Robocop Remake, Reality Show, Web Series OKd For Film Incentives

LANSING -- The Michigan Film Office announced Friday three projects – the Internet program Detroit Rubber, the feature film RoboCop and the Web series The Castle – have been approved for film incentives from the state.

"All of these projects present an opportunity to showcase Michigan -- whether through our filmmakers, our iconic locations, or the talented cast and crew we have here in the state," said Carrie Jones, director of the Michigan Film Office.  "We are seeing the rise of young entrepreneurs through Detroit Rubber and the return of RoboCop to Detroit, which is a testament to the range and diversity of projects we are supporting in the state."

Detroit Rubber will follow Rick Williams and Roland "Ro" Coit, owners of the Royal Oak sneaker shop Burn Rubber. In addition to opening a new boutique, called two/eighteen, the show will highlight these Michigan entrepreneurs as they balance family, a growing business and day to day struggles. The show will be released on the premium YouTube channel Loud.

Executive producers on the project include Marshall Mathers and Paul Rosenberg from Shady Films and Ben Silverman and Evan Bregman from Electus. Detroit Rubber is being produced and directed by Michigan native Christos Moisides. Post-production will be done at Beast in Royal Oak.

The project was awarded an incentive of $53,459 on $169,877 of projected in-state expenditures. The project expected to hire 15 Michigan workers with a full time equivalent of one job.

The feature film RoboCop was also awarded an incentive of $294,312 on $1,057,356 of projected in-state expenditures for second unit shoots in Detroit. The project expected to hire 81 Michigan workers with a full time equivalent of three jobs.

In RoboCop, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Their drones are winning American wars around the globe and now they want to bring this technology to the home front. Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) is a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit. After he is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp utilizes their remarkable science of robotics to save Alex's life. He returns to the streets of his beloved city with amazing new abilities, but with issues a regular man has never had to face before.

Scenes shot in Michigan include various Detroit landmarks and other exterior shots.

The Castle, a multi-series webisode comedy providing a 'behind-the-scenes' satire on instant celebrity reality shows, received an incentive of $48,330 on $163,968 of projected in-state expenditures.

The project, which filmed in Charlevoix, expected to hire 35 Michigan workers with a full time equivalent of one job.

All three projects were approved in Fiscal Year 2013 and were awarded a total of $396,101 on $1,391,201 of approved production expenditures.

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. Film Review Committee, comprised of senior MEDC staff including the Michigan Film Commissioner, reviews all completed applications.

Using the statute to guide approval decisions, preference is given to projects that best meet the following criteria:
* The production is financially viable.
* Utilization of existing infrastructure (studios, post-production facilities, equipment rental, etc.).
* The number and wage levels of direct jobs for Michigan residents created by a production.
* Ability to show Michigan in a positive light and promote the state as a tourist destination.
* Magnitude of estimated expenditures in Michigan.

For more on the Michigan Film Office, visit www.MichiganFilmOffice.org.