Attorney discusses film incentives
by Tom Kirvan
Is this the final act?
Perhaps the curtain is closing on the “Hollywood of the Midwest.”
That would not be the script that attorney Ethan Bordman hopes is written on the highly touted “Michigan Film & Digital Media Production Incentive” program that took effect in April 2008.
The program, with its generous tax credits, is under siege following a recent round of budget-tightening proposals outlined by Governor Rick Snyder. Michigan’s top elected official wants to eliminate the uncapped film incentives, which can offer rebates of up to 42% of a filmmaker’s production expenses. Instead, he has proposed $25 million in rebates each for fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013, while also honoring $75 million in previously awarded credits…