  Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 1574 Registered: 01-2004 |
quote: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20080501/B IZ/805010398 | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 7712 Registered: 11-2004 |
I loved the ridiculousness of this line in the article: "This flat out doesn't work," said Patrick Anderson, a Lansing economist. "We need to attract people who want to vacation instead of getting Steven Spielberg." I'd like to see how he can explain the economics of how a family (I'll assume four people) staying a fair amount of time in Michigan to vacation (dare I say two weeks?) is going to be better than a full blown movie/ TV crew staying several months here to shoot their film/ video? Even with the tax incentives tossed in- the sheer amount of people being here HAS to be a better boost the economy than the vacationers coming here, wouldn't you think? And the PR value that it generates has got to be somewhat worthwhile as well. Again, I'm not some Lansing economist and I'm not the sharpest knife in the math department either and maybe Mr. Anderson has got more facts than that, but I still think his line of how vacationers are better than a film crew here is better for the economy is way off base. If I'm wrong, please educate me here- please. | ||
Django Member Username: Django Post Number: 223 Registered: 10-2003 |
Smogboy,Your spot on Im betting. Hollywood $$ is nothing sneeze at. Im pretty excited about this plan. Is thee a state with a better tax credit or whatever kickback there is? Im not sure. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 7714 Registered: 11-2004 |
Nope, not even close. When the Lansing brass formed this incentive package it wasn't to nickel dime the next nearest competitor, it was groundbreaking and well ahead of the curve. | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 1093 Registered: 01-2006 |
We need to get BOTH of these groups. Why do both sides in this article seem to think it is one or the other? Any money is good money if we are bringing it into the state from other areas. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3621 Registered: 10-2003 |
How many visitors/vacationers visit this state every year? Hundreds of thousands? Millions? | ||
Django Member Username: Django Post Number: 224 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yeah but their all on a budget, not a hollywood budget. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 7716 Registered: 11-2004 |
Good question Mikem! I would counter that with how long are their stays compared to how long is some camera guy, a gaffer, or some crew guy going to be here. I'm wondering if somehow someway they could measure the swell in the population somehow with these outsiders coming in. Is this a hotel/ lodging sort of question perhaps? | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 7717 Registered: 11-2004 |
Detroitstar, I don't think anyone is advocating keeping tourists away from the state or doing anything to keep them out. I don't see how this film incentive is a bad thing at all. I totally agree with you that we're more than willing to take anyone's money! | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 8551 Registered: 10-2003 |
Of course, there is the small matter of the local people in the industry who get hired to work on the project. | ||
Alan55 Member Username: Alan55 Post Number: 1624 Registered: 09-2005 |
Smogboy, I suspect that the reason that Patrick Anderson is a LANSING economist, rather than a New York or Washington, D.C. economist, is because of his razor-sharp logic (or, perhaps, lack of it). | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3623 Registered: 10-2003 |
Although he doesn't have a degree in economics, he's no slouch either. Still, the industry generated $4M in "economic activity" last year. That's great, but a million visitors buying a hamburger did the same thing, and the state isn't giving the visitors 42˘ back for every dollar they spent. | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 662 Registered: 12-2006 |
Mikem, The state already does stuff to promote tourism (I'm sure you've seen or heard Tim Allen on your radio or TV in the past year or so). If I recall, I remember hearing a few years ago that Michigan ranked 9th of all the states in terms of tourism dollars generated. Michigan tourism does very well. Besides, if the estimates are true, I'd love to see tourists buy $200 million worth of hamburgers. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3625 Registered: 10-2003 |
I know they promote tourism, I'm addressing Smogboy's reaction to Anderson's comments. I think tourists spend about $8 billion annually here. Will Hollywood spend $19 B here (before getting $11 B rebated)? I hope so. | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 8553 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: Film Detroit Facts/FAQ’s What have you done to prepare for Film Detroit’s launch since early 2007, and since it was on the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) strategic plan since 2003? • Attended Locations Trade Show, Santa Monica, CA, Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) April 2007 and April 10-12, 2008 • Attended AFCI Cineposium, Santa Fe, NM; professional development conference for film offices, August 2007 • Did film scouts in early 2008 while interest in the new incentive was already beginning • Attended and hosted Michigan Film Advisory Commission meetings in 2007 and 2008 • As DMCVB, assisted with scouting and location assistance, liaison for films including: The Island, Transformers Semi-Pro (set visits in LA, Flint, Detroit); welcomed cast & crew to Detroit What’s the Difference between Film Detroit, the Detroit Film Office and the Michigan Film Office? • Film Detroit is a division of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, a private, not-for-profit organization that markets and promotes metro Detroit as a film location, assisting with scouts, locations, securing hotel room blocks and a variety of other film-related and hospitality services throughout Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties, including the city of Detroit. • The Detroit Film Office is part of the City of Detroit, and operates within city boundaries under the leadership of Deputy Chief Operating Officer Al Fields. In addition to location scouts, its specialty is making productions go smoothly, from issuing permits to closing city streets, to “blowing up” cars (as in the film “The Island” on Fort Street, a state road), the Detroit Film Office makes things happen to help projects get completed on time and on budget. Film Detroit partners with the Detroit Film Office in the city of Detroit working together to ensure a smooth production. • The Michigan Film Office (MFO) is part of the State of Michigan under the leadership of veteran Director Janet Lockwood and her Lansing-based team. The MFO’s jurisdiction is