Film Industry

Film Industry

Production Filming Information:

The City of Allen Park understands the nature of the filming industry and how timing can be critical to the choice of a location for shooting a film. That is why the city of Allen Park is developing a new film friendly permit process that will allow a quick turnaround for a film production company opportunities in our community.
If you are Scouting for a Location for your next Film contact Mike Donofrio City of Allen Park Director of Economic Development to guide you through the applicant permitting process. Call 313.928.5363 or E-Mail email

Film Locations are Needed:

Photos of Allen Park sites are sought to provide the movie industry locations for shooting a movie.

Allen Park has a wide variety of locations that filmmakers would love to use as a backdrop. We have areas that provide a small town feel with street scenes with beautiful neighborhoods and parks that also hold an appeal for a Hollywood movie. Do you know of a special place in Allen Park that could make a good movie backdrop? If so, take a photo of it and send the photo with a brief description and information about the location to Mike Donofrio Director of Economic Development at mdonofrio@cityofAllenPark.org.

The more photo shots we have on file the more opportunities we will have to shoot movies in Allen Park. The photos and information will be posted on Allen Park web site as a way to entice movie makers to our community. Those who submit photos used on the web site will be given credit.

State & County Film Opportunities:

The Michigan Film Office was created in 1979 to assist and attract incoming production companies and to promote the growth of our indigenous industry. more..

Michigan Film Office

Wayne County also has additional Film Development Incentives.

Wayne County Film Incentives

 

Film Industry Activity in Allen Park:

  • Lifton Institute for Media Skills seeking students : More info...

Press release :

January 16, 2010

City Institutes Film Permit to Streamline Process

ALLEN PARK –– The city is now requiring a film permit, application and fees for filming in the city in an effort to simplify the process and attract more filming.
The City Council unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday to accept the documents that are considered industry standards.
“All this is going to streamline the process for the movie industry,” Mayor Gary Burtka said.In March, the city finalized a “Production Filming: regulations, requirements and permits within and throughout the city” ordinance.The ordinance covers applications for permits, fees, agreements, time frames, road closures, traffic control and the like.Councilman Frank Tucci said the requirements were adopted to coincide with the ordinance.The effort to simplify the documents is because the city hopes to be a film-friendly city, said Michael Donofrio, economic development director.“The film industry can come to Allen Park and want to stay here,” he said at the meeting.
A draft of the production filming permit application requests project information such as filming dates and locations, a script outline and description of scenes’ special effects, like pyrotechnics and firearms.The Police, Fire, Public Service and Parks and Recreation departments must be notified the same day a permit has been issued. The notice also must be sent to the mayor, city administrator and economic development director.

A rebate of up to $200 will be issued if films use the “City of Allen Park” as product placement. The name of “City of Allen Park” also must be in the final featured product and film credits.“The city’s name must be used in good taste and help promote the community as safe and clean to live, work and play in,” Donofrio said, which is in conjunction with Burtka’s city vision statement.Burtka said companies can pay millions to have their products featured in films, but for only $200, the city can have its shot at the spotlight.The rebate will be made after the project evaluation survey has been turned in to the city after the film permit activities have been completed and the final product has been screened.The project evaluation survey rates the overall experience, which city departments they were in contact with, suggestions, the total city fees paid, the amount of time spent in the city, the total estimate spent in Allen Park and where they ate and slept.The city is hoping other communities will participate in a unified permit to entice filmmaking Downriver.At Tuesday’s meeting, Burtka said having a unified permit not only would be a marketing tool, but also would simplify the process.Burtka will present the documents to area mayors and township supervisors at a Downriver Community Conference meeting Feb. 4
News Herald Published: Saturday, January 16, 2010 By Angie Favot.

 

November 13, 2009:

Allen Park Closes on Purchased of Land / REDICO will Develop and Manage the Property

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The City of Allen Park on Thursday closed on its purchase of 104 acres of land at Southfield Road and I-94, a critical final step in the establishment of Unity Studios & Village on the site as well as other entertainment industry related businesses. On October 27, $25.3 million in long-term general obligation bonds and $3 million in Wayne County Issued Recovery Zone Bonds were sold to finance the land purchase. The bonds, which received a solid investment grade credit rating of “A” by Standard & Poor’s, sold in less than one minute. With the land and buildings now owned by the city, “tenant leasing and property development can commence full speed ahead,” said Allen Park Mayor Gary Burtka. “While this project has not moved as quickly as we had initially planned for a variety of reasons, it is moving forward, and the city’s objectives remain unchanged” Burtka said. “Certainly the financial market, regional economic conditions and discussion in Lansing about making legislative changes to the Film Credit were key factors in the delay to name a few.” The bonds were purchased by PNC, a major bank and financial services firm. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (www.pnc.com) is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services organizations providing retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management; asset management and global fund services. In addition, the city has selected Southfield-based REDICO LLC to develop and manage the 104-acre site. REDICO will work closely with city administration to implement the site’s master development plan.

