EUE/Screen Gems Production Hub Pending in Georgia
Facts and Figures/ May 12, 2010
• Georgia Film and Television Center, a division of EUE/Screen Gems, Ltd. has begun the formal process to lease Lakewood Property (known as Lakewood Fairgrounds) from the City of Atlanta for a long-term contract. This agreement is NOT final. April 17 marked the beginning of the official process with the City of Atlanta. • EUE/Screen Gems intends to use the property to create a studio complex for television, commercial, digital and film production. • The property lease includes approximately 30 acres of land. • The lease covers land and infrastructure; one building is ready for production. Plans also include building a large, state-of-the-art sound stage. The older Spanish-style buildings that are the landmark features of this property will remain standing. • EUE/Screen Gems plans a multi-million dollar phased renovation for property development and outfitting. Plans include the development of office space, a mill shop and lighting and grip facilities. • EUE/Screen Gems has an exceptional track record of investing in studio sites and attracting productions. Their Wilmington, N.C. location has been home to more than 350 productions, including the television series “One Tree Hill,” “Dawson’s Creek” and “Matlock.” Two new HBO comedies, “Eastbound & Down” and “Little Britain USA” were also produced there. Film releases include “Nights in Rodanthe” and “The Secret Life of Bees.” The company has just invested in updating wireless and coast-to-coast remote capabilities on its lot in Wilmington. The Wilmington property is also home to a new $15 million special effects water tank and sound stage. In New York City, their facility provides high-end production, post-production services and “wired” production offices to CBS’s Rachael Ray Show. New York clients include Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Food Network and others. • EUE/Screen Gems operated the world-renowned studio "back lot" in Burbank, California for more than 10 years. EUE/Screen Gem’s global reach extended through Europe in Dublin, Ireland with Ardmore Studios. The company also had affiliations in Prague, Australia and Argentina.
• EUE/Screen Gems chose Atlanta for their business expansion because: o Atlanta needs a well-equipped, turnkey facility for large-scale film and television projects. o National entertainment companies have come to EUE/Screen Gems management in recent months and asked them to consider development of this type of property in Atlanta. o Atlanta offers a distinctive urban setting that EUE/Screen Gems does not have in its current portfolio. The ethnic and cultural diversity of Atlanta’s talent base and
crew further expands the studios’ portfolio of options for film and television producers and directors. o The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport offers multiple non-stop flights to and from New York City and Los Angeles. o Georgia offers a state film credit up to 30 percent, along with sales and use tax exemption. http://www.georgia.org/GeorgiaIndustries/Entertainment/AboutUs/Pages/Incentiv es.aspx • EUE/Screen Gems will take occupancy of the property only if the Atlanta City Council adopts and the Mayor approves the proposed lease agreement; a vote is scheduled for May 17. • If the project moves forward, EUE/Screen Gems predicts possible bookings for early summer in the Lakewood location. • This opportunity in Georgia allows the company to continue expansion of its studio space and to provide film and television producers and directors a distinctive portfolio of film production facilities.
About EUE/Screen Gems: EUE/Screen Gems supplies production space, studios, technological infrastructure and support for movie, film and commercial producers. It is a diversified content production studio and facilities company based in New York City with a 50-acre studio lot in Wilmington, N.C. http://www.euescreengems.com/, http://www.screengemsstudios.com/
###