INDUSTRY. STUDIO NEWS
Studio news Extensions, investments and acquisitions in the world of film and TV production spaces
MOVIE MAGIC Milk VFX, which worked on the Fantastic Beasts films, is opening a new studio in Bordeaux NETFLIX TO BUILD $850M FACILITY IN NJ
VFX house Milk opens Bordeaux studio London-based VFX company Milk has expanded its European presence by opening a new studio in the French city of Bordeaux. Leading the creative team and acting as head of the studio will be Milk VFX supervisor Andy Morley, who has been working in France for the last year. He will develop his network of talent in the country and across the continent, while building relationships with schools and universities in order to tap into emergent talent pools. Morley’s CV boasts work on Avengers: Infinity War , Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Batman Begins – as well as recent Milk projects The Swimmers (Netflix, Working Title) and The Woman King (Sony). Jag Mundi, Milk’s executive chairman, said Bordeaux’s ‘technical and creative learning and heritage in animation and gaming’ makes it an ‘excellent base’ for the company. The announcement follows
Netflix will develop a state-of-the- art production facility estimated to create over 1500 production jobs and more than 3500 construction- related jobs in New Jersey. The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority agreed a contract with the streaming giant to buy the ‘Mega Parcel’ – part of the old Fort Monmouth army base – for $55 million. Netflix said it will inject $848 million in capital investments to develop the more than 292-acre parcel into 12 innovative sound stages, totalling nearly 500,000 sq ft of new development. The remainder of the premises is slated for supporting film uses and several community amenities. There even are plans to include office space, production service buildings, mill space and backlots. The new site is adjacent to Route 35 in Eatontown and Oceanport. According to Netflix, the studio campus will be completed in two
phases over the course of several years. The first will include the construction of 12 sound stages, ranging in size from 15,000 sq ft to 40,000 sq ft each, with a minimum total development of 180,000 sq ft and maximum of 480,000 sq ft. “We believe a Netflix studio can boost the economy with thousands of jobs and billions in economic output, sparking a vibrant production ecosystem in New Jersey,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer. Netflix has a 36-month window to complete due diligence on the site and secure local approvals before closing on the property.
Milk’s recent acquisition of Soho-based VFX house Lola Post Production.
SAFE PAIR OF HANDS Industry veteran Andy Morley will be leading the brand-new Bordeaux studio
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