Home » Jazz News » Festival

Help Us Strike A Blow For Artistic Expression And Recreate Michigan's Economy

Source:

Sign in to view read count
The Michigan film industry is a real and viable alternative to the demise of Michigan's industrial base. It is a positive path to recreate Michigan's economy and help redefine who we are as a state. Help us create a film/music festival here in south-central Michigan and help support Michigan's film and music industries.

Back Story

In 2008 departing Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm left Michigan with one of the country's most generous film incentives.

Within three years, Michigan was pushed into the forefront of the film industry. Over 100 feature films were produced,—with more scheduled for production,—creating thousands of high paying jobs for unemployed Michigan residents. Moreover, the film industry created six dollars of economic activity for each dollar spent helping local businesses, cities, and individuals who are not directly tied to film.

Michigan became a place for creative minds and young talent. These incentives offered opportunities for many creative careers and provided the antidote to the decades of brain drain Michigan was facing.

When the newly elected Michigan Governor Rick Snyder entered office he said that this would not do. He said that this incentive was wholly unsustainable. In 2011 he proposed reducing the film incentive. Immediately movies started leaving the state, and this emerging industry stalled. The Michigan Film Office stopped taking applications. It effectively closed its doors and everyone waited with bated breath for the governor to make his next move.

In December 2011, he signed a bill into law which capped the film incentives but made available monies for the film industry. By this time Hollywood had fled the state for greener pastures.

While hundreds of jobs evaporated with a stroke of a pen, not all of Michigan's creative minds followed Hollywood's departure from the state. Michigan still has a film industry. Many of its creative minds are still creating noteworthy works. All deserve to be seen.

Help Us Make this a Reality

Residents of Jackson, Michigan agree. Michigan's filmmakers deserve to be seen. Hollywood may have left Michigan because of the delay that was experienced as Michigan politicians deliberated over the film incentives. However, Michigan's film industry is still alive. We want to create a showcase for Michigan film and music industries. We want our filmmakers and musicians to know we support them.

What we would like to do is create a multi-venue celebration of Michigan film and music in the downtown Jackson area, with the focus held at Jackson's last historic theater—the Michigan Theatre. Can the setting be more perfect? Michigan film and music at the Michigan Theatre— A film/music festival here in south-central Michigan As people hear of our plans to host this event, more and more people come on board—both residents, filmmakers and musicians. More and more people are excitedly volunteering. Everyone says, “Yeh, let's do it."

South-central Michigan—more specifically, Jackson, Michigan— needs a film/music fest.

Click here to help

Visit Website

For more information contact .

Comments

Tags

News

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.