'Spiritainment' Company to Build Massive Production Studio
A family-friendly movie company whose aim is to produce "content that will challenge the mind, capture the heart, refresh the spirit, and please God" plans to build a large-scale movie and production studio in Plymouth, Mass.
Officials from Good News Holdings, the self-dubbed "Spiritainment" company based in California, unveiled the plan to town officials last week.
The plan features multiple soundstages, back lots, and editing facilities built across 1,000 acres. Developers estimate the project could cost at least $150 million and predict it will be fully operating in five years, with construction taking three years.
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"This is a really unique opportunity for everybody: for the people of Plymouth, for the state, for Good News Holdings, and for me," said Earl Lestz, a Paramount Pictures president for 20 years who is now a consultant for Good News Holdings. "We will build a studio that will be second to none in the world."
David Kirkpatrick, cofounder of Good News Holdings and a former president of Paramount Pictures, said Good News Holdings will produce family entertainment that reflect a "Judeo-Christian heritage," according to The Boston Globe.
"If you look at movies like 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Narnia,' they are of a Judeo-Christian nature," said Kirkpatrick, who oversaw production on movies such as Ghost, Forrest Gump, and Wayne's World. "We want to keep faith in the mix, but we're not going to wear it on our sleeve."
The studio site would also provide a campus-type setting to train East Coast crew members.
"We could have the greatest film education program in the world right here, if we do this right," said Lestz.
Proposals to improve the area's infrastructure, including water, sewer, utilities, and transportation are currently underway.
Good News Holding will also benefit from the state's new tax credits for the film industry.
The development plan has been dubbed "Project Julia," named after Julia Roberts, after business leaders asked if the development would attract big stars like Roberts, reported The Associated Press.
On the Web: The site for Project Julia at www.cometojulia.com.
