letters to 21 representatives, begging them to reconsider destroying Michigan's film incentives. Feel free to copy this letter, create your own spin and send it to your representatives. If you want the list of who I sent it to, I'm happy to provide it.
Dear Representative,
I am a Project Manager for Real Style Extras Casting & Talent. We have worked on over 30 films here in Michigan and just finished wrapping the television program “Detroit 1-8-7.” Since Michigan’s tax incentives have been in effect, we have been able to place 30,000 extras on Michigan productions! 30,000!!!!
I'd like you to consider that the package of bills that make up our film incentives are an investment in Michigan’s economy. No investment earns the big payout in the short run, but these have brought in hundreds of jobs and spurred people to spend in Michigan. It is important to maintain and grow our industry and vendors who in fact are not related to this industry. It is not a perfect group of bills but they help create jobs and training opportunities. The effect of capping these bills has had an immediate impact on me and my family, as well as thousands of extras we work with.
Until the Governor’s speech last week, we were gearing up to what would have been the biggest summer Michigan’s film industry has ever seen. Huge Hollywood productions, some with budgets of over $100M, were considering Michigan as production sites. They’ve been scared away, costing Michigan millions in revenue. The trickle down effect is just devastating.
There are areas of the bill that should be reviewed. As examples I would suggest that providing incentives for out of state crew is unnecessary. And allowing companies to “pass through” as Michigan corporations is counterproductive.
In the larger picture we must remember, we are now surrounded by States with similar incentives and perhaps they are more attractive due to weather, infrastructure or other factors. They would be happy to take the business we turn away. We need an opportunity to grow ours and better compete. We lose nothing if they don't come - we gain if they do! AND we have!
The positive economic impact goes directly to communities in the great State of Michigan. The amount of money brought in from a national commercial or a several million-dollar feature film can be dramatic.
Anytime a commercial or feature film rolls into town, markets, hotels and similar facilities see the ripple effect in their bottom line...that is money in the til and jobs. The benefits of the influx of this environmentally clean, labor friendly work also include the ability of our currently frayed production infrastructure to retool and better compete on a level playing field with the rest of the U.S.
Commercial work in particular is an issue worth reviewing. In doing so you will find that they, even more than feature films sustain local businesses across the range from rentals to post production.
With studios Raleigh or ABC’s Highland Park facility up and running we will really start to see growth. I urge you to work with efforts to build up not only our industry, but businesses that benefit from the ripple effects.
Most Sincerely;
Most Sincerely;
Dena Raminick
Project Manager
Real Style
248-808-3473
draminick@realstyleonline.com
Facebook: Real Style Extras Casting & Talent
Twitter: RealStyleTalent
Project Manager
Real Style
248-808-3473
draminick@realstyleonline.com
Facebook: Real Style Extras Casting & Talent
Twitter: RealStyleTalent
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