Incentivos para a produção on line.

Fight over incentives for films goes online

Opponents of gov's budget plan builds support via social media

Melissa Burden / The Detroit News

Film industry supporters are using social media to raise their numbers and their voices in a mounting battle against state legislators and the governor to protect Michigan's film tax incentives.

In the nine days since Gov. Rick Snyder outlined his budget proposal and said he wants to cut the now-uncapped incentives to $25 million annually in fiscal years 2012 and 2013, film industry proponents have taken to Facebook pages, Twitter, YouTube and websites to vent their anger and frustration, and to suggest ways people can contact their legislators to complain.

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A Facebook page created for a Thursday meeting in Livonia was instrumental in helping to bring hundreds of people to rally for preserving the state's growing film industry, said Kenneth Droz, a consultant and former communications manager for the Michigan Film Office who helped organize the meeting. The event, which featured speakers such as actor Jeff Daniels and filmmaker Mike Binder, also was streamed to 150 people in Grand Rapids.

"We made a statement last night, a big statement," Droz said on Friday. "(We put a) big, big shot of positivity and energy back into the industry after last week's setback. It was a huge setback. This isn't over. We've got a voice."

At issue is the continued use of refundable credits that can reimburse filmmakers up to 42 percent of their production-related expenses. Since the incentives were introduced in April 2008, $365 million in tax credits have been approved, and the state has paid out $95.6 million, according to the Michigan Film Office.

Campaigns launched

The lobbying campaign for the tax incentives has prompted Michigan Film First, another group of industry supporters that will hold an informational meeting next week in Troy to launch a Facebook page. It also is on Twitter, @MIFilmFirst.

The number of supporters for Rickswrong.com, which also uses the domain filmcreditswork.com, has exploded since Snyder's plan was announced Feb. 17, said Sharon Baseman, marketing director for Next Wave Media Studios in Troy, the HDTV and video production company that created the sites.

They've also posted vignette videos on YouTube from Michigan residents about why the incentives should be kept, she said.

Rickswrong.com was developed before the November election, when the company heard that Snyder would consider reducing the incentives if he was elected. The site reached about 200 supporters. On Friday it had more than 4,300.

The site is forwarding comments — such as individuals' personal stories about how the incentives helped them — to Snyder's gubernatorial inbox, Baseman said.

"I don't know if we're going to get the governor to change his mind," she said. "I think the goal is to get the Legislature not to go along with it."

A spokeswoman for Snyder could not be reached for comment Friday, but Snyder and state Budget Office Director John Nixon have said $25 million annually is still an incentive for filmmakers to work in Michigan.

Proponents of the industry say the tax credit program has created thousands of jobs, generated spin-off economic activity and helped support businesses ranging from hotels and restaurants to carpenters and electricians.

Expert cites online limits

But the Michigan Chamber of Commerce points to the findings of a Senate Fiscal Agency study that found the incentives don't generate enough economic activity to pay for themselves. The program is "an unaffordable give-away paid for by job providers who could only dream of getting this type of subsidy," said Tricia Kinley, senior director of tax and regulatory reform for the Chamber.

Grassroots groups, though, can gain momentum through the use of social media, said Cliff Lampe, an assistant professor of telecommunication information studies and the media at Michigan State University.

"Social media is usually valuable for the process of political mobilization, but not as the outcome for political mobilization," he said.

Social media can effectively share information about events or protests or share legislators' contact information, Lampe said. But he downplayed the impact of leaving social media messages with legislators and even e-mail campaigns.

"Legislators are moved by more traditional forms of communications, kinds of protests, mass letter-writing campaigns or phone calls," he said, adding groups repeatedly contacting legislators can work to influence political processes.

Supporter remains hopeful

Shelley Dabick Sollars of Troy said she made phone calls to state Rep. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, and state Sen. John Papageorge, R-Troy, on Friday, letting aides know she strongly favors keeping the film tax credits.

"I posted it on my Facebook status and I've texted some friends who I know are supportive and asked them to express their support," said the 54-year-old retired teacher and psychologist who has two teenage daughters who are interested in working in the film business.

Sollars said she and her family got involved in some film industry initiatives after hearing Snyder's budget proposal and watching an online interview with Detroit Free Press columnist and author Mitch Albom about the issue. Since then, they've signed an online petition and donated $100 at Rickswrong.com to help fund a commercial supporting the incentives.

"I'm hopeful that it will at least be modified," Sollars said of the governor's proposal. "I'm hopeful that it'll at least be increased from the $25 million that he's capped it at (to meet) somewhere in the middle and keep the industry viable."

mburden@detnews.com

mburden@detnews.com

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110226/BIZ/102260357/Fight-over-incentives-for-films-goes-online#ixzz1FBu41kB5