REDICO was one of many property developers and managers considered for the project. After six months of analysis, on September 8, the Allen Park City Council directed city administration to negotiate an agreement with REDICO. On September 29, the city council unanimously approved the terms of the Master Developer Agreement & Management Agreement with REDICO. Awaiting the successful completion of several project related benchmarks, the final contract was executed on November 10. One of REDICO’s primary goals will be to develop the property with an eye toward attracting other related businesses to the site. “Unity Studios along with the other existing tenants is obviously the centerpiece of this development, but our goal is to attract a number of other strategically targeted businesses to the site to create a world class entertainment industry complex,” Burtka said. Additionally, as part of the Management Agreement, REDICO will have oversight responsibility of the day-to-day activities ranging from maintenance of the buildings, lots and landscaping to the management of leases, utilities and much more. REDICO developed, owns and manages Independence Marketplace at Outer Drive and Southfield in Allen Park. This 36-acre retail development is the former site of the VA Hospital. In its October 12 edition, Crain’s Detroit Business reported that the Urban Land Institute (ULI) named the Dearborn Town Center — developed by REDICO — its “Development of the Year.” Dearborn Town Center is on the location of an old Montgomery Ward building that sat vacant for more than two decades. Unity Studios is majority owned and operated by a group of investors from Los Angeles and Michigan, including veteran Hollywood executive Jimmy Lifton. Originally from Southfield, Michigan, Lifton has been in the business of entertainment for 30 years. Located on the grounds of Unity Studios, the Lifton Institute for Media Skills (LIMS) has started classes and is implementing one of the largest retraining programs in Michigan. Classes began at the Institute on October 26.
On November 6, WAR Entertainment, a film and TV production company, announced it is relocating to the new Unity Studios complex. WAR owner, Dale Davis, who played for the Detroit Pistons from 2005-2007, said WAR will begin production of television shows at Unity in 2010. WAR’s production services business, The Gaff Station, will arrive next week to set up shop at Unity and provide its lighting, grip and electric services to the complex’s training center. For more information about REDICO, please visit http://www.REDICO.com. For more information about the City of Allen Park and Economic Development, please visit www.CityofAllenPark.org.

 

November 6, 2009: Pittsburgh film company relocating to Allen Park MI

Christine MacDonald / The Detroit News
Allen Park - A film and production company started by a former Detroit Piston is leaving Pittsburgh for Allen Park. WAR Entertainment, founded by former pro basketball player Dale Davis, will relocate to Unity Studios, which is transforming a former Visteon Corp. facility in Allen Park into a movie studio. A ground-breaking ceremony for the $146 million studio was held in August.

WAR Entertainment produces television and film projects, according to a Unity Studios' press release. WAR's first projects will be a children's television show for a "major network," which will be filmed this winter, and a feature film about basketball, which will be shot in the spring.

Unity is one of three major film studio projects announced since state legislators enacted the nation's most aggressive tax incentive program for film, television and new media productions. Construction has begun on the new studios, company officials have said. Davis said in the release that Michigan's tax incentives were a major reason for the move.

Michigan lawmakers in April 2008 passed a package of bills to attract filmmakers to the state, including a 40 percent tax break.

cmacdonald@detnews.com (313) 222-2396

 

August 27, 2009: Unity Studios Groundbreaking                               

                                                                         

Allen Park Buys Land, October Opening Planned

It’s official: construction of Unity Studios will begin this month on 104 acres at Southfield Road and I-94 in Allen Park, city and studio officials announced today.

All project details are complete, including land purchase and financing, and an Aug. 27 ground-breaking event has been scheduled on site. The all-encompassing film, TV and media production facility will open in October. Earlier that month, the Lifton Institute for Media Skills (LIMS) will open on site for its first class of 250 students who will be trained for jobs in the film industry.More exciting news: Unity Studios’ first project is scheduled to begin filming in November. Details about the project will be announced at a later date.

Lifton’s vision of a movie and television production factory represents a significant bricks and mortar investment in Michigan’s emerging and growing film industry. Perhaps most important, productions at Unity Studios will jump-start the creation of a highly trained work force.

