LANSING — The Michigan Film Office announced three digital media projects—Don Cheto, Series One and Original Bethlehem—have been approved for incentives from the state.
“Digital media, including animation, post-production and video game development, has tremendous potential for growth here in Michigan,” said Margaret O’Riley, director of the Michigan Film Office. “The fact that these projects chose Michigan companies to do this animation and post-production work is a testament to the talent we have here in the state.”
Don Cheto – First Cycle is an animated web series based on the popular Spanish-language variety radio program “El Show de Don Cheto,” featuring Mexican entertainer and radio star Don Cheto. The program will air on the NuevOn YouTube channel. Southfield-based Pixo Entertainment has been tapped to provide the animation on for the series.
The project was awarded $66,662 on $192,355 of projected in-state expenditures. Six new Michigan hires, as well as existing employees at Pixo Entertainment will complete the work.
Pixo Entertainment is also doing animation for Series One. The web series brings graphic novels and comics—including “Chakra: The Invincible” and “18 Days”—to life through animation, or motion comics. The series will be available on multiple platforms including web, mobile and broadcast.
The project was awarded $86,055 on $249,700 of projected in-state expenditures. Twenty-one new Michigan hires, as well as existing employees at Pixo Entertainment will complete the work.
Post-production work on Original Bethlehem, a documentary about a new discovery in Israel, is being completed at Grooters Productions in Holland. Work will include audio and graphic design services.
The project was awarded $65,270 on $217,566 of projected in-state expenditures. Existing employees at Grooters Productions will complete the work.
In Fiscal Year 2013, 17 projects have been awarded a total of $32,931,702 on $127,070,848 of approved production expenditures for the year. These projects are expected to create 1,321 Michigan hires with a full time equivalent of 596 jobs.
As part of the push to grow the digital media industry in the state, the Film Office attended Game Developers Conference in San Francisco last month with a booth that featured Michigan video game companies and gaming programs at several Michigan universities. With more than 23,000 attendees, the conference is the largest and longest-running game development industry event in the world.
“With the high-tech, high-wage jobs that often accompany digital media projects we are making it a priority to go after and grow this industry through our incentive program,” O’Riley said.
For more on the Michigan Film Office, visit MichiganFilmOffice.org.
