New specializations made in film studies program

---

Tweet

MSU has introduced two new specializations this fall in response to film incentives offered by the state.

The specializations, which focus on fictional films and documentary making, directly tie into the incentives and reflect the increased demand for the creation of movies in Michigan, said Bob Albers, a senior video specialist and teacher in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media.

A collaboration between MSU’s film studies program and the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media created the specializations, Albers said. Changes in the industry also have led to the revamping of the department’s curriculum, which now includes a portion with production for cinema and television, he said.

Albers said although the number of students seeking degrees within the film industry has remained fairly steady at about 225 students, the field always attracted interest from students. But now, with companies filming within the state receiving refundable tax credits of up to 42 percent, graduates can stay in Michigan, he said.

“It addresses that problem of, ‘What are students going to do when they’re finished with our program?’” Albers said. “If they really wanted to get into in the film industry before, they would’ve had to leave, but now they don’t have to.”

Michigan has become competitive with hot spots such as Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, Michigan Film Office Spokesman Ken Droz said.

“We tell people a lot, ‘you don’t have to leave the state now to pursue work in that field,’” he said. “It’s coming here.”

Since the April 2008 introduction of the incentives, Michigan’s film industry has taken off, Droz said. In 2009, 35 projects have spent more than $216 million in the state, compared to three projects that spent $2 million in 2007, he said.

But MSU economics professor Charles Ballard said although the incentives bring creative, talented and technology-savvy people into the state, the program’s costs need to be weighed against its benefits.

“At a time when the state of Michigan is dramatically reducing its investments in education all the way from kindergarten throughout college, I think we have to be very careful with our public revenues,” he said.

Droz said 2,763 jobs were created by the 35 projects filmed in Michigan in 2008.

Andy Kozlowski, a senior double majoring in media arts and technology and media management and research, said although he hopes to begin his career outside of Michigan, the incentives eventually could draw him back to the state.

“It’s totally exciting, the fact that there’s another state with such a big landscape, with different areas — the dunes, Detroit as an abandoned area — there are just so many different locations you can use for films and TV shows,” he said.

Albers said the interest in film and television likely will continue to grow at MSU, perhaps leading to expansion of the department as more and more people recognize Michigan’s appeal, he said.

“I think that Michigan could become a Midwest destination for filmmakers,” he said. “Michigan has everything that you would need — all kinds of terrain, farm land, mountains, cityscapes — it has everything. The film incentives are an incentive for filmmakers to come and take advantage of that.”

---