News

A crew with the Detroit-based Woodward Original production company shoot at the Spot Lite record store in Detroit. Photo courtesy of MiFIA

Macomb Daily reporter Gina Joseph shared an outstanding story about MiFIA's work to create a new multimedia incentive in Michigan. It begins:

NBC TV has a new hit series.

Audiences everywhere, and especially those living along Wayne County’s Lakeshore Drive, are clamoring for a second season of “Grosse Pointe Garden Society.” It’s a quirky dramedy about a garden club in a Detroit suburb, whose members are caught up in murder and mayhem, while struggling to make their conventional lives bloom.

Too bad it’s filmed in Georgia.

“It’s so annoying to us in the industry — to see films about Michigan — being made in another state,” said Peter Klein of Troy, a cinematographer and member of the Michigan Film Industry Association (MiFIA), which is gearing up for another push to get the Multimedia Jobs Act passed into law.

“This is not a handout to Hollywood. This is not a rebate. This is a very different bill,” Klein said, of legislation designed to promote Michigan-produced films, television shows, digital streaming productions, photography and commercials.

READ AT MACOMB DAILY

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.