News

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  • Thursday, May 15, 2025 10:55 AM | MiFIA Team (Administrator)

    WXYZ filed this story after the MiFIA Live Comedy + Multimedia Industry Networking Event at Cadieux Stage in Detroit on May 14, 2025.

  • Friday, October 18, 2024 12:38 PM | Anonymous
    Michael Patrick Shiels interviews MiFIA Board Chair David Haddad, diving into the industry and progress on passing the Multimedia Jobs Act in Michigan.

    Listen to the interview from Michigan's Big Show featuring MiFIA Chairman, David Haddad.

  • Wednesday, August 07, 2024 2:00 PM | MiFIA Team (Administrator)

    Photo: Dee Morrison

    With Grand Valley State University’s Future ED Lab as the backdrop, film industry professionals met with lawmakers, educators and students to discuss the Multimedia Jobs Act awaiting action in the state house after summer break.

    “We have a crisis in this state with brain drain and are leaving to go to other states.”

    Geoff George is a cinematographer and a member of the Michigan Film Industry Association. He says Michigan is losing out to the 41 states and cities who do have film and multimedia incentives. Unlike Michigan’s previous program which ended in 2015, the new plan is not an incentive or rebate but a transferable tax credit, so the money stays in the state and includes not just film but broader multimedia industries like commercial photography and industrial production.

    “What this bill does is encourage multimedia jobs to be created in this state through a tax voucher system that doesn’t come out of a line item in the budget. It won’t be on the backs of the taxpayers.”

    Julie Goldstein, an associate professor in the Visual and Media Arts Department at Grand Valley State University, led the tour of the Future ED Lab where students use cutting edge CGI, XR and AI techniques to learn the foundational skills needed for today’s careers in a collaborative environment.

    Read the rest of the story at WGVU Public Media.


  • Tuesday, April 23, 2024 6:44 PM | MiFIA Team (Administrator)

    The Multimedia Jobs Act is a bipartisan legislative initiative to revive the Michigan film industry after incentives dissolved in 2015.

    LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Multimedia Jobs Act passed out of Michigan's economic development and small business house committee with 10 votes in favor and 2 passes. 

    This marks an important move forward for filmmaking in the state. 

    The vote comes after a February hearing where college students, industry professionals, and lawmakers testified to the importance of reviving a new and beneficial film incentive program to the state.

    Read the rest of the story at WZZM13.

  • Tuesday, April 23, 2024 11:47 AM | MiFIA Team (Administrator)

    Legislation supports talent retention, economic growth

    LANSING, MI – In a significant bipartisan move, the Michigan House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business today approved the Michigan Multimedia Jobs Act.

    MMJA Passes House Committee

    The legislation (House Bills 4907-4908) aims to invigorate the state’s economy, foster job growth, and retain local talent. Bill sponsors are Reps. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield) and John Roth (R-Interlochen - pictured, center).

    “These pro-job bills are designed to diversify our state economy by investing in our workforce and help us compete with states that already provide incentives, leading to a stronger Michigan.” - Alexander Page, Legislative Director, MiFIA

    The Michigan Multimedia Jobs Act introduces a transferable tax credit designed to promote Michigan-produced films, television shows, digital streaming productions, photography and commercials. By encouraging investment in the state’s creative sector, this legislation seeks to position Michigan as a competitive hub for multimedia production. The Act is expected to produce approximately $6 billion to $8 billion in direct spend during the Act’s first 10 years

    “These pro-job bills are designed to diversify our state economy by investing in our workforce and help us compete with states that already provide incentives, leading to a stronger Michigan,” said Alexander Page of the Michigan Film Industry Association, a strong advocate for the bills.

    Over 40 states and cities as well as 100-plus global programs have multimedia programs in place. The Act’s key provisions include:

    • Tax Credit for Michigan-Produced Content: Film and television production companies hiring Michigan residents will receive a 30% tax credit. The Act sets a $50,000 minimum qualified spend for commercials, commercial photography, and short films, and a $300,000 minimum spend for feature films and TV shows.
    • Building a Marketplace for Michigan-Based Projects: Rather than a rebate, the program offers a credit against unrealized state tax revenue. This approach ensures that the cash remains within Michigan, benefiting local businesses and communities.

    “We are looking for films that are $10 million to $40 million, where they are hiring local businesses,” said David Haddad, MiFIA chair. “This is an infrastructure bill in addition to jobs, jobs, jobs, and did I mention jobs?"

