Guide to Filming in Your Community s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 0 Guide to Filming in Your Community Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................. page 3 A brief background ........................................................................ page 3 The Michigan Film Incentives ....................................................... page 3 Michigan Film Office .................................................................... page 3 Role of the municipality ................................................................ page 3 Streamlining the process—your primary film contact .................... page 4 Role of the PFC ............................................................................ page 4 First contact .................................................................................. page 4 Supplementary opportunities ........................................................ page 4 Locations ....................................................................................... page 5 Location scouting .......................................................................... page 5 Location fees ................................................................................. page 5 Location photography ................................................................... page 5 Street closures ................................................................................ page 6 Permitting ..................................................................................... page 6 Press and media ............................................................................. page 6 Additional suggestions and caveats ................................................ page 6 That’s a wrap ................................................................................. page 7 Film industry resources.................................................................. page 7 Michigan Film Office staff ............................................................ page 7 Glossary of terms ........................................................................... page 8 Sample Location and Permit Application.................................page 9–11 Property owner’s guide to filming locations .......................... page 12–13 Property Data Form .................................................................... page 14 List of core communities ............................................................. page 15 300 N Washington Sq Lansing, MI 48913 [email protected] tel 800 477 3456 tel 517 373 3456 fax 517 241 0867 MichiganFilmOffice.org 2 Guide to Filming in Your Community INTRODUCTION MICHIGAN FILM OFFICE On April 8, 2008, the state of Michigan enacted what many The Michigan Film Office (MFO) is a state agency created regard as the most aggressive film incentive program in the to attract filmmakers to Michigan, and assist the overall nation. Despite any extra attention the industry may bring filmmaking process. As a state organization we try to to the state, the legislation is first and foremost an economic streamline the process for all parties involved, particularly at program to help diversify and stimulate the state’s economy the community level, thus the purpose of this handbook. and create employment. This guidebook has been created Since the existing film incentives were enacted the Film so your municipality may be better prepared to handle any Office administers the program itself, including the review filming that takes place, and best take advantage of the and co-approval of all applications. In addition, the MFO benefits that come with hosting a major film production. provides: • Resources and facilitation for film productions • Locations assistance, including photographic and A BRIEF BACKGROUND scouting needs In 2008, following passage of the statute, Michigan film • Guidance for communities to best accommodate activity consisted of: productions, and realize maximum benefits. • 35 projects completed For your reference, a roster of the MFO staff and contact • $125 million in production expenditures information is at the back of this guide. • 2,763 individual production jobs In 2009, film activity consisted of: ROLE OF THE MUNICIPALITY • 52 projects completed “Film friendly” is often the current buzz phrase as most every • $233 million in production expenditures city or town would like production activity to come to its • 4,000+ individual production jobs community. The first, most important step in that scenario is For several years subsequent, industry growth is projected to make sure that same sentiment is felt throughout the city’s to be continuous, and statewide. administration. Film productions may have unusual requests and at unusual times, so please be ready to say yes rather than no. As we like to say, “kill ’em with kindness.” THE MICHIGAN FILM INCENTIVES If you’re good to productions, they can be very good to The Michigan Film Production Incentive offers a refund- you; not only with potentially millions of dollars spent in able tax credit on expenditures made in Michigan, with a your town, but a return trip for another film, a sequel, TV minimum budget of $50,000. This applies to filmed en- series, or more importantly, positive word-of-mouth to other tertainment projects such as theatrical or television movies, producers who may shoot here, not to mention the possibility TV pilots and series, reality shows, documentary films, web of increased tourism. It is no coincidence that Mackinac programming and music videos.* Island’s Grand Hotel still hosts an annual convention of fans The credit applies to all goods, services and labor of the film,Somewhere in Time, which was filmed at that purchased in-state, while an additional 2% credit is available location over 30 years ago. when filming or vendors are in one of Michigan’s 135 “core Proactive salesmanship however can get tricky, so we ask communities” (page 15). you please leave actual solicitation of film activity to the Michigan Film Office. If production companies and studios * The legislation also covers digital media such as interactive websites, receive sales pitches from every city in the state, they will animation and video games, which in most cases will not apply to the get fatigued and quickly uninterested. Since the MFO is the guidelines in this booklet. state’s primary promotional agent, it continuously presents Michigan’s entire geography to producers, providing all possible options. 300 N Washington Sq Lansing, MI 48913 [email protected] tel 800 477 3456 tel 517 373 3456 fax 517 241 0867 MichiganFilmOffice.org 3 Guide to Filming in Your Community Some municipalities have created websites to present their parking public and private properties various attributes for filmmaking, which may work nicely to security entertainment options also streamline your processes. Included on a website could location possibilities crew and filming needs be location photos, airport or freeway proximity, maps, hotels resources hotels/apartments and accommodations, retail and supply resources, recreational and entertainment options, and especially permits, perhaps in printed or PDF versions. Given a community’s interest to FIRST CONTACT host filming, the following are some steps to best bring that You may be contacted by a film company before they contact objective to fruition. the Michigan Film Office, and if so, please provide the name to the MFO to assist all communications. In addition, you will want to obtain the following information for your own STREAMLINING THE PROCESS— purposes: PRIMARY FILM CONTACT • Project title and type (e.g. feature, TV show, reality show, To achieve the most clarity and efficiency in your local documentary) process, it is strongly suggested one person be your primary • Key personnel (producer, line producer, unit production film contact (PFC). Whether it is in the city manager’s office, manager, director) police dept., mayor’s office, or a special department of film • Budget range (to give you an idea of the project’s scope activity, one person when empowered is usually best able and needs) to streamline the process of approvals, communications, • Basic story line and content permitting or location help that comes with any production • Location needs and/or breakdown activity. • Resources needed Film productions often are forced into erratic shooting schedules due to innumerable variables and circumstances, so adhering to long lead times for requests sometimes may SUPPLEMENTARY OPPORTUNITIES not be easy. Realizing council approval is usually required Aside from actual filming, producers may have other needs for street closures and special events, many cities have been that your community can fulfill, such as public buildings and revising their policies to allow a more immediate approval properties that can assist in certain ways: process, usually shepherded by their PFC. Either way, you 1. Potential filming location should develop a film policy now to avoid any problems when 2. Production office space a film company arrives. Once that Primary Film Contact is in 3. Production warehouse space for filming, storage, set place, please let the Michigan Film Office know their name so construction, casting calls we can have it in our records. 4. Property for base camp operations (trailer and vehicle parking, catering tents) While the above items can bring needed revenue, you ROLE OF THE PRIMARY FILM CONTACT might want to consider a pricing deal as an added