"Lights, Camera, Northern Michigan.” That is the buzz right now as the region is being considered for five major film projects with A-list producers, directors and actors. Currently a movie project starring Ray Liotta is being filmed in Frankfort in Benzie County. The interest in Northern Michigan for major film projects is due in part to the new film incentives package introduced by Governor Granholm and the legislature this past spring. Another big attraction to Northern Michigan is the “film culture” created here by the Traverse City Film Festival. From the inception of the Festival its organizers, New York Times best selling author Doug Stanton, photographer David Williams and Oscar winning filmmaker Michael Moore envisioned their efforts would showcase the region as perfect for film projects. Moore’s Hollywood connection has helped to attract several producers, directors and stars to the Festival, all who have raved about the region. Moore played a major role in the incentive program by encouraging the Governor and other elected officials to look at the economic benefits of a viable film industry in Michigan. New Mexico and Louisiana have built successful film industries with incentives. But all eyes are now on Michigan with the most aggressive incentives ever offered in the film industry. Not only will these incentives result in money being invested in Michigan it will mean the creation of potentially thousands of well paying jobs. Producer Bob Brown of Charity Island Films has been making movies in Michigan for 10 years and believes the state is perfect for filmmaking. He worked for five years to get the incentives passed. Brown will be filiming his latest movie “The Bassmaster” in Traverse City this Spetember and October. He will have A-list actors and director Angelo Pizzo of “Hoosiers” and “Rudy” fame. “What makes Michigan great is that you are able to shoot any setting in this state. An ocean scene, a desert scene, urban, country, even mountains.We can create about anything imaginable here,” said Brown. “I think the only thing we can’t do is a Las Vegas street scene.” Rumors have been swirling as there have been Clint Eastwood sightings in Petoskey and Grayling. Location scouts have been on the Leelanau Peninsula for the filming of Stephen King’s novel “Bag of Bones.” Last summer there were several Johnny Depp sightings in Traverse City and Internet rumors have Depp possibly making his film “Dark Shadows” based on the popular ’60s television series in Northern Michigan in 2010. Conversations overheard at a local watering hole in Petoskey have Tom Cruise coming to make “Hardy Men”– based on the “Hardy Boys” book series– next summer with Ben Stiller. But those are rumors. Yet there is evidence that supports the possibility that Hollywood is coming to Northern Michigan. But is Northern Michigan ready? “It is happening very quickly. I know Northern Michigan has the resources, the people, and the perfect locations. It is about getting everyone together and getting them on the same page,” said Dianna Stampfler of Promote Michigan. “The art of making films is a complicated one with millions of dollars being invested. So it is important that communities have a complete understanding of what these film production companies are looking for. Places that are the most resourceful are the ones that land the projects.” To help Northern Michigan communities prepare for the film industry, Stampfler is collaborating with Deb Havens of the West Michigan Film Video Alliance to host the Northern Michigan Film Forum, July 21-22. The two day event will include industry experts and a session titled “When Hollywood Comes To Town.” The event is for community leaders, chambers and others interested in seeing a vibrant film industry here in Northern Michigan. It will cover all aspects of what a community needs to know from the legal and financial angles to exactly what producers are looking for. The forum appears to be coming at the right time. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a producer looking at Northern Michigan for a major film project, was frustrated by his experience. He cited “lack of facilities, trained staff and a general lack of knowledge of how the film industry works by the community leaders he was working with.” Despite the frustrations, he plans to move forward with filming in Northern Michigan. He advises that the region get organized and work together if they want the film industry to come here. “The incentives are important, but we have millions on the line with these projects so it will take more than incentives to make a project here.” Deb Havens, who formed the West Michigan Film Video Alliance four years ago to serve as a resource to the film, video, television and commercial production industries isn’t surprised by the comments made by the producer. “The same thing happened in Lousiana and New Mexico when they offered film incentives,” said Havens. “Hollywood stormed onto the scene and both states were not ready. They became quick study’s and now both are reaping the benefits of the film industry.” Havens was surprised to learn that Northern Michigan is being considered for five major film projects and her organization has not been contacted by anyone. She believes that is why those involved in the industry need to get together to educate everyone involved on the resources that are available. Especially since the incentive program requires hiring employees that are Michigan residents. The West Michigan Film Video Alliance, launched in January, 2005, seeks to represent and provide membership benefits to the nearly 5,500 entertainment industry professionals in West Michigan such as producers, directors, choreographers, videographers, composers, computer graphics and animation experts, writers, agents, actors and other film/video support personnel. “Essentially all film projects need extras, they need second and third tier production staff that live in the area they are filming in. This saves them money on hotel and travel expenses,” said Havens. “They also have to hire local help to qualify for the film incentives. What we are hoping to accomplish in July is to educate Northern Michigan communities as to the resources that are available to them. There are so many components to this business that the better prepared a community is the better the chances.” Dianna Stampfler agrees. “It is important that we work together. Communities need to not view each other as competitors but rather as collaborators and partners. The competition is other states vying for the same projects,” said Stampfler. “If you don’t have exactly what a producer is looking for and send them to a neighboring community it bodes well for all involved and creates a reputation for a region as being a positive and cooperative place for making films.” Havens said this is the industry norm. “What we need to do is view Michigan as a team. We need to attract the projects to our state and usually film projects require multiple locations,” said Havens. “So this requires a sharing of resources and everyone playing a role in the process. It is why our organization is focusing on one aspect of the industry and others such as the State’s Film Office are working on other aspects. What we hope to accomplish sooner than later is to get all these groups together so we know the resources available to all of us.” That is music to the ears of actress Julie Kramer. A graduate of Manton High School, Kramer headed off to New York to study acting. Appearing in bit parts of a few films Kramer recently returned to Northern Michigan to be close to her family. In between working two jobs she drives miles to make casting calls. Kramer recently auditioned for a role near Grand Rapids for a feature film starring Haley Duff and last week was in the Detroit area auditioning for a role in a new Fox sitcom. Kramer was unaware of any of the film projects taking place in her backyard. “I have my ear and nose to the ground. I have not heard about anything in my backyard,” said Kramer. “I am excited that there might be an opportunity for me to work here in Northern Michigan. But it is frustrating to drive all over the place when I might have been able to land something right here.” Kramer lives about 20 miles from the project being filmed in Frankfort and Deb Havens said it is people like Kramer that the West Michigan Film Video Alliance will benefit. “Certainly the feature film industry is important. In order to be attractive we need to have qualified and talented below the line talent here in Michigan, and in particular, our side of the state,” said Havens. “In order to attract these professionals to live in our area we must create enough work for them. So it is important to go beyond just feature films. By creating commercials here, sitcoms, mini-series and other film and video projects in West Michigan we can create enough work to have the below the line talent stay here to live and work.” In addition to the forum, Havens and Stampfler are organizing FAM tours for A-list directors and producers. They will be touring several of them through Northern Michigan to showcase possible film locations. They will detail this at the film forum.
To learn more about the July 21-22 Northern Michigan Film Forum contact Deb Havens at 616-885-2961. If you are interested in registering your services to be a part of the film industry in Michigan check out www.wmfva.org. To view the agenda and scheduled speakers visit michiganfilmnews.blogspot.com.
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