Per your example, 42% of $24.00 is still better then 25-30% of $20.00. And that is just the labor end. A 42% rebate on monies spent in the state is a pretty good deal, as evidenced by the amount of projects continuing to come here. But you are free to believe what you believe. Hope it works for you.

Congrats on what could be the most grammatically incorrect and over punctuated sentence that has ever been written.

Good for you. Of course you have to know that leeches like this don't have the guts to accept. Intelligent debate and discussion is not exactly the goal with this type. Maybe if Rush gets elected he can try for Secretary of Labor.

Excellent points! On behalf of all us nameless drones that are trying to make a living while making even more for boombaclots like Frankie D., thanks!

Well, well, well. I can see that this is a virtual brain trust of Hollywood "insiders". I can only assume from the comments that you all must be part of that elite 2% that owns the country. Now let's hear from the other side. As far as your $500,000 in increased rates goes, what you have conveniently forgotten is that with the rebate that drops the increased cost to $290,000. Now I understand that producers feel the need to make ALL the money, and God forbid that the crew should make an honest living. After all, aren't we just the middle class that you people seem hell bent on eliminating anyway? But let's be fair here. Tell me what is so wrong about making a middle class living while working hard and earning it? I'm sure that is what most of you are doing. Unions ruining Michigan? So far, the unions have provided thousands of jobs here for the film industry. And in case you missed it, this is an area that sorely needs it. So good for the unions! Contrary to what Mr. DeMartini would have you believe, nobody is getting raped here, no one is being taken advantage of. When any of you rocket scientists care to do what we do, 72 hours a week, for months at a time, come tell me we are overpaid. And as far as Frank's comment that the IATSE has decided that the film industry "must be stopped before it gets started", I guess that all the films and productions that are swarming to the state after the Aug. 1st, time frame must not have read Frank's column. While nothing quite as big as The Prince and Me 4 (shot in Thailand) or Crocodile 2: Death Swamp have come to Michigan yet, golly gee we can only hope. Unfortunately, for Mr. Dimartini, there is no slave labor here. So I guess we won't be seeing him. Our loss. As for the rest of you, remember that it was the unions that brought you safe working conditions and the weekend. So enjoy yourselves the next two days, it's on us.