Hollywood, Calif.-based International Studio Group (ISG) today announced it is moving forward with plans to build a 12-stage full-scale motion picture studio on the SouthField development in South Weymouth, Mass. At a State House press conference, executives from ISG unveiled plans for SouthField Studios-Boston, a $147 million, 600,000 square foot all-inclusive complex where every type of entertainment (movies, television, video games, live broadcasts, satellite simulcasts, music videos and commercials) can be produced and supported with comprehensive services.
The 30-acre campus will be comprised of the sound stages occupying approximately 212,000 square feet of the land and supporting office, production and retail space, which will occupy the remaining 370,000 square feet. Construction of the facility will create 1,200-1,600 temporary jobs and once the studio is up and running it will create an additional 1,500 industry-related jobs.
“We’re thrilled to be able to make SouthField Studios-Boston a reality,” said Allan Kassirer, a principal with ISG. “Through aggressive tax incentives for film production, Massachusetts has certainly positioned itself to become a leader in film and television production and SouthField Studios-Boston provides the brick-and-mortar infrastructure that will help sustain this industry long-term in the Commonwealth.”
The studio’s location, just 12 miles south of Boston and 15 miles from Logan International Airport, make it ideal for supporting the film industry, delivering one-stop shopping to producers. While many Massachusetts-filmed motion pictures have relocated pre- and post-production work to Hollywood, this studio will allow for all production work to be done on sight.
The studio will be part of the SouthField development, a shovel-ready, mixed-use community which sits on the land of the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station. All roads and infrastructure necessary to build and operate the studio are already in place allowing construction to begin as early as November 2009.
“SouthField is the perfect location for this studio as it provides easy access to Boston yet does not face the traffic congestion typically associated with the city,” said Kassirer. “South Weymouth and its surrounding towns stand to benefit greatly not just from the jobs it will create but the growth of local businesses naturally associated with the motion picture industry.”
The leadership group that will oversee Southfield Studios-Boston’s development is comprised of Kassirer, an internationally-recognized entertainment attorney, the award-winning production team of Robert Papazian and James Hirsch, and Universal Studios Florida project leader Jack McDaniel. Former Massachusetts Film Commissioner Mark Drago is also a principal in the company.
Papazian and Hirsch bring extended studio management experience to the group. The pair, which teamed to produce such television hits as “Nash Bridges” and HBO’s “Rome,” converted 11 acres in California’s San Fernando Valley to create the successful Ray Art Studios. The team operated the complex profitably until they sold it in 2004. They then upgraded Hollywood’s legendary Sunset-Gower Studios into a modern production facility that recently sold.
Groundbreaking on the project is targeted for the end of 2009 after a formal review of the site and development plans by South Shore TriTown Corp, a joint venture of the towns of Weymouth, Abington and Rockland. Full construction is slated to begin in spring of 2010.
About International Studio Group
International Studio Group is a developer of large-scale film and television production studios. Its management team is comprised of Emmy Award winning directors and award-winning designers from Hollywood. International Studio Group is the developer of SouthField Studios-Boston, located 12 miles from Boston in South Weymouth, Mass. For more information about this project and ISG, please visit http://www.southfield.com/studios.html.
