LANSING – Speaking

to the Michigan House Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee one day after

the full House voted not to fund the state’s $50 million film incentive

program, the head of Michigan Film Office said that showing sustainability is

important to the Film Office and industry in Michigan.

Jenelle

Leonard would not discuss the specifics of the House proposal, or what might

happen to it as the budget process moves forward, but told committee members

she remains committed to the original proposal made by Governor

Rick Snyder in February. That called for the state to still issue $50

million in incentives to attract motion picture and entertainment productions

in Michigan.

The program

has been controversial since it was launched in its original incarnation as tax

credits late in the administration of Governor Jennifer Granholm. Snyder

altered the program when he took office. In the omnibus budget the House passed

on Tuesday, it ended funding for the program. Earlier this year, the House

passed legislation ending the incentives program altogether.

Out of the

incentive package, 4 percent goes towards the administrative budget of the Film

Office, Leonard said, so losing the incentives program would affect office

operations. Expenditures out of that funding include promotional efforts for

film festivals in the state.

Leonard –

after outlining a program in which the Film Office is working to enhance

tourism in the state by attracting visitors to areas where films were made or

where stars were born – said the film industry has professionals located all

across the state and with the incentives program now is competitive with other

states in terms of locating productions.

The

productions have long lead times, she said, especially to book the time of

performers. Typically, they have to plan two and three years out, she said.

“They

are looking for sustainability,” she said, to provide a sense of what

producers can expect when they plan.

And getting

big productions, Leonard likened it to watching presidential campaigns come in:

big productions, like big campaigns, draw more people interested in the

industry and interested in locating here.

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