Following Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s announcement of a historic 40 percent cash incentive for film and television projects of at least $50,000 filmed in Michigan, (42 percent in 103 core cities), the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) launched “Film Detroit” today. Film Detroit markets metro Detroit as a prime location for motion pictures, documentaries and
commercials and helps promote Michigan’s best-in-the-U.S. film incentive.
Attracting filmmakers to metro Detroit and working to support an incentive have been part of the DMCVB’s strategic plan since 2003, and the DMCVB has been operating Film Detroit since Michigan’s first film incentive passed in 2007.
“We applaud Governor Granholm and the Michigan Legislature for their leadership and bi-partisan support of this aggressive new film incentive,” says Larry Alexander, President & CEO, DMCVB and Film Detroit. “Film Detroit is ready to work with the Michigan Film Office, Detroit Film Office and our region’s leaders to support this incentive. We will proactively market our locations and provide outstanding amenities, hospitality and resources. We value our role in this growth industry and look forward to making a positive impact on Michigan’s economy. Our goal is to make filming in ‘The D’ a pleasure.”
Film Detroit represents businesses and locations in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties and currently consists of a team of two managers sharing responsibilities and working within the 54-person DMCVB:
— Carolyn Artman, Manager, Film Detroit; Media Relations Manager,
DMCVB; scouting, marketing, PR, advertising, services, liaison,
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— Xenia Castillo-Hunter, Manager, Film Detroit; National Sales
Manager, DMCVB; scouting, sales, hotel room blocks, services, liaison,
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Film Detroit serves four primary functions, working closely with Janet Lockwood, Director of the Michigan Film Office in Lansing, the Detroit Film Office, (part of the City of Detroit) and senior liaisons in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties.
Marketing — Film Detroit focuses on tradeshows, film festivals, sales, marketing, public relations and related programs aimed at senior film production executives and trade media worldwide. An extensive image library and Web site are being created which will be frequently updated to allow for immediate responses to all inquiries.
Locations — Film Detroit promotes metro Detroit’s wide array of spectacular potential film locations: Art Deco buildings, urban grit, unused factories, charming main streets, upscale suburbs, scenic waterfront and rural landscapes.
Scouting — Film Detroit will coordinate and assist with scouts and accompany qualified film industry professionals who are seriously interested in metro Detroit as a potential location.
Production Liaison — Once a film project has been scheduled in metro Detroit, Film Detroit will shift to a liaison role, coordinating arrangements with property owners, government agencies and municipal departments, local crew, hotels, catering, transportation and other key services to ensure a smooth production and a return visit.
Film Detroit is a division of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, a private, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to market and sell the metro Detroit area worldwide as a destination for film locations, leisure and business travel, conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, tours and incentive travel to maximize additional visitors, visitor expenditures, state and local tax revenues, and job opportunities.
To learn about Michigan’s new film incentive, go to http://www.michigan.gov/filmoffice.
