Feature Film AKA Jimmy Picard Awarded Michigan Film Incentive

Feature Film AKA Jimmy Picard Awarded Michigan Film Incentive

LANSING – The Michigan Film Office announced today the feature film AKA Jimmy Picard has been approved for a film incentive from the state. The project is based on a true story of a WWII veteran and Blackfoot Indian with the alias Jimmy Picard and one of the nation’s first documented cases of dream analysis and interpretation.  The film is expected to shoot in Monroe and metro Detroit.

“Michigan doubles as Topeka, Kansas and New York City in this period film – another testament to the diversity and quality of locations found throughout our state,” said Carrie Jones, director of the Michigan Film Office.  “Michigan beat out a number of other states for this project, helping to put our crew and talent here in the state to work.”

The project was awarded an incentive of $1,964,810 on $6,929,375 of projected in-state expenditures. The project is expected to hire 135 Michigan workers with a full time equivalent of 35 jobs.

The project is being directed by celebrated director Arnaud Desplechin and produced by the French company Why Not Productions.  Why Not Productions has produced A Prophet and the remake of Assault of Precinct 13 as well a number of BAFTA and Cannes-award winning films.

“From the compelling locations to a competitive incentive program, Michigan offered the best all-around package for filming AKA Jimmy Picard,” said Jennifer Roth, producer on the project.  “We have some fantastic locations lined up and we are excited to start filming.”

To date in 2012, three projects have been awarded a total of $14,149,273 on $47,936,564 of approved production expenditures for the year. These projects are expected to create 630 Michigan hires with a full time equivalent of 206 jobs.