Miami Breaks Ground on New Film Studio, Attempts to Lure Hollywood

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Gone are the heydays of constant TV filming in Miami with multi-year mega-hit series like The Golden Girls, Miami Vice, CSI Miami, The Burn Notice and Magic City. But Miami government officials are now making plans to change that soon by making another run at luring some of Hollywood's film and TV production business back to South Florida.

To validate that point, this past week Miami's Omni Community Redevelopment Agency held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Florida Film & Television Center, a 70,000-square foot, state-of-the-art production studio at 50 NW 14th Street, Miami, Fla.

Omni CRA Chairman Marc D. Sarnoff and the Omni CRA Board of Commissioners were joined at the ceremony by Chris Cooney, COO and co-owner of EUE/Screen Gems Studios, the facility's developer and manager, CRA Executive Director Pieter Bockweg, neighbors, and other studio executives.

"Domestic and international production companies want to be in Miami and this state-of-the-art facility will go a long way in securing Miami's status as a top destination for film and television production," Sarnoff said. "The Florida Film & Television Center is a vital part of the dramatic revitalization along 14th Street west of the Adrienne Arsht Center and will generate hundreds of jobs directly and indirectly related to the film and entertainment industry"

In March 2014, the Omni CRA's Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a contract with EUE/Screen Gems Studios, to design, build, operate and manage the facility as the centerpiece of the Omni area's arts and entertainment district.

The new studio, with two fully operational film sound stages of 15,000 square feet each, a 50-foot roof, 40-foot grid height, and approximately 12,000 square feet of office, editing suites, and accessory rooms will serve productions of all sizes, including major movies, television series and independent films.

Once operational, EUE/Screen Gems Studios will lease the Florida Film & Television Center for 10 years with a nine-year renewal option. The annual lease payment will be $100,000 plus 11 percent of gross revenue.

"The Omni CRA owns the land as well as the existing structure where the studio is being built and is investing significant capital into the project. However, this is an innovative public-private partnership where the lease payments and gross revenue share will be reinvested back into the neighborhood," Bockweg said. "This studio will advance the film industry in South Florida in terms of job creation, talent development and retention. Additionally, it will generate a significant positive economic benefit for the local economy and make a big difference in fulfilling the mission of the Omni CRA in revitalizing the neighborhood and eliminating slum and blight."

In June, Bockweg was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory Council, which provides Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity and Office of Film and Entertainment with industry insight related to developing and promoting the state's entertainment industry.

Bockweg said, "With the Florida Film & Television Center in place, the Omni CRA looks forward to discussions with state legislators to see how we can create new mechanisms for the film industry statewide and further expand the industry's positive impact on Florida's growing economy."

"This is an exciting opportunity for us, and we have looked forward to working in Miami for years," Cooney, co-owner of EUE/Screen Gems Studios, said. "There's a lot of talent in Miami in nearly all aspects of the film community, from production to crew, and unique locations that make this a natural for us. We look forward to partnering with educational institutions to create a student intern program and to strengthen Miami as a growing television production center."

EUE/Screen Gems Studios owns and operates film and television production facilities in New York City, Atlanta, and Wilmington, N.C. The Wilmington studio is the largest production studio in the United States outside California, with 10 sound stages that encompass more than 150,000 square feet. The Atlanta studio offers 10 stages with 138,000 square feet of production and flex space. Together they have hosted more than 370 scripted television shows.

In mid-November, the interior demolition of the existing building began, and parts of the roof were removed to accommodate for the studio's new roof and ceiling height. Completion is scheduled for the end of summer 2015.

At the national level, the race for 2014 domestic movie ticket sales to match full-year 2013 has come down to the final weeks of December. In 2013, total movie ticket sales reached $10.9 billion. So far, sales this year stand at $9.6 billion.