Business booming
The state’s film industry is eyeing a record-setting year in revenue in 2008, likely exceeding the $125 million spent here in 2007, according to Nick Paleologos, chairman of the Massachusetts Film Office.
Published 2008-05-09 03:51
Plymouth has hopes of major movie work
PLYMOUTH. The residents of Plymouth will vote Saturday on a non-binding ballot question on a proposed movie studio, a move that would help make Massachusetts a hotbed of Hollywood activity for years to come.
“This will give us a true pulse on what the community support is,” said selectman Butch Machado. “But I can tell you the community support for this is overwhelming.”
Planners envision a $282 million, 1.26 million square-foot campus with 14 sound stages, a village center with restaurants, studio housing and a hotel and an education complex. They have also included 10 acres of athletic fields for the town.
The project still faces a town meeting vote next month on the land transfer agreement, a review by the zoning and planning boards and a lengthy environmental study.
The Plymouth project is one of two major movie studios being planned for the South Shore. A team of investors is also eyeing a 30-acre movie and TV production facility, dubbed SouthField Studios, at a former South Weymouth air base.
After the state increased tax credits for filmmakers in 2006, there has been a staggering rise in film industry spending — up from $6 million in 2005 to $125 million in 2007.
Plymouth Rock Studios, which reportedly hopes to begin building by 2010, has estimated the studio would create 2,000 jobs averaging $70,000 a year.
“At a time when we’re going through a recession, this is really giving everyone here something positive to grasp on to,” Machado said of Plymouth’s studio.
