Here's one for the "Rodriguez List"!!!

I had something fall in my lap recently and want to run it by you guys to see what you think.

My town, which is really just a small incorporated community, has a recently abandoned high-school that it doesn't know what to do with. In it's empty state the property is a liability for the city and they are looking for someone to take it over. Being that my father-in-law is a city councilman, and my cousin is the mayer (like I said, a very small town) I have a real good "in" here and could probably arrange to lease this property for litterally like a dollar a month or something! I'm thinking, what a place to make movies! And since the place will probably eventually be torn down, demolishing parts of it in the process would probably be no problem. It even has a big gymnasium that could be turned into a huge soundstage (greenscreen or otherwise) for very little $$.

What do you guys think? Pros and cons?

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Matt Crunk
Fiveacre Films Inc.
Film and HD Video Production & Post Services

An actor I know from here in Tallahassee did something similar in Colquitt, Ga, except he managed to talk the city into building a soundstage for him. (Colquitt has millions of dollars from a trust fund that can only be used for theater, film, and arts projects in the city.) He also talked them into creating the position of Southwest Georgia Film Commissioner for him.

http://www.swgafilms.com/

If you pitch the project as an economic revitalization to the town, county, region, what have you, and put together a plan for bringing in productions or partnering with area prodcos or ad agencies, you might be able to get money from the city or from grants to turn this into a real soundstage/production facility.

Try getting in touch with the Alabama film commission, or if there are more local commissions say in Birmingham or something get them involved, too.

This could be more than just a short term opportunity, this could be a career launcher!

Heck, if you have a decent, large facility and a good day rate, I might bring over some commercial gigs from Tallahassee. Wink

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Jamie
www.crashandannie.com

What cons? Seriously. Get on it.

I live in LA and even the most Mom and Pop place is savvy to the industry and asks for $5000/day to shoot.

Write your script around the school and shoot it before it gets leased.

I agree with ttown71, write a story that takes place in a school and shoot it asap.

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"The best idea wins"
"Nothing is written, it's rewritten"
Final cut Pro
Panasonic AG-HMC150

Matt, do you have any examples of films you've made? I live near Madison and perhaps I'd like to work with you.

yea dude keep us updated with this im sure wed all love to hear whats up with it. this is like a dream come true.
offices in the classrooms, studio in the gym...sick

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AIM me!

Ditto tazer --

-- Paul

Just an update . . . I spoke with the mayor at length tonight about this project and if I can find some grant money to finance it, I have the greenlight. The city will actually own the facility. I will be in charge of it.

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Matt Crunk
Fiveacre Films Inc.
Film and HD Video Production & Post Services

Yay, Matt!

Now find that grant money! Hit up the state film board, they will likely be thrilled to help, as well as any area film organizations, theater groups, etc that might know something about the grant process and be looking for a place to shoot or rehearse. Also think about renting rooms out for administrative office space to other arts groups in the area, or businesses or what have you. Might even be able to arrange short term space leasing to businesses who are having new space built or renovated. (I know one of my clients rented space in a closed school for the football program while their new field house was being built.)

Don't forget to include soundproofing/baffling for the shooting spaces in your budget! Gyms tend to be very echo-ey.

Hope this helps,

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Jamie
www.crashandannie.com