“After several years of planning and several months of negotiations with banks, land owners, and state, county and local government agencies, economic development officials, attorneys and others, we are finally ready to start construction at Unity Studios and to create jobs in a region in desperate economic need,” said Allen Park Mayor Gary Burtka.

Unity Studios President Jimmy Lifton said the project signals the start of a new industry in Michigan.“Unity Studios will establish a new frontier in Michigan,” said Lifton, the veteran Hollywood film executive who has led efforts for the past three years to develop Unity Studios. “It is a coming together of creative talent from all facets as well as a significant investment in the foundation of a new industry that will help put Michigan back to work.”Burtka added: “The groundbreaking event will be a celebration of jobs, economic development and a new industry putting down roots in Michigan.”Unity Studios will be majority owned and operated by a group of investors from Los Angeles and Michigan, including Lifton. Originally from Southfield, Michigan, Lifton has been in the business of entertainment for 30 years. He has owned an internationally distributed record label, produced 13 feature films, and is Principal of one of the largest independent post-production audio studios in Los Angeles, Oracle Post. Some of the most famous and familiar TV and film industry giants use Oracle Post including Fox, HBO, NBC, ABC, Disney, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Lionsgate, Universal, Dreamworks, Warner Brothers, VH1 and MTV. Located on the grounds of Unity Studios, the Lifton Institute for Media Skills (LIMS) will implement one of the largest retraining programs ever in Michigan. Out-of-work skilled and unskilled workers will receive on-the-set training and production experience, giving students production credits.All aspects of production will occur at Unity Studios: workforce training for LIMS, production, post-production, distribution and marketing.

For more information about Unity Studios, please visit our blog at http://unitystudios.wordpress.com.

 

 

Unity Studios
Frequently Asked Questions

Update 11/2009


1. The project includes $40 million from the City of Allen Park. What is included in the $40 million? Allen Park's investment includes purchasing the land and existing buildings and projects associated with redeveloping the acreage for economic development purposes. Projects include the acquisition and construction of infrastructure improvements to sanitary and storm sewers, water supply facilities, streets and sidewalks, and the relocation, acquisition, furnishing, equipping and building of Municipal Buildings.

2. Any tax abatements from the City? Tax abatements, credits or incentives are provided through the State of Michigan or Wayne County. There are no specific tax abatements provided by the City of Allen Park.

3. Will Allen Park residents be asked to pay higher taxes to support the project? No tax increase is necessary. To the contrary, the success of the project may result in a reduction in city taxes to businesses and residents in the future.

4. What are the benefits to the City and its residents? What exactly is the City's ownership stake? City of Allen Park residents and business owners, as well as laid off union workers from throughout the region, will get first shot at the construction jobs and studio jobs. The city becomes a key player in an emerging high-tech industry that is expanding in Michigan. It will also stabilize and increase property values and fill empty commercial buildings with new businesses in an emerging, growing industry. The city will have ownership to the property.

5. Are there any hurdles …? With the economic times we are in financing, Delays to this project have been due to land acquisition, and Renaissance Zone application approvals which requires action from Wayne County. Following MEGA approval by the state on April 14, the focus has been to keep things moving along and to commence construction immediately after all financing , land acquisition and approvals are in place.

6. What exactly is Unity Studios and what will be done there? Unity Studios is a comprehensive media production facility, complete with full-service pre and post production equipment, shops and a media trade school. It accommodates all aspects of media creation by providing state of the art production facilities, outdoor city street sets, construction mill, post production facilities, equipment and maintenance support, technical support, complete infrastructure and one of the most aggressive and comprehensive workforce training programs in the nation. For more information, upon start of Phase One construction, please go to www.unitystudiosmichigan.com.

7. What are the wage/salary ranges for the union jobs? Wage, salary and benefit levels are being finalized and, in part, will be determined in collective bargaining agreements with represented unions. According to a study by Michigan State University, the average wage for film industry jobs in Michigan was $49,000 in 2008 with the potential for reaching about $65,000 by 2012. Other studies have placed union wages in the film industry at between $40,000 and $80,000 per year depending on position and skills.

8. How many construction jobs will be created? We do not have an exact number at this time, but certainly there will be Many.

9. When will construction begin? Phase one construction should begin in 2009. The studio portion will be on going into 2011. The new City of Allen Park Municipal Building will be concerned by the spring of 2010.

10. When will it open? Studio operations should begin late this fall. The Lifton Institute for Media Skills should be open by September/ October. A large portion of an existing building on the project site will be available for immediate lease to companies that provide support services to film and TV productions.

11. When will hiring for the studios begin? We will begin posting job opportunities with Unity Studios on our Web site within a matter of time. We will issue a public announcement when the postings begin.

