…and use the wide-angle lens
I’ve been reading with some amusement, and much amazement, the news stories and related comments about the State of Michigan’s incentive/tax credit program designed to induce the film industry to do more business here. The opinion range is broad, with a few shown below…
Here’s the political attack:
And here’s a testimonial on how Hollywood-types boost local businesses…
(Also…saw two actresses out by the “cee-ment pond.” Glad that Hugh liked the Zoo, and that the karaoke bars are safe for the time being. Whew.)
Here’s the old “wait for the other guy to do it” philosophy:
No time for “that sort of thing”? Then what DO we have time for — to sit around waiting for the auto industry to get back to 16 million units? (Tip: Don’t hold your breath.) Or maybe we should all plant a bunch of trees in our yards and get into the logging business. OF COURSE WE HAVE THE TIME!! The question is, do we have the initiative?
The last commenter referred to “associated industries” in the movie business. Somehow I get the feeling that if we’re defining these as just the bagel shops, lumber yards, production assistants, rental apartments and caterers (to name just a few), then we’re severely limiting ourselves – looking at the possibilities through a macro lens with blinders on. The industry and its potential opportunities are far, far larger than that.
Look at the automotive business. Although most of the news is generated by the big OEMs, their suppliers, the suppliers’ suppliers, and then their suppliers, are collectively much, much larger than their original clients. Associated industries? Somewhere there’s a highly successful company supplying special patented high-tech industrial cleaning rags, and employing dozens of people. Same thing with the movie industry.
We’ve got the talent pool, the experience, loads of facilities, and now a potential suitor. It’s up to us to use the “wide-angle lens” and find the possibilities that surely exist. But it’s also up to us to brand it, market it and sell it.
Throwing in the towel now just because your cousin didn’t get the “coffee-schlepper” job on Demi’s latest movie relegates us all to peon status. Think big.
Bill Betts 10/11/2010
Right on target! Seems to me the question is, “Does Michigan (government and the people) have the intiative, will power, clear vision and guts to see this become a solid Michigan business? We may be lacking in the big picture, long-term vision department. To make movies a permanent Michigan business will take many years. Otherwise we’re just a stop along the way until the next state gives equal or better incentives. In that case we will have wasted our money for a short-term shot in the arm to caterers, bagel shops, lumber yards, production assistants, and rental apartments. There’s short-term value in that, but no taxpayer payback in the long run.
Perry Kartsonas 10/20/2010
As I commented in an earlier blog, need to create the “milling” effect which will get things going.We need to have news worthy things constantly happening. In this situation,it had to start at the ground floor bc no foudnation ever existed for it to make an immdeiate impact. It seems to be catching on and the more outsiders milling about the state plus word of mouth coummunication help bring in dollars. Which leads to another point, what happened to putting in alot of elbow grease,hard work and guts to get something going…if passionate enough, the impact everyone is looking for may come sooner that expected.