When people think of movie studios, images of Hollywood automatically pop into their heads.
Now, thanks to a new studio coming to Moorpark, they might have to re-adjust their hinking.
Commonwealth Studios is a new, full-service studio that is expected to break ground in April 2009 with a projected 18 months of construction.
John Marshall, President and COO of the studios, said that he is confident that his decision to set the location to Moorpark is a clever one that many other studios will follow.
“Taking that next step is what the industry needs to take,” said Marshall. “No one in Hollywood wants to be the first to do anything, but once someone does, they’ll get in line real fast.”
The $125 million, 600,000 square foot studio will host their site to film and digital movies, television shows and commercials.
The facility is expected to have 11 to 14 state-of-the-art sound stages, which will range in size from 9,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet.
The site will also contain office buildings, a conference center, a screening theater, and an outside set for special effects.
Commonwealth Studios will also be the largest new studio to be built in California since the 1930’s, and its size will be relative to the CBS Studio Center in Studio City, CA.
After spending many years in the industry, Marshall knew that it was time to branch out.
“I must confess, it’s my brainchild,” said Marshall. “I could see this coming 15 years ago. The timing is just right.”
Along with getting the official approval from the landowner, who will become a business partner and will provide 50 percent of the cost for construction, the other owners are very optimistic about their new business.
Marshall has had 32 years of experience in the entertainment industry, with one of his biggest projects being the art director for “Batman and Robin,”released in 1997.
Chairman and CEO Bernard Weitzman holds about 50 years of experience, including being the executive vice president at Desilu and Lorimar Pictures, vice president and general manager at Universal Studios, as well as holding several executive positions at MGM and having his own management company, Sussex Ltd., Inc.
To counter several concerns about how its presence might disrupt the community, Marshall reassured that the studio will try to be as environmentally-friendly as possible.
Instead of having several large diesel-fueled trucks surrounding the studio for actors and production crews, the studio will build their own dressing rooms inside of the stages.
The studio will also only use electric vehicles for transportation around the lot and will encourage employees to use Moorpark’s public transportation.
Also, Marshall said that the studio will help the economy by introducing about 150 new jobs to the community.
Coral Eisenbruch, a 19-year-old radio/television major at Moorpark College, said that the new studios make her feel excited about her major.
“I heard about it last year from our studio’s technical engineer Bill, and I was very excited to hear about it,” said Eisenbruch. “I’m glad there are so many new job opportunities now local for broadcasting students.”
Marshall, being an entertainment veteran himself, has many words of advice to spread to students interested in the industry.
“Put your whole heart and soul into it,” said Marshall. “This will be be an opportunity for filmmakers to reach out to the entire world with technology.”
For more information on Commonwealth Studios, visit the website at www.commonwealthstudios.com/
