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Michigan Film First Expands Board, To Lobby Snyder On Credit

Michigan Film First Thursday announced an expanded board of directors to lead the statewide organization's efforts to connect and promote the state's growing movie, television and digital media production industry.

Michigan Film First represents leading stakeholders in the industry, including studios, equipment providers, industry workers and other service providers. It provides access to business, educational and networking opportunities for film-related companies and workers across the state. The group also has taken a leading role in the effort to preserve Michigan's successful film incentive program, which has resulted in an explosion of investment and jobs in the state.

"Michigan's growing film industry has proven it can bring new business into our state and create high-wage jobs for skilled workers," said Michigan Film First Chairman Kirk Miller, president and senior editor of Kinetic Post in Southfield. "This industry is growing and has the potential to help reshape the Michigan economy so that our state can prosper again."

In addition to Miller, the board includes Chris Baum, senior vice president, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau and Film Detroit; Bill Black, executive director, Teamsters Joint Council 43 of Detroit; Tom Fletcher, vice president, Fletcher Camera & Lenses of Farmington Hills; David Haddad, president, Haddad's Inc. of Brownstown Township; Ginny Hart, vice president of sales, Grace & Wild Studios of Farmington Hills; location manager Michael Jones of Troy; Patti Kahn, president, Kahn & Company PLC of Commerce Township; Christos Moisides, founder, Colony Films of Detroit; Linden Nelson, CEO, Raleigh Michigan Studios of Pontiac; Marc E. Seyburn, Seyburn Knox Law Group of Birmingham; and Jeffrey Spilman, a founding board member who is managing partner at S3 Entertainment Group of Ferndale.

Former State Rep. Andy Richner, a member of the Detroit-based Clark Hill law firm, was named executive director.

Michigan Film First has retained an experienced team of consultants to fully engage in the debate in Lansing over the future of Michigan's successful film incentive program.

"We are committed to working with Gov. Rick Snyder and legislators to craft a compromise that grows Michigan's promising film industry while being fiscally prudent," said Baum, chairman of Michigan Film First's Government Affairs Committee. "Republicans and Democrats made the right decision when they came together to create Michigan's film program in 2008. We're confident this industry will continue to be a strong investment in jobs for Michigan in 2011 and beyond."

A recent study by Ernst & Young found that for every $1 Michigan invested in the film industry program last year, $5.94 of new economic activity was generated. The study also found that film productions paid Michigan residents $42.8 million in wages and salaries in 2009, or about $53,700 per full-time-equivalent employee.

For more information about Michigan Film First, visit the organization's website at www.mifilmfirst.com.

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