*HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT* in Variety Magazine and The Atlanta Business Chronicle
I've been very quiet about this, but the "KAT" is out of the bag. We are building America's First Sustaintable Film Studio complex. And we are doing it in Savannah, Georgia. Check out the full press release below for details and feel free to reach out with any questions.
INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR AMERICA’S FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT SUSTAINABLE FILM STUDIOS IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
KAT-5 Studios To Attract Film and Television Productions,
Employ Local Talent, Increase Tax Revenues, and Boost Tourism
SAVANNAH, GA -- With the demand for sound stage and production space skyrocketing due to production shutdowns and amidst an explosion in streamed entertainment, SAVANNAH STUDIOS LLC has announced plans for KAT-5 STUDIOS, a first of its kind, sustainable, state-of-the-art sound stage and equipment rental house complex in Savannah, Georgia. Leading the project are screenwriter and producer David L. Paterson of Arcady Bay Entertainment and producer/entertainment executive Taylor Owenby of ISP Global Capital. Joining the KAT-5 team is the architecture firm GSB Architects & Interiors, Inc. and AMA Consulting Engineers P.C. Groundbreaking plans are set for the beginning of September.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, productions were being wait-listed for soundstages in Georgia. Today, that demand has grown even higher due to related production delays. In combination with Georgia’s aggressive production tax credits and Savannah’s local production cash rebates, the construction of a full service, state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable studio complex and rental facility will create a production hub to rival any in the United States. Design plans are specifically tailored not only to the needs of Hollywood productions but to build on Savannah’s $3 billion tourism industry. The complex will also allow for daily tours of non-active sound stages and permanent standing sets for Savannah residents and visitors.
“Film and television companies have come to Savannah for decades to capture its beauty and unique charm but the lack of first-rate production facilities has prevented the city from securing many full productions,” says Taylor Owenby. “KAT-5 Studios solves this with our environmentally focused, purpose-built studio, bringing significant revenues to the area not only in jobs created but in tourism dollars as well.”
Productions including Ant Man & The Wasp, Ford V Ferrari, Forrest Gump, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, The Lady and the Tramp and Glory and studios and streamers including Amazon and Netflix have all shot exteriors in Savannah, but have had to fulfill their sound stage needs elsewhere.
“Infrastructure is one of the most critical needs for maintaining and building a sustainable industry in Savannah,” agrees Beth Nelson, Savannah Regional Film Commission Executive Director. “The addition of a studio is a sign that the local market is moving in the right direction. We are excited to add KAT-5 to Savannah’s inventory.”
A Community-First Value System
“While most studios begin by putting up a gate, KAT-5 Studios will be opening doors,” says Owenby.
KAT-5 will have training programs in partnership with local schools and unions for at-risk youth and returning military to teach them skills that will lead to higher paying jobs, not only in the film industry, but in construction and trades, hospitality, office, and IT industries.
The studio’s name refers to the building’s unique design elements; the complex will be built to take a direct hit from a Category 5 hurricane. The studio is designed to serve as a staging ground for FEMA responses to state and federal declarations of emergency. KAT-5’s concrete water tank platform base can take the weight of two V-22 Ospreys or two fully-loaded H-47 Chinook helicopters, and the building can serve as a storm shelter.
“Film companies and their insurers are hesitant to shoot in the Southeast during hurricane season because of productions possibly shutting down and delays of post storm issues,” says David Paterson. “That would not be the case with KAT-5 Studios, as it is designed to operate with it’s own generator and water backup systems.”
KAT-5 intends to be a ‘Soundstage for the 22nd century,’ implementing multiple green initiatives including grey water reclamation, carbon reduction office policies, waste composting, and a partnership with Georgia Power that will realize a two-acre solar farm on the structure’s roof, generating 2000 clean energy kilowatts daily. And, for every tree removed during construction, two trees native to the region will be planted.
