BY JULIE HINDS

DETROIT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Highland Park may lose movie action

The Michigan Film Office released details Friday on the policy for approving existing and new

applications for the state's film incentives for the rest of 2011.

The local film industry has been waiting nervously for the details since Gov. Rick Snyder's

proposal for cutting the incentives was announced a month ago.

With more than 40 applications currently pending -- some since January -- there has been

uncertainty among filmmakers over how and whether the process would proceed.

The guidelines outlined Friday put increased emphasis on criteria that relate specifically to

Michigan, such as the use of existing studios and postproduction facilities and on the number and

wage levels of jobs for state residents.

They also seem to indicate that funds for approvals this year will follow the basic incentives cap

proposed by Snyder.

According to an e-mail sent out by Michigan Film Office director Carrie Jones, the Film Office

is, as previously stated, "operating under the directive of the governor's proposed budget for

Fiscal Year 2012."

That's a reference to Snyder's proposal to cap new film incentives at $25 million annually. Under

the current law, there is no annual cap on the incentives.

Producers already consider Michigan's approval process rigorous. The new guidelines add

another layer of review.

While the Film Office and Department of Treasury will continue to do the usual review,

applications also will be screened by a Michigan Economic Development Corp. committee of

three MEDC officials and Jones.

No time line was mentioned for future approvals, but the new review committee is expected to

meet early next week, and approvals could begin in the next couple of weeks.

"Given that we have finite resources and it's our intention that every project that is invested in is

good for taxpayers, I think this process allows us to do that," said Jones.

Contact Julie Hinds: 313-222-6427 or jhinds@freepress.com

The Clint Eastwood movie "Gran Torino" brought life to Highland Park neighborhoods. Some in

the city worry that Gov. Rick Snyder's proposal to cap film credits at $25 million would be a

financial setback. / ANTHONY MICHAEL RIVETTI

BY MELANIE D. SCOTT

DETROIT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Highland Park may lose movie action

Mayor Hubert Yopp speaks on the steps McGregor Library, which was reopened

for filming of "Highland Park."

Studios get details on approval process for film incentives

Highland Park landmarks like the old Chrysler plant near the Davison Freeway and architectural gems like the

McGregor Library on Woodward Avenue have experienced a resurgence in popularity over the past few years

mainly because of the film industry.

Now, some fear the momentum that was just beginning to take hold in Highland Park is in jeopardy.

When the Michigan film tax credit program began in April 2008, Highland Park capitalized on it.

Once a vacant vestige of the city's former thriving automotive industry, parts of the old Chrysler plant were turned

into a soundstage last year to produce ABC's police drama, "Detroit 1-8-7."

The two-story McGregor Library, which has been closed since 2002 because of financial problems, was used in

2009 for a movie by Danny Glover called "Highland Park."

Both productions benefitted from the state's film industry tax credits. Under the state's current program, production

companies are paid up to 42% of their costs to operate in Michigan.

Gov. Rick Snyder's proposal to cap film credits at $25 million beginning in 2012 could affect the city as it struggles

financially.

City officials say they can't calculate exactly how much revenue the film industry has generated for the city and its

businesses, but movies such as Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" brought life to Highland Park's neighborhoods as

many sites, including several homes, were used in the film.

"We enjoy the presence of the movie industry," said Highland Park City Attorney Terry Ford.

Ford said the productions allow police officers to earn extra money when production companies pay them to close

roads. And improvements to areas of the city were made because crews needed to renovate properties for

productions.

According to city officials, Glover became so engaged with the city during the shooting of his film, that he hosted a

fund-raiser that raised $10,000 for the future renovations to the McGregor Library. The city is working to renovate

and reopen the library. Officials said in the past that they received $17,000 for giving producers of "Highland Park"

access to the library.

State Sen. Burt Johnson, D-Detroit, whose district includes Highland Park, said the movie industry has financially

enhanced the city by creating a number of revenue streams.

"No one is suggesting that we should just give away the credits," Johnson said. "We should position the amount of

credits in a different way."