To say Janet Lockwood, director of the Michigan Film Office, is thrilled is an understatement. Earlier this month, the Michigan film production incentive package was signed into law by Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-Mich.). The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland), chair of the state’s House Commerce Committee, passed in the Senate and in the House in December.
“After having worked toward this end for nearly four years, I am somewhat over the moon. I have Rep. Bill Huizenga, the governor and several other key legislators to thank for the final push, along with great support from Michigan crew people. It’s very cool,” says Lockwood.
In a nutshell, commercials, TV series and films are eligible if they spend at least $200,000 in Michigan. (It can be cumulative over the course of a year.) Companies must submit applications to the film office and treasury and be pre-approved before becoming eligible. The bill includes a graduated scale depending on how much a company spends in Michigan. Between $200,000 and $1 million, a company receives up to a 12 percent refund; between $1 million and $5 million, a company receives up to a 16 percent refund; between $5 million to $10 million, a company receives up to a 20 percent refund; and anything more than $10 million only receives 20 percent on the first $10 million. There is a total of $7 million available per year for four years.
Lockwood hopes to have the measure up and running by Feb. 1. and says she is already getting calls on it even though it has yet to be widely publicized.
Huizenga is confident this bill will help bring Michigan to the forefront within the film industry. “By offering these incentives, filmmakers will be more likely to shoot commercials, TV series or full feature films in Michigan and in turn contribute greatly to our economy,” he said when the bill was passed. “This action says to the industry, Michigan is open for business.”
The End of The “Rust” Criminal Case Against Alec Baldwin May Unlock A Civil Lawsuit
The conclusion of a criminal case against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer clears the way for a related civil lawsuit by relatives of the deceased woman and efforts to depose the actor under oath, attorneys for plaintiffs in the civil suit said Tuesday.
At a news conference in Los Angeles, victims' rights attorney Gloria Allred said that the parents and younger sister of deceased cinematographer Halyna Hutchins were disappointed that prosecutors won't appeal the dismissal of an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin. The criminal charge against Baldwin was dismissed halfway through trial in July on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense.
Hutchins died shortly after being wounded during a rehearsal in the movie "Rust" in October 2021 at a film-set ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Baldwin, the lead actor and coproducer, was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when it discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
Allred said Hutchins' relatives are determined to pursue damages and compensation from Baldwin and "Rust" producers in New Mexico civil court, and want Baldwin to answer questions under oath in the proceedings. Hutchins' widower and son previously reached a separate legal settlement.
"With the withdrawal that was made public yesterday, we are now able to proceed with our civil case," Allred said. "Clearly, the rights of Alec Baldwin were protected, but the due process rights of the victims — Halyna Hutchins and her parents and her sister — were violated."
Allred said she's ready to prove that Hutchins had a close relationship... Read More