Michigan Closer To Becoming MovieMaking Mecca

DETROIT - Michigan may be one step closer to becoming the Hollywood of the Midwest.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation approved tax credits to a film company and a special effects studio that would bring thousands of jobs to the area.

Motown Motion Picture Studios will open a film studio and production facility at the site of a former General Motors Corp. truck plant and office complex in Pontiac.

The studio will be run by Raleigh Studios, who has said they plan on building a full pre-and post-production studio, which includes nine sound stages.

The $70 million project could create more than 3,500 direct jobs and 1,500 indirect jobs in the area. Wonderstruck Films company has also been approved to invest $86 million into a studio at the old MGM Grand Casino on Third Street and Michigan Avenue.

The former casino will be called Detroit Center Studios and will contain a film training annex, a sound stage and editing suites. The project would generate 413 jobs over the next five years.

"We're going to build a lot of jobs and spend a lot of money," said Wonderstruck CEO and President Michele Richards, who is also a St. Clair Shores native.

Richards said she feels like Michigan is where she belongs because her family is still here.

"This is really home. I have just been visiting L.A. for a lot of years," she said.

Wonderstruck specializes in animation and special effects. The company has produced animated films such as the "Lion King" and video games such as Guitar Hero.

Richards said she is especially interested in hiring former automotive engineers that have Computer Aided Design (CAD) experience.

"I know the technical brilliance we have in Michigan and with the automotive industry experiencing attrition right now, we see an opportunity to retrain this brilliants talent to use 3-D software," said Richards.

Richard said she expects the company to see a lot of growth in the animation industry because the Chinese film animation market has seen a 200 percent increase in the past year.

Also, Stardock Systems will be opening a video gaming company that would create 50 jobs in Plymouth.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm plans to announce the deals Tuesday night at her annual State of The State address.

Since the state started new tax incentives to lure in filmmakers, 71 movie projects have been approved, 37 films have been completed and at least 3,000 jobs have been created.