Stars in their Eyes from Battle Creek to Ludington

Battle Creek:  Cereal Liars

Tonight, the first episode in the TV series "Battle Creek" makes its debut.  Set in the Western Michigan town of Battle Creek, Hollywood has set the show up as follows:

“Battle Creek” is meant to upend the concept of buddy cop shows. Detective Russ Agnew is a battle-weary local cop in Battle Creek, Mich. — yes, the place where the cereal comes from and in itself a symbol of another era, when breakfast was more than a Pop-Tart and triple macchiato to go. He’s weary of battles both on and off the job. Nothing works at the underfunded, ill-equipped Battle Creek Police Department, and, personally, in spite of his obvious interest in office manager Holly Dale (Aubrey Dollar), he’s too afraid of rejection to ask her out.

It’s so bad, they say, that their Tasers don’t work because the department can't afford to recharge the batteries.  The premise is seen in a trailer with a voice-over of actor Dean Winters saying, “We are understaffed and underfunded, forced to make due with substandard and out-of-date equipment.” The clip shows out-of-juice Tasers while Winters says, “We need new equipment. We need new everything.”

Amusingly without them trying to be so, Hollywood has once again used a bit of its magic to distort the 'unpleasant' reality of life at the Battle Creek Police Department.  What is the reality?  One Battle Creek police officer made $100,000-plus in 2014 and the city is paying $2.5 million more to the police and fire pension plan than it did just nine years ago.

The Battle Creek Police Department spent $15.06 million in 2014, consuming nearly 40 percent of the city’s entire $38.66 million general fund budget — by far the largest line item.  Thirteen of the city’s 75 line officers made $80,000 or more in 2014, including overtime; one was paid $107,563.That doesn’t include detectives and command officers who generally get more. The median household income for Battle Creek is $37,814.

In the real city the police department had 122 full-time equivalent positions in 2014, or one FTE for every 429 residents. By comparison as of 2013 Lansing has 1 FTE for every 499 residents, Dearborn 1 for every 530, and Ludington 1 FTE for every 560 (8400/15).  If the Battle Creek Police Department is undermanned, then these cities PD's would like to be as undermanned than they are. 

The drama in the real Battle Creek is the increasing strain police pensions are imposing on the city’s finances. In 2005, the system cost $1.8 million in taxpayer contributions and was 93 percent funded. In 2014, the cost had risen to $4.3 million, and as of 2013 pensions were just 79 percent funded, with a shortfall of $31 million.  There is no shortage of funding for the BCPD, there is a shortage of priorities and restraint when it comes to retirement and benefits.

Do You Believe in Pennies from Heaven?

Also coming up on the big screen is a movie of local vintage called 'Do You Believe?'.  Area media outlets tout it as a film shot at local locations by local filmmakers, what they generally don't tell you is that you helped pay for its production generously with your state taxes, you know the money that typically goes for education and road repairs.  This movie was approved for over $650,000 in state subsidies from the Michigan Film Office in this 9-23-2014 Mlive article a fair portion of the reported film's budget.  Here's a locally made movie poster and a synopsis of the movie:

A dozen different souls-all moving in different directions, all longing for something more. As their lives unexpectedly intersect, they each are about to discover there is power in the Cross of Christ … even if they don’t yet believe it. When a local pastor is shaken to the core by the visible faith of an old street-corner preacher, he is reminded that true belief always requires action. His response ignites a faith-fueled journey that powerfully impacts everyone it touches in ways that only God could orchestrate. This stirring new film from the creators of ‘God’s Not Dead’ is more than a movie, it’s a question we all must answer in our lifetimes: DO YOU BELIEVE?

Starring: Mira Sorvino, Sean Astin, Cybill Shepherd, Matthew Tailford, Brian Bosworth, Alexa Penavega, Delroy Lindo, Ted McGinley and Lee Majors

One could look at the movie and its overtly Christian overtones and undertones and say that the State has just spent 2/3 of a million dollars on a movie that advocates a certain religion.  Even with that conundrum present the fact still remains that this money and millions of other dollars of public funds have been spent just to get filmmakers to locate their product in this state. 

And these movie directors and producers aren't dumb, they seem to go out of their way to make state and local officials appear as celebrities.  In the February 26, 2015 Daily News, it was revealed that two local people from Ludington (and their family members) had appeared as extras in this film that was shot partially in Ludington and Manistee.  These two people coincidentally were two of Ludington's city officials, Asst. City Manager Jackie Steckel and Asst. City Clerk Karen Haldeman.  There is no truth to the rumor that John Shay made a cameo appearance as Satan in the flick.  

Do You Believe 'The End'?

The State of Michigan in truth actually has less film jobs now than it had before it began to incentivize and subsidize in-state moviemaking.  But every year since it began, our state legislators have visions of creating Hollywood on the Great Lakes and invest in their dreams of stardom with your money. 

But finally, there is a realistic chance that Michigan’s film subsidy program will end soon.  When a bill to put a stop to the subsidies was introduced on Jan. 29, skepticism about its prospects seemed justified. Little more than a month earlier, the Legislature had overwhelmingly passed a measure to keep the program rolling, and Gov. Rick Snyder signed it into law.

Much has changed in the brief period since Jan. 29, and even more since the program was renewed.

First, the state legislature has changed towards what many read as more fiscally conservative, and the loss of film-subsidies most vocal proponent, Randy Richardson (R). 

Second, the recent revelation that the “refundable” tax credit deals the previous administration made with corporations and developers have created an unfunded taxpayer liability of more than $9 billion, with $681 million coming due this year and $807 million projected for next year. 

Third, the political baggage of having these credits when the state is asking for a sales tax increase claiming they need the extra money while this program makes it look as if they have plenty to gift out.  Governor Snyder wants the tax to pass, and as late as 2010 indicated he wasn't a fan of the film-incentive program.

If such an effort is mounted, be sure to look at the theatrics of the producers of these films as they threaten to take their cameras elsewhere-- places where they appreciate and pay subsidies for the honor of allowing their state and its officials to participate in their movies.  But it is time for our state to finally yell out "Cut!  That's a wrap!" on film subsidization by the public, and hope that this practice ends in all those other states that condone such practices.

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I couldn't get the first video to work. It keeps flashing "private". So I'm posting another below. It looks like it could be a good show but it will have to stretch the truth quite a bit because it's big leap to try and convince people BC is city of crime. Do you believe also looks like a good movie.


Thanks, it must have went private over the last day since it was running early yesterday.  I have edited yours into the main article.  Both shows do look watchable; did anyone catch the first episode of Battle Creek or the sneak preview of the movie over in Manistee?

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