Corporate welfare paid to Hollywood stars who visit Michigan to make movies “is costing taxpayers a fortune,” Michael LaFaive, director of the Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative, told WNEM-TV5.

LaFaive said not only is taking money from Michigan taxpayers and giving it to Hollywood troublesome, but so is the lack of transparency surrounding the film subsidies.

“Sometimes it’s very difficult to get detail about how the money is being used,” he said. “We don’t know, for instance, what percentage of dollars goes to providing high-end transportation for big wig movie stars like Clint Eastwood or others.”

The film office director told WNEM the subsidies could even be going to pay for post-production parties.

WNEM notes that some $35 million is being taken from taxpayers and given to the makers of the new “Batman vs. Superman” movie being filmed in Detroit. 

You can read more about the corporate welfare program for Hollwood here.

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