Mitch Albom, Jeff Daniels, Mike Binder And Others Gather To Save The Michigan Film Credit

World-famous author and columnist Mitch Albom, together with writer/director/actor Jeff Daniels and writer/director (and character actor) Mike Binder, hosted a town hall meeting last night to build awareness and show their support for the now-endangered Michigan film credit.

“I'm a storyteller, and so are many of you, and the story of these film credits is a true Little Engine That Could tale,” Albom started. “It began as an idea in a small group of meetings over coffee and sandwiches, and grew into proposals, testimonies and finally a written law.

“They were fueled as all good stories are: with passion, a growing list of characters, and an expanding plot with exciting twists and turns. And then in a single speech last Thursday, the story was halted and the book was thrown dangerously close to the fire.”

That fire was started by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, whose recently announced (but not set in stone) business proposal could reduce the state's film incentive to just $25 million. Albom says that we cannot let that happen.

The crowd gathers at Laurel Manor.

“We are here to save the story,” he said. “We're here to save the stories of every electrician, grip, set designer, catering trade. Every painter, baker, hotel worker. Every costume shop, photographer, editor. Every accountant, every driver, every director, technician, transportation manager, actor. This is not about saving Hollywood. This is about saving Michigan.”

Binder, who joked that he was struggling to get funding for his next movie, F*** Me, Suck Me, Kill Me (which he referred to as a “good title” for a Disney DIS film), said that he is heartbroken by Snyder's announcement.

“What breaks my heart about having to fly out here tonight is that everything that was promised was delivered,” Binder said sorrowfully. “The studios came, they built a world-class studio in Pontiac. They built studios in Livonia. An ABC TV series was shot here. An HBO TV series was shot here. DreamWorks DWA just made an $80 million movie here.”

Mike Binder

“Let's be very clear: Governor Snyder has proposed a budget with a one-size-fits-all philosophy,” Albom continued. “What matters to him is a low corporate tax rate. He wants it clean, he wants it simple – low tax rate, good business. That's his motto.”

That motto stems from the success that Snyder had with Gateway in South Dakota, the state ranked as the best tax climate for business in America.

“But I ask you: are people flocking to South Dakota?” Albom questioned. “Do you know anyone from South Dakota? Would you move to South Dakota? Three of America's six poorest counties are from South Dakota. In the last 10 years, with the best, lowest corporate tax rates, it has lagged behind even the national average for growth.”

Why? “Because it takes more than a low tax rate to make a state industry-friendly,” Albom answered. “It takes people. It takes talent. It takes environment, which may explain why when Governor Snyder stepped down from his post at Gateway, the company moved to California – the state with the second-worst tax rate in America.”

“This can't be a Democrat or Republican issue,” said Binder, a conservative who joked that his idea of pro choice is film or digital. “What people need to know, and Rick Snyder and all the new Republicans, they need to know that this was a Republican bill. Republicans started this. They cannot blame this on the Democrats. These are not tax credits to build a new wing of government that will forever be here.”

Daniels, who is perhaps best well known for his role in Dumb And Dumber, said that he likes Snyder and that he believes he's a good man.

“I think a lot of what he has done is exactly what he said he was going to do,” Daniels said. “My meeting with him was friendly. It was pleasant. I think Mitch had a similar experience.”

Jeff Daniels

Daniels met with Snyder in December to discuss the tax credit and the possible adjustments. “Before we sat down, [Snyder] said, ‘I don't want to kill it,'” Daniels said, noting that he is an actor, and that one of the tools of his trade is to remember things. “He gave me the impression he cared, he understood, and that he got it. He wanted to talk about a reduction, a cap. He said no numbers. He made no commitments to me. I didn't say he did.”

When the meeting was over, Daniels said that he felt like he was preaching to the choir.

“And the last thing he said to me was, ‘It's not just my decision,'” Daniels continued. “And I said, ‘Oh, okay.' I felt good about it. I went to people and said I think it's going to be all right. Then he went to Lansing and did what he did. So I'm accurate when I said that I felt like I was talking to a politician who said one thing, ‘I don't want to kill it,' then he went to Lansing, said $25 million, and he did kill it. Said one thing, did another. So I'm accurate. Don't tell me I'm not.

“When it comes to film, TV, video games, digital animation – one size does not fit all,” Albom said. “These businesses are wholly different [from] brick-and-mortar corporations. They're mobile. They go from place to place. The reason they came here is because of the credits, and the reason they'll leave is because the credits are gone.”

Albom said that no corporate tax – no matter how low it is – will keep filmmakers in Michigan. “It's like trying to get fisherman in Nebraska. It ain't gonna happen. Fisherman are gonna go where the water is. And the film, TV and video business will go where the incentives are – it's that simple. Governor Snyder has ignored this fact, but we cannot.”

“This is tax incentives to incentivize an industry that builds small businesses,” Binder said. “That's what you people have done and in such a brilliant way. It's small businesses here. You've put your lives on the lines here, bought catering trucks and lumberyards.”

“We can only do so much,” Daniels warned. “We can only stand in front of the cameras and come here once or twice. It's up to you – every one of you has got to get on the a** of your representative in Lansing.”

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