Taking center stage

Screen Gems plans landmark soundstage

Chris Cooney, chief operating officer and prexy of EUE Screen Gems, has announced plans to build the largest film and television production stage on the East Coast.

Chris Cooney, chief operating officer and prexy of EUE Screen Gems, has announced plans to build the largest film and television production stage on the East Coast.

"We've submitted the plans, applied for permits, begun preliminary clearing and ordered materials," Cooney said.

Facility, dubbed the Dream Stage, incorporated into EUE Screen Gems' facility in Wilmington, N.C., will be a column-free, 37,500-square-foot expanse with a grid height of 45 feet and dimensions of 150 feet by 250 feet. A 60-foot by 60-foot indoor tank with a depth of 10½ feet, one of the largest and deepest indoor production tanks in North America, also will be included.

The 50-acre facility is the largest studio lot east of California.

"This new stage will attract larger and more technologically advanced productions to North Carolina," said Bill Vassar, exec VP of EUE Screen Gems.

The stage is set to be completed next spring. EUE Screen Gems' existing nine stages range in size from 7,200 to 20,000 square feet.

"It's central to studio support services such as production offices, shops, wardrobe areas, warehouses and equipment," Vassar added.

"North Carolina is experiencing a renaissance in film production," said N.C. Film Office director Aaron Syrett. The commission reported $160.2 million in film, TV and commercial revenue for 2007, up 61% over 2006. Syrett credits the state's natural scenery and professional crew base in addition to the state government's newly expanded incentive package.

Gov. Mike Easley recently signed legislation to extend incentives to January 2014. Those incentives include a film credit consisting of a 15% tax credit on a $250,000 minimum in-state spend. Wages up to $1 million will qualify and the cost of production-related insurance now qualifies. Productions should register with an Intent to Film form and give onscreen credit to the state.

Television productions lensed at EUE Screen Gems Studios include Columbia Pictures Television's "Dawson's Creek"; CW Networks/Warner Bros. Television's "One Tree Hill," in production for its sixth season, occupying four stages and an additional 20,000 square-foot stage for several episodes; and two HBO series, "Little Britain USA" and "Eastbound and Down."

Screen Gems and North Carolina locations hosted production for the George Clooney-Renee Zellweger pic "Leatherheads" (which also lensed in South Carolina), the Richard Gere/Diane Lane feature "Nights in Rodanthe," Fox Searchlight's "The Secret Life of Bees," Paramount-Vantage's "The Marc Pease Experience," Lionsgate's "Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever" and Endgame's "A Good Old Fashioned Orgy."

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Charleston, S.C., announced completion on Atlas Worldwide Syndication and Distribution's film and television production studio. The four-stage, three-acre site located in downtown Hollywood, S.C., approximately six miles outside Charleston, is equipped with one of the best HD camera packages and, upon completion of the second phase of development, will include an additional 20,000-square-foot soundstage, making it the largest studio in South Carolina.

"I saw a lot of production in South Carolina filming in warehouses or abandoned buildings, which is not appropriate for sophisticated television," said Akim Anastopoulo, president of Atlas Worldwide Syndications and Distribution.

Anastopoulo also stars as "Extreme Akim" in the nationally syndicated TV show, "Eye for an Eye." The show, now produced in the new studio, airs in more than 40 countries.

"I am pleased and excited that Atlas chose to develop its production facility in the Charleston area," said film commissioner Jeff Monks. "Creating industry infrastructure like this is critical to South Carolina's continuing development of the film and television industries within our state."

Unlike most states, South Carolina's incentive program offers a cash rebate paid to the production company within 30 days of the final audit. Productions that spend at least $1 million in-state can receive up to a 20% cash rebate on in-state employee wages and a 10% cash rebate up to $3,500 on out-of-state employee wages. Out-of-state performing artists (including stunt performers) are eligible for the full 20% cash rebate. Additionally, S.C. offers up to a 30% cash rebate on in-state supplier expenditures if at least $1 million is spent locally.

"Our fast rebate program certainly is one of South Carolina's attributes," Monks said. "Our crew base continues to grow quickly (our IATSE crew membership increased 62% in one year) as well as our supplier base."

According to Monks, Cinema Catering, Palmetto Production Equipment (film transport equipment and resources), Telecorps (HD camera, audio, editing rentals) and Screen Gems-SC (grip and electric) are a few of the new suppliers now operating in South Carolina.

EUE Screen Gems expanded its lighting, grip and power operations into Charleston, S.C., providing services on the second season of "Army Wives," housed in a converted Charleston warehouse, and also provided equipment on feature pics "The New Daughter" (Kevin Costner/Gold Circle Films) and "Nailed" (Jessica Biel and Jake Gyllenhaal), which recently completed production in South Carolina.