This Michigan perspective on state-sponsored film incentives illustrates how they can be a two-edged sword: when production companies invade, the infrastructure to support them needs to be in place and the processes well understood by all involved.

With the Texas Motion Picture Alliance in the process of considering incentive packages, it might be a good idea for their leadership to consider the example of Michigan, which demonstrates that getting the film crews into the state is only the first part of the puzzle.

'Course, this probably falls into the category of "nice problem to have." On the other hand, one wouldn't want the big money Hollywood blokes ending up having a less-than-stellar experience on one's home turf, regardless of how much they're receiving in financial kickbacks and tax incentives. For a variety of reasons, the Prison Break crew have decamped to Los Angeles, and apparently Michiganders have plucked the plum of unknown ripeness that will be The Saint.

Our sense of it is that the Texas film infrastructure is more robust than that of the wolverine state: I seem to be running into film people of all ilks at every turn - but I reckon that's because I do most of my turning in movie theaters.