Detroit May Be Going Hollywood

[Miranda]

WIXOM, Mich. - Warner Bros. production company is eyeing the Ford Wixom plant in Wixom as a possible site to open a studio. Local 4 has confirmed officials from Warner Bros. have scouted the area to see if it can be re-fitted into a studio.

"Warner Bros. has taken a look at the Ford Wixom plant but we are not close to making a decision at this point," company spokesman Scott Rowe said in a statement.

Rowe said it would depend on how much it would cost to turn the old auto plant into modern movie studio.

Ford officials said in a statement, "Our intent is to dispose of all the closed facilities in a way that will benefit the community. We can not comment on any plans or discussions until there is a signed agreement."

Crains Detroit Business magazine reported Michigan's film incentive law has given a major boost to the local economy in its first four months. It has generated $3.25 million for area hotels.

Source: WDIV

[Hellion]

The place is big enough.

[jynxxxedangel]

I don't think I like this idea. Not one bit. We have enough people and traffic here, in what used to be a quaint little dot on the map. Stay away, flatlanders!

The building is big enough, but Wixom isn't.

[Msterbeau]

Where I work is right near by. I'll be a paparazzi at lunch times. :

[Shade Everdark]

While I'm not sure I'd be cool with the idea in practicality, I don't see why this isn't a bad idea, at least in theory. The West Coast has Hollywood, and greater Los Angeles, the East Coast has New York. Where is the film/entertainment industry in the Midwest? Chicago? Not really. It could turn out to be a unique reinvention for the Motor City. Of course, it could also turn out to suck, a lot.

[Hellion]

Well if the Michigan Seamless Tube Mill in South Lyon goes under that will be another 65 acre site as well,the building itself is large enough too ,but only a few from here that I know, know where the place is at.

[pomba gira]

There actually is something of a film industry here... but it's all industrials rather than entertainment. But, that means at least some of the infrastructure is already in place, as well as "local talent". So it's not as far-fetched an idea as it might sound at first.

[graverobber]

YOU KNOW THE SAYING -'they don't make em like they used to' ???

movies SUCK

they shouldn't make ANY more

can't they build Torture Gardens, instead?

-animal experiments and torture for cancer research, shows that cancer patients should be tortured

to health-

yay, torture gardens

who's with me?

[Rayne]

My parents live right down the street from there. Hopefully they wait until all the construction is done over there.

It's torture trying to get through Grand River and Wixom Road as it is. And Beck Road and Milford Road are both TWICE as busy now, everyone trying to get on the freeway there.

[Homicidalheathen]

hmm...maybe I should pay my actors guild unions dues and sign up to be an extra....

http://www.unions.org/home/v-21744-22-SAG-.htm

[Simon Bar Sinister]

While I'm not sure I'd be cool with the idea in practicality, I don't see why this isn't a bad idea, at least in theory. The West Coast has Hollywood, and greater Los Angeles, the East Coast has New York. Where is the film/entertainment industry in the Midwest? Chicago? Not really. It could turn out to be a unique reinvention for the Motor City. Of course, it could also turn out to suck, a lot.

The closest thing to a "Midwest" film center is Toronto; they make shitloads of movies there. Still, I think Michigan's trying to compete with Asheville, NC...which already has the nickname of "Hollywood East".

[Rev.Reverence]

While I'm not sure I'd be cool with the idea in practicality, I don't see why this isn't a bad idea, at least in theory. The West Coast has Hollywood, and greater Los Angeles, the East Coast has New York. Where is the film/entertainment industry in the Midwest? Chicago? Not really. It could turn out to be a unique reinvention for the Motor City. Of course, it could also turn out to suck, a lot.

I agree but, let's just pray for the best...

[Guest Megalicious]

I hope not, I moved away from Los Angeles for a reason.

[TygerLili]

Gah, no thanks! Let's keep all the wackos in Hollywood where they belong.

[Reaper]

Dude! That would mean more chances to bang big upcoming hollywood stars! Then mix it up with the money makers and have me some sugarmommas hehe.

[Slogo]

As bad as employment is right now in this state I don't know how anyone can't see it as a blessing. Thanks to the film industry tax breaks (we are now the cheapest state to make a movie in) all kinds of work will be coming to the state. As someone who has production experience I greatly welcome it.

[jynxxxedangel]

Easy for anyone who doesn't live in this cozy and quiet little area to say. I wish they would set up shop someplace BESIDES here. Why don't they buy the Silverdome property, where it's already a mess of an urban sprawl? Have any of you who support this idea ever been to Wixom? If you have, then you would understand why it would completely ruin the charm and comfort of this little place for its humble country residents. There is such a feeling of neighborliness here, because it is so small. I'm quite certain most of us here would like to KEEP it that way.

