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 | Posted by unnep
| Mon, July 04, 2011 at 7:15 AM |
 
With the end of tax credits that spawned a growing Michigan film industry, new state incentives -- beyond the $25 million in direct subsidies approved for 2012 -- are a long shot for the near future.
But advocates of incentives, who say $25 million isn't enough to keep Michigan in the highly competitive game, aren't giving up.
Here are some possible scenarios:
• The $25-million direct subsidy could become the norm, and major productions such as "Oz" take Michigan off their possible location list.
"Oz" was approved for more than $40 million of refundable tax credits and is in preproduction at Raleigh Studios in Pontiac.
• The direct subsidy could be increased a lot or a little if the program proves successful and state revenues grow enough to allow more spending. Gov. Rick Snyder would consider this.
• A different type of tax credit -- one that could be sold since the state's tax format changed -- could be used, with a Louisiana program serving as the model.
State Sen. Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, is exploring this, but Snyder doesn't like credits...click to continue reading
Source: Detroit Free Pres
 Share on Facebook ·  Bookmark on Delicious St. Diggidy "Detroit's Best to Ever do It"
Earworm Wax Exclusive: St. Diggidy "Detroit's Best to Ever do It"
Eloquent and lyrically agile Detroit native Charles Bridges. Jr a.k.a "St. Diggidy" is an M.C., drummer, Capoeira martial artist, and true gentleman; giving those that know his music or getting prepared to experience it, a sincere combination of raw and passionate talent. Atypical to his mainstream competitors, his clean 16 bars takes on a witty approach. By avoiding unnecessary vulgarity, has become signature to his flow which adds a tasteful and vibrate hybrid to his music.
At the age of 15, his interest in poetry peeked which led him to began rapping. At 18, he joined a group called The Council and as a force released an EP and LP before parting ways. He learned music engineering and recording along the way, which helped him create and mold his music.
In 2005, he released his first album The Signature and most recently in the summer of 2010, he released a mixtape with Daleth Music Group The Best to Ever Do It that recognized him as "Detroit's Hottest Underground Voice". Check out the interview below as St. Diggidy speaks a bit on his passion for hip hop, his history in music, and upcoming projects.
E.W: So what the history of St. Diggidy and how did you get started?
St. Diggidy: I was about 14/15 it all started with me beating on the lunch table and everybody would gather around and I would rap the same ol' little rap I had. It built my confidence and that's when I started doing poetry which eventually led me to doing my first recording at the age of 16. My mentor Iijah the Preacher's Son taught me everything. The taught me how to perform, record, sound engineering, how to work a studio. After sometime he went on tour and I joined a group called The Counsel. I was with them for about 3 years and when my mentor went solo I became his hype man. We worked together for about two projects and that's when he encourage me to step out of his shadow and get out there as a solo artist you know? And, it's been like that every since. In 2005, I recorded my first album with my cousin Ike P was the executive producer along with Jaycee Z and Stevie Thunder they all collaborated with me and help me produce my first album.
E.W: Your mixtape "The Best to Ever do It" dropped last year and got major recognition. What was your vision for it?
St. Diggidy: I wanted to bring back the authenticity of being a an MC because I think that thought and concept has been lost. I think that a lot of people have strayed away from the true essence of hip hop. The true MCs I feel have been forgotten. So, I want to bring that back and show everybody that you don't have to be a gang banger or thugged out to make good music. All of my music is clean cut. You know? I don't use profanity but at the same time I still execute.
E.W: In hip hop who influences and inspires you the most?
St. Diggidy: The first person that comes to mind is Eminem. The way he arranges his songs and the way he captivates his audience. Ludacris, Kanye West, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J. Those artist really open my eyes to a broader span of music.
E.W: Being a Detroit native, a city that is home of many talent artist, what does it mean to you to be an M.C in Detroit?
St. Diggidy: You really have to prove yourself as in artist to gain respect here in Detroit. It's a very rough city and as an artist you have to be hungry and humble to be in the music industry. But, growing up here I would say that it prepares you for the jungle. It's the perfect battlefield for anything because if you can make it here you can make it anywhere.
E.W: What new projects you got coming out?
St. Diggidy: Well you know I got my mixtape "The Best to Ever Do It" you can get that on www.dalethmusic.com. Right now we are working on the Charles B project. It's self-titled. My name is "Charles Bridges. Jr" and with this album I am getting the opportunity to tell people my story on how and view hip hop The Michigan Supreme Court has sided with Dr. Dre, ruling that Detroit officials had no right to privacy when they were videotaped backstage at a concert involving the hip-hop mogul and fellow rapper Eminem.
The court released a ruling Saturday that dismisses a lawsuit filed by City Councilman Gary Brown and other officials after the 2000 show.
Brown was a high-ranking police official at the time, and warned concert organizers that power at the arena would be turned off if they showed a sexually explicit video. The confrontation was taped and later included in a DVD of the "Up In Smoke" tour.
Dr. Dre's lawyer, Herschel Fink, says there's no right to privacy when police are doing their job.
The Supreme Court's 6-1 decision overturns an appeals court ruling.  | Posted by marshall
| Tue, February 01, 2011 at 7:00 PM |
John, I'm very proud of you brotha. Congrats and much more success to you. Oh, and one more thing...GO BLUE!!! Detroit - A former Detroit school that's been converted into a moviehouse will host a new film festival next year.
Organizers of the Detroit Independent Film Festival are seeking short films to be screened during the March 3 to 7 festival. The deadline for entries is Dec. 30 and there's no fee to submit a film.
