When the Czech Republic's crown jewel film studio Barrandov changed management last year, many in the biz didn't expect much to change.
Its struggling steel company owners, Mittal, have seemed at a loss how to market and modernize the 11-studio complex that has hosted major features since before WWII. So the appointment of Veslava Piegzova, who had a background in finance, not film, didn't inspire much hope.
But now, with Barrandov's public commitment to boosting Prague's capacity with a new 4,000-square meter, $4.2 million studio, set to start construction in spring (the first of four planned), a collective sigh of relief can be heard in Bohemia.
"What Barrandov is doing is exactly what should have been done a long time ago," says Tomas Krejci of service provider Milk & Honey, which is planning its own studio launch this year. "Prague is in desperate need of more stage capacity."
Indeed, the feast or famine nature of the production biz has left the city frustrated in recent months: The arrival of Bond flick "Casino Royale" was applauded, as was "The Omen 666" and "Young Hannibal," all currently shooting at Barrandov.
But if another production of any size was looking to shoot here at the same time for more than a few weeks, things would have gotten tight. And business before these three moved in was slow, with empty studio halls worrying locals.
Now, most say, the city is looking more ready for gluts. Some, like the newly expanded Film Studio Gatteo, have seen the light and invested in soundproof, heated facilities with construction, office, rehearsal and decent dining facilities on the lot.
Although Gatteo is handling mainly domestic productions, the studio has positioned itself for indie productions, which find Prague still offers value. Besides, most of the work, if not the revenue, that comes to Prague is in commercials, musicvideos and television miniseries.
If the city can handle all types of productions, it helps all the studios, even those that haven't snared a Bond film, says Gatteo's Monika Charvatova. "It's publicity, and it's great having a film like that shot in Prague."
Business would be boosted more if, like Hungary, the Czech Republic was offering tax incentives for foreign shoots, and some, like producer John Schofield of "Doom," have pointed out that "cheap" is no longer a word much applied to Prague.
But building more facilities is an immediate solution that's far easier to manage -- and just as important to international producers as money issues, says Ludmila Klaussova of the Czech Film Commission. "If we want to compete, we need this," she says.Even the Barrandov board can see that now, it seems. "There is great interest abroad in the studios, and their expansion will increase our ability to attract more foreign producers," says board chairman Tomas Chrenek, adding that Barrandov has even managed to cut through Prague's notorious City Hall red tape: "The studio already holds a valid construction permit."
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