After three years of a nearly limitless film incentive program, Michigan’s governor Rick Snyder instituted a $25 million total annual cap on the program, dramatically limiting the state’s appeal to large-scale productions.
Comparison to the recently expanded North Carolina film incentives reveals the severity of the cut. In the Tarheel State, an individual film has a cap of $20 million, nearly the entire budget of Michigan’s film incentive program. According to the NC Film Office, many states, including North Carolina have begun to feel the effects of Michigan’s decision, with an increase in calls from projects looking to move production to a place with a more stable and generous incentive.
Michigan has received a number of large projects in the past, with incentive packages much higher than $25 million. These changes may devastate the Michigan Film Industry and crew base, while giving other states, such as Ohio and North Carolina new projects to woo.
