Last year, Michigan proudly announced it would offer tax breaks for companies who wanted to film movies in Michigan, and it is currently utilizing the Michigan Film Office to shepherd the doling out of funds to this end. 

My question is, who really benefits from these kinds of incentives? Apart from Hilary Swank and Drew Barrymore visiting the Great Lakes State, is there an upside to this program for Michiganders?

My sense is there isn't.

I think the Michigan Film Office and the government would like you to believe that they're bringing business into the state, and that the film companies are providing crew or lighting or catering jobs to locals.

On the whole, this is not true.

When Hilary Swank's recent movie was filming at the University of Michigan, the catering company they brought in was Canadian. Not one person from the University's Film and Video Studies Department was contacted about helping. Students were welcome to be extras for free -- but that's it. This is also true of Drew Barrymore's rollerskating movie, and Clint Eastwood's drama, Gran Torino. If you know of one Michigander employed by any of these films, please, post it here. Because for all my searching, I can't find anyplace where a hungry Michigan worker was offered any compensation for helping out on set. And no, I'm not counting the brown bag lunches that the extras get for eight+ hours of work.

What's more, while these big film companies skate in and out of the state and collect their tax breaks, Michigan filmmakers can't get the Michigan Film Office to help them out. Sure, they don't have the blockbuster budgets or the big name actors, but these are most certainly the folks who are employing local actors, gaffers, caterers, etc. These are the people the Michigan Film Office should be jumping to help. But I personally know of three filmmakers who have petitioned the office for approval on their tax paperwork for months on end, and still no response.

So, what gives? Why should the state deplete its tax revenues just so Hilary Swank can waltz into town for a few days? Who is this tax incentive really helping? I don't believe it's the people in Michigan, that's for sure.