ROYAL OAK, Mich. – While the wrangling over Michigan's film incentive is ongoing in Lansing, insiders tell Local 4 it will get funded but said its future looks bleak.
Most people would be surprised how many movie productions and TV shows the incentive helps fund, done by companies here in Michigan -- it's not all Hollywood.
Sources at the Capitol told Local 4 while the funding fight is on this year, you can expect to see the film incentive funded at between $50 million and $60 million.
Next year, it could easily be $0. This is because Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville will be out of office. Richardville is the only champion of the incentive with the political clout to make it happen.
Which means goodbye to Hollywood, but it could also crush the creative class here in Michigan.
Jim Edelman owns and produces the popular Emmy Award-winning PBS program "Under the Radar Michigan," and is set to launch "A Craftsman's Legacy" nationally on PBS this year.
"Funding is always the hardest part," said Edelman.
Edelman's group has applied for the film incentive to help launch the latest show. The money from that incentive stays in Michigan along with the jobs.