Michigan – Learn From Your Success
In 2008 Michigan Gov. Granholm (D) used the influence of her office to try to diversify the industrial landscape of Michigan’s economy by implementing tax breaks for the film makers to come to open up shop in Michigan. Her efforts have been successful so far. Throughout that year the Michigan legislature passed 15 acts that provided tax breaks and other incentives for movie producers to come to Michigan to make films [1].
According to the Michigan Film Office web site, in 2009 alone, these productions were completed:
- Up in the Air – Paramount Pictures
- Betty Ann Waters – Innocence Productions, Inc.
- Hopeful Notes – Red Future Entertainment, LLC
- Oogie Loves in the Big Balloon Adventure – Big Balloon Adventure Movie, LLC
- Caught in the Crossfire – Caught in Crossfire, LLC
- Stone – Stone Productions, Inc.
- The Irishman – Sweet William Productions, LLC
- Hung – Hangman Films Inc. / HBO
- What If – What If Productions, LLC
- The Lake Effect – Growing Up, LLC
- Crash Course – Crash Course Productions, Inc.
- Meltdown – Meltdown Productions, LLC
- Clark Family Christmas - Karew Records, LLC
- Capitalism: A Love Story - Front Street Productions, LLC
- Flipped – East of Doheny
- Jump Shipp – Dot&Cross, LLC
- The Genesis Code – American Saga Productions, LLC
- Trivial Pursuits – 3,4 Women Productions
- The Next Great Mission – 45 North Productions, Inc.
- Little Murder – Cine Grande Films
- Fitful – Fitful Film Associates, Inc.
- Daisy Tells a Secret – One of Us Films, LLC
- Annabelle and Bear – Radish Creative Group
- John, The Revelator - Revelator Movie, LLC
Films currently in production include:
- Wooden Boats – Wooden Boat productions, LLC
- Red Dawn – Wolverine Productions, LLC
- Motor City Motors – Original Productions
- Wannabes – Savvy Production LLC
- What’s Wrong with Virginia? – Tic Tock Studios
- Highland Park – Highland Park Productions, LLC
- Alleged – Dean River Productions
- Game of Death – game of Death Productions, LLC
- Grey Skies – Grey Skies, LLC
- Vanishing on 7th Street – Vanishing Film LLC
- Naked Angel – Dancingstar Productions LLC
- Jerusalem Countdown – White Horse Entertainment, LLC
- Grave – Iron Helmut, LLC
In the last week, suburban Detroit commuters were routed around the filming of the re-make of “Red Dawn” and the filming for the new move “You Don’t Know Jack”.
This great joint effort by the Gov. Granholm and the Michigan legislators is having a wonderful impact by bringing real jobs to Michigan – a state hard hit by a decade long recession. They cut taxes and the market responded by bringing business to Michigan. These businesses employ people, buy equipment, use restaurants and hotels, and more.
Yet, it seems the Governor and legislators have learned nothing from their success. In recent budget negotiations she is pushing for higher taxes on individuals and business. Instead, she should be drastically cutting taxes on corporations and business. To bring business to Michigan you must create a great business climate – one that is unparalleled to any other state… or nation for that matter. For example, Ireland has a maximum corporate tax of 12.5% resulting in global corporations re-locating their offices to Ireland. [2] Additionally, China has 0% tax on stock capital gains and as a result, there is huge capital investment happening in China. [3]
Gov. Granholm needs to understand that Michigan is in competition for a limited number of businesses in the country. If she wants to attract business to Michigan – and therefore bring jobs to Michigan – she needs to make Michigan so attractive that businesses throughout the country would be crazy not to consider Michigan their high priority for relocation.
When people work, the state revenue increases while people needing financial support from the state decreases. When people don’t work, revenue drops and the people needing state social programs increases. It’s not rocket science. We need jobs here in Michigan, not unemployment benefits. The Governor’s number one priority needs to be job creation in the private sector.
Michigan needs to take a long hard look at ALL the barriers to job creation in this state. This includes tax law, labor laws, regulatory laws, environmental laws, occupational safety laws, … you get the idea. We need to look at all things that contribute to the business environment and get brutal about making changes. There can be no sacred cows.
The Governor’s 2008 Film Industry incentives should be seen as the laboratory test for what is possible when you get government on the side of business development. The results have been very positive. Now, let’s apply the same ideas to the broader business environment.
Footnote:
[1] Michigan Film Office; Public Acts
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