Governor Announces Appointments, Reappointments to Michigan Film Office Advisory Council

 

Read more: MFOAC Members 2012

Below is a link to MFO's Semi Annual Report dated January 13 2012. It shows a snapshot of applications and denials for the end of 2011. It also indicates that several commercial producers applied and were denied.

For your review:

MFO REPORT

 

 

Friends –

I wanted to send out a reminder that the new application for the Michigan Film and Digital Media Incentive is now available on www.michiganfilmoffice.org.  Please be sure to read the new FAQ document as well.  This document lays out the policies and procedures the Film Office will be utilizing as we review applications moving forward.

 

The Film Office began accepting applications on Monday, January 9.  Please note that moving forward, incomplete applications will have 5 business days to submit any missing information requested by the Film Office or the application will be considered insufficient and the file will be closed.  Once the Film Office determines an application is complete, a final determination of approval or denial will be delivered within 21 days.

 

Our office is here to assist at any point in the process should you have any questions.

 

As we move into 2012, the next meeting of the Michigan Film Office Advisory Council has been scheduled for January 20 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation here in Lansing.  For more details visit the MFOAC page on our website.  We look forward to welcoming our new members to the council and as always this meeting is open to the public.

 

And for the latest in bringing you new and timely information, be sure to check out the new RSS feed feature in the upper right hand corner of the Film Office website.  Available RSS feeds include cast and crew opportunities, as well as press releases and information on film festivals in Michigan.  And don’t forget to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

 

In closing, the Film Office wishes you a Happy New Year.  We are looking forward to a busy and successful 2012 in Michigan’s film industry.

 

Best,

Carrie

Carrie Jones, Director

Michigan Film Office

Phone: 517-335-7197

Email: jonesc@michigan.org

Web: www.michiganfilmoffice.org

 2012_Benefits_for_our_Members_v2.pdf

 

Benefits for our Members

Networking opportunities

Free entry to most MPA meetings and events

Access to MPA’s FILM GRID listings of possible films coming to MI

Access to MPA’s member list for resources

Health and Insurance - Best Prices Ron Haller

Phoenix Theatres – free films for MPA members

 

and MORE !!! AT THE LINK ABOVE

Snyder signs new film incentive program, battery production tax credit into law Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011

LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday signed legislation that will help the advanced battery manufacturing and film industries grow while ensuring that economic development incentives awarded by the state are used to create jobs.

"The goal of these changes is to make sure that economic incentives result in job creation," Snyder said.

Senate Bill 569, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, replaces film credits that are currently hidden in the tax code with a $25 million budget appropriation for the new Film and Digital Media Production Assistance Program, which the Michigan Film Office will run. To qualify for funding, an eligible production company must have direct production expenditures and/or Michigan personnel expenditures of at least $100,000.

Under the new legislation, the Michigan Film Office must also create a publicly available performance dashboard, which will include specific measures including the amount of each incentive dispersed for each state-certified qualified production.

Gov. Snyder today also signed S.B. 855, sponsored by state Sen. Mike Kowall, which authorizes the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) to enter into agreements to provide incentives for the construction of advanced battery manufacturing facilities, but scales back the amount of incentives that can be offered and requires jobs to be created in order for companies to receive the incentives.

"As we work to bring new investment and create jobs, it is vital that we leverage Michigan's rich and varied asset base," said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. "The advanced battery and film production sectors offer significant opportunities to take advantage of our high quality talent. These credits will enable us to continue to attract major projects in both sectors within a targeted and fiscally responsible framework."

S.B. 569 and 855 are now Public Acts 291 and 292 of 2011.

 

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Friends –

Great news to lead us into the holiday weekend!  Governor Snyder signed SB 569 into law this afternoon.  The governor’s office issued a press release this afternoon, which is available online.  I have also included key provisions in SB 569 below.

 

With the bill signed, we are now able to finalize the program updates we have been working to implement in order to begin accepting new applications for projects in 2012.

 

The new application will be available on the Michigan Film Office website by close of business on Tuesday, January 3.  The Film Office will begin accepting new applications on Monday, January 9.  Be sure to read the updated FAQ document included with the application online.  This will lay out the vast majority of the policies and processes the Film Office will be utilizing under the new film incentive program.

 

Our staff is also here to assist and answer any questions you may have.

 

The signing of SB 569 is an important step forward for our program, and we are looking forward to a busy new year with many great projects for Michigan.

 

Best,

Carrie

Carrie Jones

Director, Michigan Film Office

 

 

SB 569

• To be eligible, projects must have expenditures of $100,000 or more.
• Percentages

1. 27% of direct production expenditures (goods and services purchased in the state)
2. Michigan Personnel Expenditures (resident above and below the line)

• 32% through January 1, 2015
• 27% after January 1, 2015

1. Crew Personnel Expenditures (non-resident below the line)

• 25% through January 1, 2013   (2012)
• 20% through January 1, 2014   (2013)
• 15% through January 1, 2015   (2014)
• 10% after January 1, 2015         (2015 and beyond)

1. Qualified Personnel Expenditures (non-resident above the line)

• 27% through January 1, 2015
• 12% after January 1, 2015

1. 3% for expenditures at a qualified facility or postproduction facility
2. Payments for MI producers shall not exceed 10% of expenditures, 5% for non-MI producers

• Not less than 5% of the funding awarded shall be awarded for postproduction expenditures for qualified productions.
• Application fee equal to .2% of the funding request (minimum $200, max $5,000).
  • The Film Office must process the application within 21 days after the application is complete as determined by the office.
  • Participants receiving production assistance funds will be required to include an acknowledgement provided by the Michigan Film Office that promotes the Pure Michigan tourism campaign or any successor campaign.
  • Funding may be reallocated at the end of each fiscal year from unclaimed certificates of completion.
  • For interactive games, eligible production company need not possess ownership or legal control of intellectual property rights.
  • A television show may submit an application for no more than two successive seasons, notwithstanding the fact that the successive seasons have not been ordered.
  • The Michigan Film Office must disclose the identity and amount of all gifts, grants and other donations on its website.
  • The Film Office must submit a quarterly status report to the Legislature.
  • Commercials are not eligible.
  • Sunsets September 30, 2017.