Interviewed, edited and condensed by Eric Gallippo.
Compare what you’re doing today with what you were doing a year ago.
Whatever I was doing, it was not work related, because we only had three projects last year, and they had already been handled. The difference is radical. I had someone ask me recently, ‘Who is directing such and such a movie,’ and I drew a complete blank. I said, ‘A year ago, I’ve could told you who was the grip, because we only had two.’ Today, I can’t even tell you who is directing.
How many films were made in Michigan this year?
Twenty-six. Isn’t that just amazing? That includes a couple of TV pilots and a few made-for-TV documentaries.
How many inquiries were there?
We approved 72 projects and received 134 applications. Some were approved early on and have since dropped by the wayside. In a few cases I think they have actually chosen another state, and sometimes it’s a wise decision, because the terrain was going to be a problem with locations to the point of idiocy.
How long have you been the Michigan film commissioner?
Seventeen years this month. I’m the second longest-serving state film commissioner in America. Mississippi has me beat.
How did you get the job?
Pure luck. I was working for a state program (former Gov.) John Engler did away with, and I got a phone call from the Department of Commerce. These people knew I was an actor, so they knew I was artsy, and they said there’s this job called the Film Office and we’d like to borrow you for a day a week to run it. The very first day, Disney called to do a scout, and I thought, ‘Oh, this is what I want to do until I retire from state government.’
What’s it like to work with a team now?
Before, I paid the bills, I did the letters, I did the e-mails, I did the charts. Everything that was done in this office I did alone for many years, and then Mike Grabemeyer came and took over the location work last December. Tony Wenson, our chief operating officer, does all the meetings about infrastructure projects and took over the press. Lamont Bell has been an accountant in the industry for 20 years and spots things in these applications I would never think of. It’s just a wonderful group with great gifts.
Do you and the staff talk about your favorite movies?
We do when we go out to dinner. I don’t know that I have a favorite, because I like so many genres. I like romance, I like science fiction, I like almost anything. I don’t go to the slashers.
It seems other states could start looking to Michigan’s success and begin to offer similar incentives. Is there any pressure to stay on top?
We call it an arms race without bullets. Right now, Michigan is at the top of the heap. Somebody could come up with something better, but I don’t think it’s going to happen right away, because of the national economy.
How recession-proof is the film industry? Can it continue to thrive here, as things get worse economically?
Think of the Depression in the 1930s. Movies kept being made, because when people are depressed they go to the movies. You can step away from your troubles, at least for a couple of hours. I think in ’09 there will be fewer movies made in the United States. But two movies and a TV program versus 26 that have already finished and dozens more waiting in the background? If it’s only 20 next year, I bet we could manage.
What projects were you particularly excited about this year?
The first real pleasure for me may have been a made-for-TV out of Toronto starring Sigourney Weaver. In the late ‘90s, Canada became the first country to put film incentives into place. We’re on the border, and I cannot tell you how many projects we lost from ’97 to 2007. I developed an attitude about Canada. I wouldn’t go across the bridge to shop. One of the first projects that called about the new incentives was this TV movie out of Toronto. I can’t tell you how good that felt.
Is there any word of a project coming to Lansing?
There’s a small movie called “Wild Michigan” that will be filmed partially here. They’re shooting at the Turner-Dodge House. My personal joke is there have only been three movies made in Lansing that I know of since I’ve been the film commissioner, and I’ve been in two of them. You can even rent one, but on the Internet Movie Database, people have made comments, like “This is the worst movie ever made.”
Compare what you’re doing today with what you were doing a year ago.
Whatever I was doing, it was not work related, because we only had three projects last year, and they had already been handled. The difference is radical. I had someone ask me recently, ‘Who is directing such and such a movie,’ and I drew a complete blank. I said, ‘A year ago, I’ve could told you who was the grip, because we only had two.’ Today, I can’t even tell you who is directing.
How many films were made in Michigan this year?
Twenty-six. Isn’t that just amazing? That includes a couple of TV pilots and a few made-for-TV documentaries.
How many inquiries were there?
We approved 72 projects and received 134 applications. Some were approved early on and have since dropped by the wayside. In a few cases I think they have actually chosen another state, and sometimes it’s a wise decision, because the terrain was going to be a problem with locations to the point of idiocy.
How long have you been the Michigan film commissioner?
Seventeen years this month. I’m the second longest-serving state film commissioner in America. Mississippi has me beat.
How did you get the job?
Pure luck. I was working for a state program (former Gov.) John Engler did away with, and I got a phone call from the Department of Commerce. These people knew I was an actor, so they knew I was artsy, and they said there’s this job called the Film Office and we’d like to borrow you for a day a week to run it. The very first day, Disney called to do a scout, and I thought, ‘Oh, this is what I want to do until I retire from state government.’
What’s it like to work with a team now?
Before, I paid the bills, I did the letters, I did the e-mails, I did the charts. Everything that was done in this office I did alone for many years, and then Mike Grabemeyer came and took over the location work last December. Tony Wenson, our chief operating officer, does all the meetings about infrastructure projects and took over the press. Lamont Bell has been an accountant in the industry for 20 years and spots things in these applications I would never think of. It’s just a wonderful group with great gifts.
Do you and the staff talk about your favorite movies?
We do when we go out to dinner. I don’t know that I have a favorite, because I like so many genres. I like romance, I like science fiction, I like almost anything. I don’t go to the slashers.
It seems other states could start looking to Michigan’s success and begin to offer similar incentives. Is there any pressure to stay on top?
We call it an arms race without bullets. Right now, Michigan is at the top of the heap. Somebody could come up with something better, but I don’t think it’s going to happen right away, because of the national economy.
How recession-proof is the film industry? Can it continue to thrive here, as things get worse economically?
Think of the Depression in the 1930s. Movies kept being made, because when people are depressed they go to the movies. You can step away from your troubles, at least for a couple of hours. I think in ’09 there will be fewer movies made in the United States. But two movies and a TV program versus 26 that have already finished and dozens more waiting in the background? If it’s only 20 next year, I bet we could manage.
What projects were you particularly excited about this year?
The first real pleasure for me may have been a made-for-TV out of Toronto starring Sigourney Weaver. In the late ‘90s, Canada became the first country to put film incentives into place. We’re on the border, and I cannot tell you how many projects we lost from ’97 to 2007. I developed an attitude about Canada. I wouldn’t go across the bridge to shop. One of the first projects that called about the new incentives was this TV movie out of Toronto. I can’t tell you how good that felt.
Is there any word of a project coming to Lansing?
There’s a small movie called “Wild Michigan” that will be filmed partially here. They’re shooting at the Turner-Dodge House. My personal joke is there have only been three movies made in Lansing that I know of since I’ve been the film commissioner, and I’ve been in two of them. You can even rent one, but on the Internet Movie Database, people have made comments, like “This is the worst movie ever made.”
Dumpsnow