Community Support for KAT-5 Studios
“As Savannah is emerging as one of the bright centerpieces for the film industry, KAT-5 is destined as a 22nd century catalyst to help aspiring individuals and businesses be a part of the economic return from the film industry. The technology and design of this studio will be a magnetic draw for economic development in Savannah, Georgia.”
State Representative Reverend Carl Gilliard (Dist 162)
Member, Georgia Film Commission
“Infrastructure is one of the most critical needs for maintaining and building a sustainable industry in Savannah. The addition of a studio is a sign that the local market is moving in the right direction. We are excited to add KAT-5 to Savannah’s inventory.”
Beth Nelson, Savannah Regional Film Commission
Executive Director
“As Savannah grows in popularity as a visitor destination, so goes the interest from film and television production companies from around the country. And the additional incentives and tax credits that the State of Georgia and the Savannah Economic Development Authority make our area a very attractive option. We are excited about having this new multi-dimensional sound stage coming to town and their ideas of also making it available to tours for visitors and groups that come to this area.”
Joseph Marinelli, Visit Savannah
President
“The addition of studio space has been an ongoing need and we are excited to see investments being made which will help attract more productions to the Savannah region. We welcome all studio production facilities to invest in the Savannah region and this is certainly a nice addition.”
Trip Tollison, Savannah Economic Development Authority
President and CEO
“David and Taylor are from the business and know the business, IATSE Local 491 members have been patiently waiting for someone with vision to step up to the plate. Kat 5 studios will have no problem swinging for the fences and surpassing their first year goals.”
Darla D. McGlamery, I.A.T.S.E Local 491
About the KAT-5 Studios Team
David Paterson
David Paterson wrote and produced the Disney hit feature film The Bridge to Terabithia ($138MM worldwide) as well as the recent The Great Gilly Hopkins, starring Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer, Kathy Bates and Julia Stiles. In addition to working in multiple soundstages as a professional stuntman, Paterson has 40+ years in construction and extensive environmental expertise after serving a ten-year stint as a New York State Parks Commissioner.
Taylor Owenby
Taylor Owenby is a founding partner of Imperial Savage, a global advisory firm and content studio with partnerships across four continents. Owenby, a Georgia native, first fell in love with Savannah while attending college. His consulting and producing work spans government, Fortune 500 companies, studios, independent content creators and non-profits. Owenby has worked as a studio executive, founder and advisor for multiple projects in the Southeast. He is a longtime advocate for the film industry through his consulting practice, speaking engagements and service to film organizations. Owenby is also passionate about incubating diverse talent as evidenced through his work with Cinema Park Studios and the prestigious Ghetto Film School.
GSB Architects & Interiors, Inc.
GSB Architects is an award winning architectural and interior design firm led by Maria Guerra-Stoll, one of the nation's top Latina CEOs. The firm provides exceptional services to public and private sectors both domestically and internationally, with a concentration on film & TV production studios, and currently has new studio projects on both coasts and in the Caribbean. The firm has been an integral part of Tyler Perry Studios development since 2007. The GSB team is comprised of highly qualified architects, interior designers, and other professionals providing services for all the various phases of projects, including furniture procurement. From inception of ideas to the built environment, GSB has the expertise that has met and exceeded its clients' needs since 1998.
AMA Consulting Engineers
AMA Consulting Engineers is the preferred MEP design engineering firm (since 2009) for Universal Studios at Universal City, CA related to development of the NBCU master plan for the entire 400-acre campus including the design of new sound stages, Broadcast News Centers, Data Centers, Television Audience Studios including Tonight Show studios for Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Chelsea Handler, and Jimmy Fallon/Seth Meyers (NY), and entertainment attractions Wizarding World of Harry Potter, The Fast and The Furious, Kung Fu Panda Theater and the ET Portal.
Thank you Variety and Atlanta Business Chronicle for the feature this week!
Check out this article! https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2021/07/09/savannah-scad-studio-stage-paterson.html
