TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City loves the movies and the film industry might just provide the tonic Michigan needs to rejuvenate its sagging economy.
The economic impact the film industry on both the Grand Traverse area and the state was the topic of discussion Wednesday during the Traverse City Film Festival's opening panel discussion "Front and Vine: Showing Movies at the State, Making Movies in Michigan."
The morning panel included filmmakers John M. Walter, Rich Brauer, Sean Fine and his wife Andrea Nix-Fine and Michael Moore, along with Janet Lockwood of the Michigan Film Office, actress and Film Festival Board member Christine Lahti and Russ Collins of the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor.
Lockwood said three Hollywood film producers currently have movies in progress in Michigan. Three additional films have been completed with 84 more film applications waiting for approval. She anticipates the film industry could add an estimated $300 million in state revenues and boost jobs in sectors from the hospitality industry to furniture and lumber companies.
"It's one of the best darned things that ever happened to Michigan," Lockwood said.
Local film producer Rich Brauer said northern Michigan has plenty to offer in terms of scenery and talent.
"We've got a schooner. We've got a beach. We've got a pool of talented people," said Brauer, who would like to see the names of local, experienced film crews available in a database for out-of-town producers.
Moore said the State Theatre has succeeded far beyond his original plans. Moore says the theater, which regularly tops the country's box office attendance lists with independent hits like "Lars and the Real Girl," receives state-of-the art technology updates that show producers' work in the best light.
Russ Collins, who runs the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, credits the success of art houses such as the State Theatre to strong community support that encourages the art and craft of cinema.
Movies, in turn, give back to the community. Last year's documentary "War Dance" by husband-and-wife producers Andrea Nix-Fine and Sean Fine inspired Traverse City resident Kim Gribi. She brought the film's main characters, John and Dominic who survived a Ugandan displacement camp, to Traverse City to study music. Gribi, who works for the Record-Eagle, discussed how the movie moved her to take action.
The two teenagers are scheduled to perform prior to today's 6 p.m. showing of the film "Goodbye Bafana" at the City Opera House and before Madonna's film, "I Am Because We Are" on Saturday.۩
Traverse City Film Festival
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