    MiFIA and the legislation’s proponents believe the Act will create a thriving ecosystem for filmmakers, boost local economies and keep Michigan talent within the state. They have been actively engaging with lawmakers to ensure bipartisan support for this critical legislation.

    For more information, visit www.mifia.org.


  • Wednesday, January 24, 2024 10:56 AM | MiFIA Team (Administrator)

    Michigan lawmakers are discussing a new set of tax incentives for film, TV, and commercial production to help bring jobs to our state. David Haddad, Chair of the Michigan Film Industry Association, joins WJR's Guy, Lloyd, and Jamie to talk about why these tax credits are necessary.

    Listen to this story from WJR Radio featuring MiFIA Chairman, David Haddad.

  • Monday, January 22, 2024 10:51 AM | MiFIA Team (Administrator)

    Representative John Roth on CBS News Detroit Story

    A new story by CBS News Detroit explains that It could be lights, camera, action once again in Michigan as lawmakers consider bringing new tax credits for television shows and films produced in the state.

    "In the first year, we expect to have $3 to $500 million injected into the economy," said David Haddad, chairman of the Michigan Film Industry Association.

    Haddad says Michigan is a great location for film, TV and commercial production because of the state's diverse landscapes and metropolitan areas.

    "Here we have a qualified crew base, qualified infrastructure in a global market we lose work," Haddad said. "So these these incentives are very important to make us competitive again."

    The goal, he says, is to help Michigan compete with states that have similar incentives, like Georgia and Pennsylvania. According to the Michigan Film Industry Association, 40 states already have some kind of film tax incentive on the books.

    Read the rest of the story and watch the TV news report at CBS News Detroit.

  • Wednesday, November 01, 2023 11:56 AM | MiFIA Team (Administrator)

    WNMU-TV put the spotlight on efforts to revive Michigan's film industry. Some proposals working their way through state legislature, if approved, would bring back financial incentives for film, TV and media productions completed in Michigan. We learn more about it from Alexander Page of Michigan Film Industry Association, the lead organization pushing for passage of the Multimedia Jobs Act. View the Program at WNMU-TV.

  • Thursday, October 19, 2023 12:59 PM | MiFIA Team (Administrator)

    Read the entire story at Fox 17

    By Jamie Sherrod, Fox 17 Grand Rapids

    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Many students study filmmaking here in the state of Michigan, but they often go elsewhere for work. That’s because Michigan is one of a few states that doesn’t have a film incentive. New legislation introduced is hoping to change that.

    Dave Benoit enjoys the freedom of creative directing. It’s a passion that almost took him to Atlanta.

    “I had friends, I had video opportunities already lined up for me, I had sets that I was going to be on. I had so much going for me at that time. I had nothing here,” said Benoit.

    “We're not on an even playing field and that means that any time that a production is looking for a location, they skip over Michigan as a potential place to film their project,” said Bill Latka.

    He’s on the board of the Michigan Film Industry Association, and says more than 40 states and cities have incentive programs. Latka is hoping to bring them back to Michigan with the Multimedia Jobs Act legislation.

    "Any spend that happens in a state, they can apply for a percentage of that to be returned to them as a refundable tax credit,” said Latka. “So, it's a way to really let producers know that Michigan is open for business in a new, exciting creative area.”

    The Multimedia Jobs Act would provide a 30% tax credit for hiring Michigan residents and 20% for nonresidents; a $50,000 minimum qualified spend for commercials, commercial photography, and short films; a $300,000 minimum spend for feature films and TV shows among other things.

  • Thursday, August 24, 2023 3:53 PM | Anonymous

    From Bridge Michigan
    Lauren Gibbons
    August 23, 2023

    Clint Eastwood directed and starred in “Gran Torino,” a 2008 film shot in several metro Detroit locations. Michigan previously offered rebates for filmmakers who brought their productions to the state. In 2015, the program was shuttered over concerns that the return on investment was minimal. (Shutterstock photo by Stefano Chiacchiarini '74)

    Clint Eastwood directed and starred in “Gran Torino,” a 2008 film shot in several metro Detroit locations. Michigan previously offered rebates for filmmakers who brought their productions to the state. In 2015, the program was shuttered over concerns that the return on investment was minimal. (Shutterstock photo by Stefano Chiacchiarini '74)

    •  Pending legislation would offer filmmakers up to 30 percent tax credits for filming in Michigan, hiring Michigan workers
    • Backers say the revamped plan is based off successful programs in other states, would encourage new investment in Michigan
    • Critics say any economic benefit from more movies in the state won’t be worth the lost revenue

    A group of Michigan lawmakers are hoping to roll out the red carpet for more film, television and commercial projects by once again offering incentives to producers who work in the state. 

