The Michigan Film Office announced that “Have a Little Faith,” a made-for-television movie, has been approved for a film incentive.

The film is based on the No. 1 bestselling book by Mitch Albom and follows his journey to find faith with the help of his childhood rabbi and a Detroit pastor.

The project is expected to shoot in Detroit and surrounding areas.

“The city and sprit of Detroit play an integral role in ‘Have a Little Faith,’ so it is only fitting that this movie be shot in the very place that helped to inspire this story,” said Carrie Jones, director of the Michigan Film Office. “In addition to hiring Michigan crew and vendors, this project also presents an opportunity to showcase Michigan to a widespread national television audience.”

Albom is a columnist at the Detroit Free Press as well as an author and radio and television broadcaster.
“Have a Little Faith” is the seventh project approved under the new policy and guidelines issued by the Michigan Film Office.

In 2011, nine projects have been approved with $12.99 million in incentives being awarded on $31.27 million of approved production expenditures for the year.

All pending and future applications receive a thorough review by a Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) committee comprised of the senior vice president of marketing and communications, the senior vice president of policy the vice president of business development and the director of the Michigan Film Office.

Preference is given to projects that best meet the following criteria:
• The production is financially viable.
• Utilization of existing infrastructure (studios, post-production facilities, film labs, etc.).
• Ability to show Michigan in a positive light and promote the state as a tourist destination.
• Magnitude of estimated expenditures in Michigan.

The film incentive program will continue to be jointly administered by the Michigan Film Office and the Department of Treasury and all projects must be approved in concurrence with the state treasurer.

Since the incentives took effect in April 2008, the Film Office and the Department of Treasury have approved a total of $374.1 million in film incentives on $952.64 million in total qualified expenditures by productions in Michigan.

The Michigan Film Office was created in 1979 to assist and attract incoming production companies and promote the growth of Michigan’s own film industry.

The Film Office also administers the incentive program for film, television and other digital media production in Michigan, as well as infrastructure development and workforce training.