That was one of the findings in AICP’s 7th annual Survey of the Commercial Production Industry that give members a sense of changes and challenges ahead.

AICP members account for 85 percent of all commercials aired nationally. The AICP/Midwest chapter has 22 general members and 10 associate members.

With an eye toward surviving in this down economy—which has hit the state of Michigan harder than most—eight Equity theatre companies around the state have come together to form the Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance (META). The group will share branding and marketing, technical elements and know how, and, perhaps, even bargain collectively for Equity contracts.

This just in: Matt Elwell has been named King of ComedySportz . OK, his actual title is President and CEO, but it seems so stodgy for a comedy company. And for Elwell.

That seeming contrast, though, is exactly what Elwell wants: to make comedy and business one seamless package.

“We’re trying to see ourselves as a comprehensive entertainment provider,” says Elwell about not only his new title, but the entire restructuring of ComedySportz Chicago. “We have to take this off our stage and focus on other elements.”

p“Matadors,” from Sony TV and writer/executive producer Jack Orman, is in production offices at Chicago Studio City in preparation for shooting the first or second week in March.