12. Looking to the future, are there any TV shows or films you are certain will be using the studios? Indeed we already have some commitments, which we cannot disclose at this time due to confidentiality agreements with the customers. We will make public announcements when we can.

13. Anything else the studios could be used for? Live televised events, special events, filming of commercials, studio tours, private parties … many things.

14. What type of additional commercial and residential development is expected on the site in phase two? Phase one is the construction of the studios on land at Southfield Road and Enterprise Drive in Allen Park. In Phase two, more of the area will be developed into a Unity Village, a tourist destination with housing, retail and complimentary commercial business. More details will be announced when appropriate. At the same time, a new City of Allen Park municipal building complex will be looked at to be constructed south of the existing city offices. This project is separate from the studios.

15. What will the training institute located on site do? The Lifton Institute for Media Skills, which is slated to begin in September, will implement one of the largest retraining programs in the State's history. Out of work skilled and unskilled labor will receive on-the-set training and production experience, giving students production credits. We will be working closely with local union and State workforce development officials to ensure out of work or underemployed individuals affected by the declining manufacturing sector in Michigan will be a top priority for admissions into the institute. We anticipate training up to 1,000 people in the first year of the program.

16. If someone wants to attend the institute, what do they need to do? What will tuition cost? Enrollment and tuition details are being finalized and will be announced in the coming months. The website address will be announced as soon as Phase One construction begins.

17. Do you expect traffic disruptions or road closings along Southfield Road and in the area once construction begins? Residents largely know that Southfield Road is already scheduled to be totally rebuilt starting this fall, which will cause disruptions. All of us are pleased that studio construction will be completed just as the rebuilding of Southfield Road is getting started.

18. How did this deal come together … how did this end up in Allen Park? Really, it came together through endless hours of work by all parties involved, with significant leadership from the Mayor and City Council and strong support from the State of Michigan and Wayne County. Jimmy Lifton had been searching for a location around southeast Michigan for the studio for nearly three years. He worked closely with many state, county and local officials to identify the perfect location. After searching literally hundreds of potential sites across the region, the Allen Park site was deemed perfect.

19. What made the Allen Park location more attractive to Unity Studios than other places in the region? From the studio's perspective, we can't get over how extremely supportive the City of Allen Park's residents, elected leaders and staff have been. Working on a project like this 60 hours a week, for eight plus months is an incredible example of the types of people who live and work in this city. Their drive and dedication clearly were factors. The second item is location related benefits. This location is close to nearly all support amenities the studio needs. Here are some Key Statistics:
· Access to Interstate I-94 0.1 Miles  
· Access to Interstate I-75 2.5 Miles  
· Distance to Detroit Metro Airport    3.5 Miles  
· Distance to Downtown Detroit 10 Miles  

· Distance to Best Western

 Greenfield INN 800 342 5802

 1. Mile  
· Distance to Ritz Carlton 2.2 Miles  
· Distance to Hyatt Regency 2.1 Miles  
· Distance to Lowe's .5 Miles  
· Distance to Home Depot .8 Miles  


In addition, there are existing buildings on the site that can be immediately leased and, with some modifications, utilized for production, post-production and production support services.

21. What did the State and Wayne County contribute to the project? The Governor's Office, the Michigan Film Office, Wayne County and the Michigan Economic Development Growth Corporation (MEDC) have been nothing short of spectacular, helping to assemble many pieces to this puzzle. The state's most aggressive in the nation film and movie-making economic development program was a strong attraction to the Unity Studios owners. Beyond the film incentives, the State programs and contributions include the MEGA Credits, Film Infrastructure Credits, and final approval of the Renaissance Sub-Zone application. Wayne County is the issuer of the Renaissance Sub-Zone. This Renaissance Sub-Zone is the final item needed for the project to become a reality.

22. If I want to work on the construction of the studios or work on site with the studios, who do I contact? On the newly developed City of Allen Park website, under the Business Section, there is a Job Bank page that allows Allen Park Residents as well as Allen Park Businesses to enter in their information. This data will be collected by the city and forwarded to the Land Developer as well as executives of Unity Studio's. For more information, please visit www.cityofallenpark.org

23. My business does work for TV and film productions and I'm interested in leasing space at Unity Studios, who do I contact? Once Phase One construction begins, please visit http://www.unitystudiosmichigan.com.

24. I produce TV shows and films, who do I contact about renting stages at Unity Studios? Once Phase One construction begins, please visit www.unitystudiosmichigan.com.

25. I have a film or a script, will financing be provided to my project? Once Phase One construction begins, please visit www.unitystudiosmichigan.com.