Governor Snyder's opposition and capping of the Mitten's film incentive program all but gutted what was once a growing --albeit expensive-- industry. Still, there are glimmers of hope. The legislature doubleed the capped amount and smaller productions are still popping up. The Freep covers a recently shot indie starring Benicio Del Toro.
Excerpt:
"Although shooting in metro Detroit under the Michigan film incentives has slowed to a trickle, the set was an upbeat place for the local contingent of roughly 20 actors and 75 crew members -- high numbers for an indie that has about the same number of out-of-state actors and about 40 out-of-state crew members.
"Picard" gave the local film community a chance to work on something meaningful -- and, just as critically, to work at all during a year when reduced incentives have led to fewer job opportunities.
The movie was approved for just under $2 million in incentives on an estimated $6.9 million of spending in the state."
Read the rest
here.