Movie industry supporters are pulling together a campaign to persuade Governor Rick Snyder to reconsider his plan to slash the state’s film tax incentives. For the past three years Michigan has had the most generous credit in the nation, at 42 percent.
Actor Jeff Daniels and columnist Mitch Albom will headline a meeting tonight in Livonia to talk strategy.
Dave Krieger is a location manager and scout for productions filming in metro Detroit. He says if the industry evaporates, he’ll leave the state.
"There’s no other reason for me to be here.... I’ve been able to ... give work to 20 or 30 people who were out of work or underemployed in an industry that is only growing – or could be growing."
Krieger says the uncertain future of the tax incentive has led many productions to cancel or postpone plans to film in Michigan. Last year the state awarded $60.3 million in credits. Governor Snyder wants to get rid of the tax credit and replace it with a program worth $25 million a year.
