The Ann Arbor Ad Club is pleased to host an event on the burgeoning Michigan film business and examine how local marketers can get a slice of the lucrative business. Panelists include screenwriter Jim Burnstein ("Renaissance Man") and other local luminaries. Moderating the discussion will be Ron Dewey from WWJ 950 Newsradio.

The state of Michigan is building a new industry to rival Hollywood – from creating cars to creating stars. The state offers the biggest film incentives in the nation, up to a 42% tax break for films produced in the state.

The trailblazing incentives are working. Last year over 35 movies were made in Michigan, generating approximately $120 million in revenue for the state. Nearly $60 million went directly to Michigan residents who worked on those films.

We’ve assembled an illustrious panel of Michigan film industry people, including:

• Jim Burnstein – head of Screenwriting at University of Michigan and a main architect of Michigan’s tax incentives for the film industry. Wrote the movie Renaissance Man starring Danny DaVito. Appointed to the board of the state Michigan Film Office Advisory Council (Michael Moore is a fellow appointee, among other well-known influential industry insiders). Jim is one of the few Hollywood movie screenwriters living in Michigan.

• Chris Aliapoulios – Chris was a Ford executive for 20 years and left his job when he saw a growing business opportunity. He is the Founder and Editor of Michigan Movie Magazine, a bi-monthly publication devoted exclusively to the growing Michigan film making industry. The magazine sells on the newsstand (and at Borders) for $4.95 and this month’s cover features Drew Barrymore (who filmed here in Michigan). Find out what Chris did right to break into this new field.

• Tina Heaton – local Detroit-area freelance / independent PR professional who was hired as the publicist for “Youth in Revolt”, a feature film partially filmed in Ann Arbor – the film stars Michael Cera, the main actor from Juno and Superbad. Learn from Tina how you can land business in the film industry.

We’ve also selected an esteemed moderator to oversee the panel discussion:

• Ron Dewey – 20-year veteran reporter from WWJ 950 Newsradio with an interest in the subject matter. He recently covered a story about the filming of “Red Dawn” in Royal Oak.

We will have a lively discussion around how the growing Michigan film industry directly impacts marketing communication professionals. For instance, how can local marketers expect to benefit from movies made here? How can local advertising agencies land the business to market and promote the movie? Since more movies are being filmed here, to what extent does it open opportunities for local graphic designers / public relations specialists / etc to pick up business?

RSVP and buy tickets at www.a2ac.org. Tickets are free for members, $35 for the public, and $10 for students. The event starts at 5:30 with networking and the program running from 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Venue will be Ann Arbor Spark, 330 East Liberty, Ann Arbor. Contact Chad Wiebesick, President of A2AC at (734) 661-1792 to learn more.

We’d like to convey our heartfelt thanks to the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for sponsoring our November program. Their generous contribution made the event possible. Please visit them at www.visitannarbor.org.