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Medient Studios was negotiating for a site in New York State to build its movie production studios and entertainment complex when someone mentioned Georgia.
“I hope Georgia is not on your list,” Manu Kumaran, Medient CEO, quoted a New York economic development official as saying. “Now it is,” was the reply.
During groundbreaking ceremonies Thursday, John Henry, CEO of the Effingham Industrial Development Authority, said Kumaran first visited the authority’s 1,600 acres at Interstate 16 and Old River Road last October. It was dark, and the property was illuminated only by vehicle headlights.
Henry said he knew by Kumaran’s reaction that something clicked when he saw the site.
Part of the New York deal included building an underground network of roads so films could be shot in winter, Kumaran said.
That’s a huge expense not required in sunny South Georgia.
Building on such economies is key to Medient’s business strategy. The company is planning a $90 million investment and expects to create 1,000 jobs in its first phase.
People will live on site and work full time on movies.
“You’ll go to work in a film studio like you’d go to work in a car factory,” Kumaran has said. “The consumer doesn’t care where the green screen is.”
The campus will be environmentally friendly, with no vehicles that operate on fossil fuels and with health care, day care, schooling, shopping and housing for workers and their families.
In addition to making eight to 10 movies a year, the company will produce video games at the site.
Kumaran said he hopes to be able to make movies at the site by the end of the first quarter of 2014.
A substantial crowd attended the groundbreaking ceremony, including the entire Effingham County commission, IDA board, Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie and state Reps. Jon Burns and Bill Hitchens.
Kumaran announced that BL Harbert International LLC, based in Birmingham, Ala., will be the contractor for the project.
The $90 million for phase one includes everything needed to make movies, including $10 million to lease the land, $40 million for equipment and $40 million for buildings.
Kumaran said Medient is a small company with big plans.
“Our death has been predicted multiple times,” he said. “This can’t be done. You won’t survive. You might as well take up fishing or farming.”
Unlike people who have buyer’s remorse after making a large purchase such as a TV set or moving in with their girlfriend, he said, he’s happy with the decision to build in Effingham.
He said officials with local and state government have been very helpful.
Kumaran also said Medient has “strong partners.” It purchased German-based film distributor Atlas International Film GmbH and signed a contract with production equipment company Prime Focus Limited.
Phase one of the project includes roads, utilities, a suspension bridge entrance, reception building, leaf amphitheater, main studio and outdoor shooting area.
Average salary is expected to be $39,000.
The company’s movies include the dramas “Yellow” and “Garp” and the British horror film “Storage 24.”
Medient announced Tuesday it has signed an agreement for a revolving credit line of $5 million with TCA Global Credit Master Fund LP to support motion picture development and print and advertising costs for films in the United States.
ABOUT MEDIENT
Medient (www.medient.com) is a publicly listed company (OTCQB: MDNT). It is a global film production and distribution company with a strong presence in the world’s two largest movie markets – North America and India.
ABOUT BL HARBERT INTERNATIONAL
BL Harbert International LLC (www.blharbert.com) is a privately owned construction company with U.S. and international operations providing preconstruction, construction, design-build and construction management services. Based in Birmingham, Ala., the company works across the United States and in nine other countries.