ANN ARBOR – The Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau will establish a new office focused on helping production companies shoot films in the area.
It?s appropriately called the Ann Arbor Area Film Office, was has been approved as a member of the Association of Film Commissioners International.
Michigan grabbed Hollywood’s attention in April 2008 when the state Legislature approved aggressive tax incentives designed to attract more production companies to consider filming in the state. As a result, dozens of production have been filmed on location in Michigan.
In Ann Arbor, the AACVB has worked with 11 major film projects, including films like Drew Barrymore’s “Whip It” and “Stone,” which stars Robert De Niro and Edward Norton. The AACVB estimates that, in 2009, film companies accounted for 20,000 room nights in the Ann Arbor region – the equivalent of filling a 150-room hotel for more than four months.
The Ann Arbor Film Office will focus on helping film companies connect with local commercial real estate agents, navigate local permitting requirements, find hotels and apartments and locate items to be used in filming.
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