The festival is being held at the Burton Theatre, which opened this fall in the Cass Corridor neighborhood, north of downtown.
Organizers hope the festival will help strengthen the state's filmmaking community. Michigan has been drawing more moviemakers since last year, when tax incentives that are among the nation's most generous took effect.
As part of the event, the Michigan Film Awards will be held March 6. That's the day before the Academy Awards.
| Posted by marshall
| Wed, October 28, 2009 at 7:13 AM |
 Sophomore cornerback Boubacar Cissoko has been kicked off the Michigan football team, his high school coach, Thomas Wilcher of Detroit Cass Tech, said tonight.
"He missed class, missed workouts," said Wilcher, who said he spoke to a U-M assistant coach and Cissoko today. "Now he's got to make something, because he blew it."
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez released this statement: "Boubacar Cissoko has been dismissed for a violation of team rules."
Cissoko, a 5-foot-9, 177-pounder, was suspended three weeks ago by Rodriguez and missed the Iowa and Delaware State games. He slowly worked his way back into the lineup and was reinstated late last week, playing a bit at cornerback against Penn State on Saturday.
Asked about Cissoko earlier this week, Rodriguez repeated himself, saying Cissoko's reinstatement was "day-to-day."
Cissoko ended up with 16 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups this season.
He played mostly on special teams early last year and ended up moving into the cornerback rotation as the season moved along. By season’s end, he had played in all 12 games and made two starts as a true freshman. He also returned kickoffs, including a 41-yarder against Michigan State. He had 15 tackles.
He and J.T. Floyd battled for a starting job at cornerback throughout fall camp, with Cissoko winning and starting the first four games of this season. He had a rough game against Notre Dame as the Irish attacked his side of the field.
Against Indiana, he was beaten on a....More Cissoko
Source: Detroit Free Press | Posted by marshall
| Wed, October 21, 2009 at 3:30 PM |
 I just said this the other day! The only reason Jim Tressel wanted this guy was so RichRod wouldn't get him in Ann Arbor.
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Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor would be a more effective quarterback under Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, rather than the Buckeyes' Jim Tressel.
That's the analysis of Pryor's high school coach, according to a report.
"There is no question that Rich Rodriguez's offense, for example, would be more apt to suit Terrelle's skills," former Jeannette (Pa.) High coach Ray Reitz told ESPN. "But Ohio State sold him on the idea that they would prepare him for the NFL and that they don't run 'zone-read' in the NFL. Jim Tressel is a great coach. But I can tell you there is more to Terrelle Pryor than what we've been seeing."
Pryor had four turnovers -- two interceptions and lost two fumbles -- last Saturday during Ohio State's upset loss to Purdue.
Reitz, now the coach at Latrobe (Pa.) High, is quoted as saying the Buckeyes "need Terrelle to run more."
Reitz added: "They've put the reins on him and they need to let him go free. When I watch Terrelle play right now, I see a robot."
Pryor, a sophomore, generally was regarded as the No. 1 recruit in the nation when he selected the...More TERRELLE PRYOR
Source: The Detroit News  | Posted by newsngossip
| Wed, September 16, 2009 at 8:52 AM |
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A school of glimmering, silvery-white fish wriggle high above a downtown river. A few blocks away on a Michigan sidewalk, four stark red piranhas have taken large bites out of a running man's briefcase and rear end. A purple, 10-foot-tall jelly bean stands outside a nearby castle.
As the first ArtPrize art competition is set to begin next week in Grand Rapids, works of every imaginable size, shape, color and medium are popping up at 159 venues throughout the downtown area. More than 1,200 artists from two dozen countries are competing for a total of $449,000, including $250,000 for first place - one of the world's largest awards for an art competition.
"I think this is amazing to have this much artwork all throughout downtown," said Sarah Joseph, director of exhibitions at Kendall College of Art and Design. "It's great that it's everywhere."
If it's not everywhere just yet, it soon will be.
Colorful oils, acrylics and sketches are at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. Rocky's Bar and Grill will have a hodgepodge of paintings, including one of a clown, and photographs of various Michigan locales. The Thomas M. Cooley Law School will offer have a steel-and-polyurethane sculpture of a human figure.
As Judy Johnson walked past the four red piranhas Monday, she said she believes the 18-day event that kicks off Sept. 23 will give a boost to the state's second-largest city.
"I think it'll be fantastic," said Johnson, 57, an administrator for Grand Rapids Public Schools. "It will get people downtown and be something to put Grand Rapids on the map, hopefully."
She plans to bring in friends and family members to "see as many (works) as we can."
People who register for the event will determine the top 10 artworks, including the winner, by voting at ArtPrize's Web site, or through text messaging or an iPhone application. Prizes will be awarded Oct. 8, two days before the competition ends to give people time to see the winning pieces.
"The point of ArtPrize is the conversation," said Rick DeVos, 27, who created the competition. "That's why it's a public vote ... to give a reason for people to talk to each other about what they like, what they don't like, why you should like this, why you shouldn't like that."
The response from artists and venue officials has been remarkable, he said.
"When we announced this in April, we figured, kind of internally, that if we had 300 artists that matched with venues, that would be success for the first year," DeVos said. "We're at 1,262 - so about four times that - and it kind of blows us away, but it's really cool and I think speaks to the hospitality of the community."
In 2006, DeVos established Spout.com, a social-networking site for film buffs. His grandfather, Rich, co-founded direct-sales giant Amway Corp., and his father, D!ck, is a former president of the company.
The D!ck and Betsy DeVos Foundation is fronting the prize money. ArtPrize will return...More Michigan Art
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