He may recently have turned 40, but Eminem is showing no signs of slowing down. The rapper is producing the show "Detroit Rubber" for the YouTube channel LOUD.
The Michigan Film Office announced Friday that the project will receive $53,000 in tax incentives. Royal Oak company Beast will take charge of post-production, and the project is estimated to spend nearly $170,000 in the state.
"Detroit Rubber" will follow Rick Williams and Roland "Ro" Colt, co-owners of Royal Oak's sneaker haven Burn Rubber. Though small in size, the shop has built a following of rabid sneaker fans, who have turn out in droves for coveted shoes. The duo opened a second store dedicated to men's fashion, two/eighteen, in September.
Eminem's interest in the sneaker store has already been documented, as Burn Rubber made a brief background appearance in a video that shows Eminem meeting Tigers player Prince Fielder.
The rapper has recently made several stops in his hometown, including filming a music video with 50 Cent at Michigan Central Station. He also must be making time for the studio. Rumors have circulated about a new album, and a hat for sale by the star seems to confirm a 2013 release date.
The remake of a 1987 classic action science fiction movie, "RoboCop" was also awarded an incentive and will receive nearly $300,000 for projected in-state spending over $1 million. Set in Detroit (in the future!), the movie will have establishing shots of the city.
"All of these projects present an opportunity to showcase Michigan," Michigan Film Office Director Carrie Jones said in a statement. "We are seeing the rise of young entrepreneurs through 'Detroit Rubber' and the return of 'RoboCop' to Detroit, which is a testament to the range and diversity of projects we are supporting in the state."
Michigan's film incentive program suffered a blow last year when Gov. Rick Snyder capped its budget at $25 million. But in the budget for fiscal year 2013, Snyder and legislators agreed to extend the incentive program with an additional $25 million, though the total $50 million is still far short of the incentives parceled out in 2010.
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