the entire state of Michigan. In addition to script review, locations and scouting, the MFO ensures productions are handled professionally, from getting permits on state land and roads, the MFO helps film projects get done on time and on budget. Film Detroit partners with the MFO on projects in metro Detroit to ensure a seamless, smooth production. Most importantly, the MFO is the expert source for details about the new production incentives, and the MFO reviews and approves incentive applications. What other film-related projects has the DMCVB/Film Detroit been involved in? From Good Morning America and The Weather Channel to Italian Public Television to The History Channel, the DMCVB has assisted with a variety of media and film-related projects throughout its 108-year history. How is the DMCVB qualified to house Film Detroit? The DMCVB is known for its excellent hospitality, service, media expertise and has more than 800 members including hotels, transportation, catering companies and other industries. Major movies have recently been filmed in Detroit too: The Island, Transformers and many more. The DMCVB helped host Super Bowl XL, the MLB All- Star Game, World Series among other marquee events in Detroit. What’s the 2008 budget for Film Detroit? The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau’s overall budget is $13 million, and resources for Film Detroit will be reallocated as possible and necessary. DMCVB/Film Detroit will assess needs and plan for the 2009 budget based on activity and projects filmed in 2008. Have any new movies signed definite contracts to film in Detroit as a result of this new incentive? One $4 million independent film project completes the application in early April, and it should begin pre-production in mid April, with filming to begin in late May. Film Detroit handled that scout in late March and is currently assisting with details such as finalizing locations, office space, hotels and other housing, casting, crew, etc. Film Detroit contacts: www.filmdetroit.com; 1-877-478-7883 • Carolyn Artman, Manager, Film Detroit/Media Relations Manager, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau 313-202-1952, cartman@visitdetroit.com • Xenia Castillo-Hunter, Manager, Film Detroit/National Sales Manager, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, 313-202-1978, xhunter@visitdetroit.com Sorry for the long post, it is a PDF. | ||
Gingellgirl Member Username: Gingellgirl Post Number: 170 Registered: 04-2007 |
Don't get me wrong. I like Pat Anderson. But he missed an important point. Film and video production today can lead to movie-tourism for the long run. Case in point: 20+ years after the movie, the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa is still drawing curious movie fans. And Mackinac Island for "Somewhere in Time." Same with movie-based tourism in Chicago, Savannah, London, even New Zealand (Lord of the Rings), and the list goes on and on. I betcha Marquette still gets an occasional fan of "Anatomy of a Murder." I can't go by the Scott Fountain on Belle Isle without thinking about Gene Hackman and Al Pacino in "Scarecrow." | ||
Track75 Member Username: Track75 Post Number: 2705 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote:http://www.absolutemichigan.co m/dig/michigan/michigan-touris m-strategic-plan-unveiled/ Even a couple dozen films a year will be a blip on the radar compared to the tourism industry. I'd prefer that our lawmakers concentrate on making Michigan a better state to do business in for all businesses. A little more attention to tax, regulatory and labor law reform would help, as would getting serious about the looming pension and health benefit disaster in state and local governments. But getting movies made here, that's "exciting" and makes it look like someone in Lansing is "doing something". | ||
Rugbyman Member Username: Rugbyman Post Number: 324 Registered: 06-2005 |
"The film industry generated $4 million in economic activity in Michigan last year, when an estimated six films were made here, although there may have been some other low-budget productions, too, state film officials said. That could grow to $200 million to $300 million this year, based on early interest in the incentives, said state Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, one of the co-sponsors of the bill that created the program." Even if it's not $200M, lowballing at tens of millions is still better than a kick in the pants. Yeah, it's not as big as tourism, but let's not pooh pooh diversified economic development. Gingellgirl makes a very valid point linking the two areas. | ||
Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 1576 Registered: 01-2004 |
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20080503/NEW S06/805030320 | ||
Scottr Member Username: Scottr Post Number: 867 Registered: 07-2006 |
quote: exactly what i was going to say. for so many years, people bitched and moaned that we needed to diversify our economy. now they say we need to concentrate on tourism (already our 'other' big industry)? wtf. morons. i also might point out that when an economy goes sour, tourism is one of the first things to suffer, so why would we put all our eggs in that basket? this complements tourism perfectly, not only for Gingellgirl's observations, but because when people cut back on discretionary expenditures, what do they do? often, they sit at home... and watch tv. i'd also like to challenge this economist to come up with a program to attract vacationers, rather than just complain about what has been done. bring a solution, not a problem. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 6497 Registered: 10-2003 |
Michigan tourism does bring in a lot of money, but how much of that is in Detroit? Seems like the film industry is rather fond of the city itself. So for you city birds, the film industry might help the city more than tourism. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 236 Registered: 03-2008 |
BOOM! | ||
J_to_the_jeremy Member Username: J_to_the_jeremy Post Number: 59 Registered: 03-2007 |
Another factor is many of the tourists in Michigan live here. Tourism becomes money just staying in state, instead of coming from other places. Plus it's not like anyone can float this incentive as a negative for Detroit. Johnlodge is right for one, and the sheer increase in movie $$ in the past month is extremely promising. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 4720 Registered: 02-2005 |
I also agree that the impact of hollywood money would be better than trying to get marginally higher amounts of tourists. Those two things make a non sequtor anyway. What the hell is Anderson talking about? Why bring up tourism after discussing the film industry? An economics degree may not be a sufficient condition for being an economist, but I'd say its a prereq...and that guy is no economist. (Like I'd trust an architect of Prop A to inform me about my state's economy, anyway). |