    House and Senate legislation introduced this summer would create a transferable tax credit for Michigan-based multimedia projects, ranging from traditional film and television productions to other work, such as commercials, corporate media and music videos.

    Eligible companies could get back 25 percent of total spending in tax credits for filming in Michigan and up to 30 percent if the project incorporates the Pure Michigan logo and other Michigan film industry affiliates, capped depending on the length and duration of the project. 

    A separate credit would offer 30 percent of total spending for hiring Michigan residents or 20 percent for hiring nonresidents. 

    If a company obtained credits but doesn’t have a Michigan tax liability, the legislation as proposed would allow those credits to be sold to a Michigan-based business.

    It wouldn’t be the first time Michigan officials have attempted to lure film productions to the state with incentives. Michigan began offering incentives in 2008, and attracted large-scale projects such as “Transformers” and “Batman v. Superman” to in-state filming locations. 

    But the film incentive program offering rebates of up to 42 percent of filmmakers’ in-state production costs was shuttered in 2015 during the Rick Snyder administration amid criticism that the return on investment for Michigan taxpayers was minimal. 

    Supporters of the new plan argue that this version is a “complete 180” from incentives Michigan offered in the past, crafted after extensive research into other states’ programs with the intent of keeping the money in Michigan. 

    “There's no money drawn from a fund, there's no checks cut, there's no budget line items, we're not financing or bailing out movie studios,” said Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, the main sponsor of the Senate legislation. “The credit goes directly back into the Michigan economy.” 

    As of 2022, at least 35 states offered tax incentives for film production, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Many companies simply won’t work in states without an incentive option, said Alexander Page, legislative chair of the Michigan Film Industry Association. 

    “We're totally being left on the sidelines,” Page said.

    Page and other industry advocates see the legislation as a job creation opportunity and a boon for a slew of local businesses working with production companies in filming locations, noting one film production on average involves about 60 local vendors. 

    To obtain the credit, companies would need to keep, among other things, records of the number of in-state workers hired for the project, any outside vendors involved and spending receipts, as well as spend at least $50,000 for shorter projects and at least $300,000 for feature film productions.  

    Under the legislation, the program would end 10 years after implementation unless lawmakers gave the go-ahead for it to continue.

    Lawmakers haven’t yet held a hearing on the bills, but opposition is already emerging. Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, in a social media post, likened the legislation to a Hollywood handout. 

    James Hohman, director of fiscal policy for the free-market Mackinac Center for Public Policy, said he doesn’t see much of a difference from what Michigan incentives offered companies before — save for the ability to transfer credits, a development he had concerns with. 

    “We shouldn't be laundering film subsidies through other people's tax returns — this is kind of worse for both film producers and for taxpayer transparency,” he said. 

    Hohman said lawmakers should look to the past before considering film incentives again, arguing that paying filmmakers to make movies in Michigan didn’t provide lasting economic benefits. “We spent a half a billion dollars without getting a lasting or sustainable film industry,” he said. 

    Michigan screenwriter, author and former production executive Christopher Cosmos argued film incentives are a bipartisan issue, noting that states across the political spectrum have implemented similar programs. 

    “There are so many people and young people, especially, who don't want to leave this state, so many with ties who want to move back,” he said Wednesday. “If we don't pass anything, we risk falling even further behind our peers and bleeding and losing even more ridiculously talented people who would love to be living and working here."

    Rep. John Roth, an Interlochen Republican and a lead sponsor on the House version of film incentive bills, said he understands the concern about reintroducing incentives. 

    But he sees a robust film program as a way to keep young creatives in Michigan — including his daughter, who is currently studying film production in Michigan and is planning to leave for work opportunities elsewhere when she finishes her degree at Grand Valley State University. 

    “I think it's kind of silly if we're teaching these courses in our universities that we don't have any jobs for them,” Roth said. “I think we could actually have an industry. But we have to incentivize to begin with to get people interested.”

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Michigan Film Industry Association (MiFIA)
117 E Kalamazoo St

Lansing, MI 48933

(517) 580 - 7710

mifia@mifia.org

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