It was enough to poison my mind of film-making hub-bub, when that drama was being filmed here in my very own neighborhood recently. It was very inconvenient, and just a big mess in general. The crews were very lackadaiscal towards and rude to the residents, who PAY to live here. IMO, everyone who lives in my sub should have gotten a stipend of some sort, to smooth over how much we were put-out. I wonder how much the owners of this place actually GOT for letting them film here. None of the residents were compensated, or even contacted to give consent.

I was actually late for a few important appointments because of their "shooting" in those two weeks. The road at the entrance to my trailer court kept getting blocked off, and there is NO other way to get in or out of here. My friend showed up to visit once, and the film crew guarding the barricades told him he couldn't get in. He calls me on my cell, and tells me this. With that last straw being laid upon my load, I came absolutely un-glued!!!!!!! I flew RIGHT down there (with possible murder on my mind) and told those cocky pieces of shit where to get off; that we PAY to live here, and this is our home, and they have NO right to say when people can come and go. I told them if they didn't kindly move their shit out of the way, I was going to drive over it, and MAKE a way. It was promptly moved, and my friend was able to visit. I THEN went up to the clubhouse to speak with the manager of the association. I think I damn near burnt her fucking ears off with my cruel litany. Everyone is just lucky some fire and gasoline or home-made explosives weren't included in my retorts-- DON'T piss off the hillbilly.

¡No lo quiero aquí! *scowls bitterly at the thought of the circus coming to her town permanently*

[n0Mad]

Easy for anyone who doesn't live in this cozy and quiet little area to say.... Have any of you who support this idea ever been to Wixom? If you have, then you would understand why it would completely ruin the charm and comfort of this little place for its humble country residents. There is such a feeling of neighborliness here, because it is so small.

Yep. Spent eight of the best months of my life driving out there every Sunday. I almost moved there. It's not a quaint little town. It's industrial. Wixom has factories. That downtown you guys have? It's fake. It's not a real downtown. It's some manufactured fake downtown to try to force small town quaintness of the people. Want a real downtown? Try Wyandotte, Rochester, Holly, or any of those other towns that grew over time.

Wixom was a big fucking Ford plant, and the town grew around it. When the plant closed, everyone thought the town would collapse. But it didn't. Your city counsel has done an awesome job bringing in other business to support the place. But the fact remains is you still have a big fucking huge building wasting space and a shitload of displaced workers whose families need money.

Your story is unfortunate, but what you're talking about is location shooting. What WB wants to do is open a studio and some offices. Huge sound stages can be built in the plant and you'll never even see a film crew. And don't give the BS excuse about traffic. The town managed just fine when the Ford plant was run at full capacity with hundred or thousands of workers all clocking in and out at the same time. Shift work really jams up traffic. A film studio won't do that. A smattering of people will come and go at all hours, hardly the hundreds all leaving at rush hour.

I actually welcome a studio and hope it happens. Michigan has relied on the auto industry for too long. We need to diversify and a foray into the arts may bring back that passion we had when MoTown was known for music.

Of course, another industry I would welcome at the old plant is research and production of a new vehicle for the space program.

[jynxxxedangel]

The "new" downtown is right across from the old downtown. The other side of the corners still has a few of the original businesses standing. I know it's mostly all engineered like a Disney World town square, but the new and old townspeople have adapted to it nicely. It has become a terrific venue for concerts and events. People can be seen milling about, talking with their neighbors on the sidewalks all around, on any given sunny day. Upon attending many of the summer concerts and celebrations the city has put on, I've experienced such a warm and rare feeling of human kindness and belonging; the likes of which I had long forgotten. I was hesitant about "new" Wixom at first, but I am now a believer that good can come from change and/or progress.

The burgeoning amount of new housing, new businesses, and permanent residents has changed the level of traffic immensely in the time I have frequented this area. We used to have grassers at a girlfriend's farm out on Old Plank Rd., when I was a teen. There was abolutely NOTHING but farms, a few bars, and a few plants around here-- including the Wixom Ford. Now, add to the mix many new businesses, neighbors, and factories-- and with those things has come a completely different pace of life. My main complaint is the traffic! I'm sure to bet that most of the workers at the old Wixom plant didn't live here in town! This place used to be the boonies! Now a good amount of the people who live here, do so to be closer to their places of employment. The roads are quite full of townies and out-of-townies at rush hour, especially down near Pontiac Tr. and Beck Rd., where all the e-way traffic converges.

I am still hesitant to think about what ruin a few hundred or more warm bodies driving vehicles might cause. I do see the incredible commercial opportunities for the service industry, though, most definitely! I could easily start a catering or personal assisting business, and make a few bucks of this gig. There is not ALL bad that would come from this deal taking place-- I just wonder if it would change the local demographics for the worse? Will the pluses outweigh the minuses? I would like to see a similar economical case study to base my opinions and inferences from, rather than what I feel in my heart. I am not an unfair judge.

P.S. I wish someone would do something with the Silverdome property. Any development or improvement would be beneficial for that area.

[freydis]

Michigan needs jobs.

[Hellion]

South Lyon would be a better area since its already over built up.