Port land's mega studio is one step closer to final approval
Mega studio gets mixed reviews
City touts port facility's ability to draw blockbuster movies
Rival production firms decry deal's non-competition clause
PAUL MOLONEY
CITY HALL BUREAU
A mega studio designed to attract blockbuster movies will be built on publicly owned lands in Toronto's derelict port area.
The Toronto Economic Development Corp. (TEDCO) approved the plan yesterday despite a flurry of objections by other studio operators to the deal, which gives Toronto Film Studios Inc. a 99-year lease on the former oil storage site.
Details of the deal have not been made public.
The winning company, owned by land developer and financing firm Rose Corp., proposes to build a studio large enough to attract big-budget films.
The 150-page deal now goes before city hall committees and on to council for final approval.
"You can't do the big majors like a Superman or a Titanic in Toronto because we just don't have the film studio space," said Councillor Brian Ashton, a member of TEDCO's board.
There is broad support in the film sector for a large studio, and TEDCO believes it will help all industry players by bringing more production work to the city, said Ashton (Ward 36, Scarborough Southwest).
"We need a big, class A production capability. The ones who are complaining have class B or even class C space, so this isn't displacing their production space. This should help the whole industry by attracting business."
But elements of the deal worry rivals who argue that a non-competition clause would prevent other studio operators from opening facilities on TEDCO land in the port district.
"I think that is scandalous," said Peter Lukas, president of Showline. "This country was built on competition."
Lukas said he was "stonewalled" for three years in his attempts to lease port land for film and TV studio facilities.
The non-competition clause, limited to less than a decade, was defended by Deputy Mayor Mike Feldman, another TEDCO board member, who accused rivals of sour grapes.
"They could have bid (for the site). They decided not to. Now they want to go on TEDCO's land next door even though they weren't the winner. You can't do that. (Toronto Film Studios) won the bid."
Steve Mirkopoulos, president of Cinespace Studios, attacked the deal as unduly secretive.
"This process has not been an open, transparent and fair process. We want to know what the total subsidy package is (and) ... know how much land is involved."
Ken Ferguson of Toronto Film Studios said competitors are needlessly fearful of the studio, to be located near Cherry and Commissioners Sts.
"We're going to be drawing a lot more business to Toronto so everyone will benefit."
The development of a large studio has been talked about for years and is overdue, said Feldman (Ward 10, York Centre).
"We have a film industry that ... can't go further without some heavy investment."
Mega studio gets mixed reviews
City touts port facility's ability to draw blockbuster movies
Rival production firms decry deal's non-competition clause
PAUL MOLONEY
CITY HALL BUREAU
A mega studio designed to attract blockbuster movies will be built on publicly owned lands in Toronto's derelict port area.
The Toronto Economic Development Corp. (TEDCO) approved the plan yesterday despite a flurry of objections by other studio operators to the deal, which gives Toronto Film Studios Inc. a 99-year lease on the former oil storage site.
Details of the deal have not been made public.
The winning company, owned by land developer and financing firm Rose Corp., proposes to build a studio large enough to attract big-budget films.
The 150-page deal now goes before city hall committees and on to council for final approval.
"You can't do the big majors like a Superman or a Titanic in Toronto because we just don't have the film studio space," said Councillor Brian Ashton, a member of TEDCO's board.
There is broad support in the film sector for a large studio, and TEDCO believes it will help all industry players by bringing more production work to the city, said Ashton (Ward 36, Scarborough Southwest).
"We need a big, class A production capability. The ones who are complaining have class B or even class C space, so this isn't displacing their production space. This should help the whole industry by attracting business."
But elements of the deal worry rivals who argue that a non-competition clause would prevent other studio operators from opening facilities on TEDCO land in the port district.
"I think that is scandalous," said Peter Lukas, president of Showline. "This country was built on competition."
Lukas said he was "stonewalled" for three years in his attempts to lease port land for film and TV studio facilities.
The non-competition clause, limited to less than a decade, was defended by Deputy Mayor Mike Feldman, another TEDCO board member, who accused rivals of sour grapes.
"They could have bid (for the site). They decided not to. Now they want to go on TEDCO's land next door even though they weren't the winner. You can't do that. (Toronto Film Studios) won the bid."
Steve Mirkopoulos, president of Cinespace Studios, attacked the deal as unduly secretive.
"This process has not been an open, transparent and fair process. We want to know what the total subsidy package is (and) ... know how much land is involved."
Ken Ferguson of Toronto Film Studios said competitors are needlessly fearful of the studio, to be located near Cherry and Commissioners Sts.
"We're going to be drawing a lot more business to Toronto so everyone will benefit."
The development of a large studio has been talked about for years and is overdue, said Feldman (Ward 10, York Centre).
"We have a film industry that ... can't go further without some heavy investment."