Lifestyle

Ex-Lawmaker Wants Return of Program to Lure Films to Michigan

September 22, 2019, 11:25 PM


Filming of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" in downtown Detroit. (Photo: Deadline Detroit)

Former Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, who was a key proponent of the state's now-defunct movie tax incentives, plans to push for its return to attract film production. 

Richardville, who moderted a Detroit Homecoming panel last Friday -- sponsored by Crain's Detroit Business --  said after the panel that he plans to start Monday building a stragegy to lure TV and video game dollars to Michigan, Annalise Frank of Crain's Detroit Business reports. The effort includes reaching out to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. 

Crain's produces the annual Detroit Homecoming event that draws former metro Detroit residents back to the region to learn and invest.

The original film program, which offered tax incentives to filmmakers, ran from 2008-15. Critics claimed the state didn't get a good return on its investment and the program didn't create enough permanent jobs. 

Richardville said he sees the shortcomings of that program and that a new model needs to be created.

"I watched the evolution of the film tax credits. I think that's a dead way to go," he said. "We should recreate the wheel, so to speak."

The previous program lured such films as "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," starring Ben Affleck. 


Read more:  Crain's Detroit Business


Leave a Comment:

Photo Of The Day