A warehouse and office complex at 235 Presumpscot Street may finally bring the film industry to Maine. The Maine Studios, a locally-owned movie studio, is hoping to bring in big budget movie projects and attract local, regional and national talent.
?? ?The Maine Studios opened on Aug. 25?with a ribbon-cutting – or, film-cutting – event with Governor John Baldacci and Mayor Jill Duson. John E. Seymore and Laurie Notch of Wasted Minds Media Group, Inc (WMMG) lease the building, which is owned by Nappi Distributors, a local beer and wine distributors.
?? ?”Ever since the studio’s opening, there has been an overwhelming response,” said Seymore, COO of WMMG.
Local companies like Motion Media and Tom McPherson have already approached The Maine Studios with various project propositions.
?? ?In addition to local companies, The Maine Studios is also consulting with out-of-state production companies such as Los Angeles-based Global Universal Entertainment (GUE).
?? ?”We’re currently working on a three film deal with GUE,” said Seymore. The first project “Cornered” has a budget of $500,000. With the two other film budgets added, the total amount of GUE’s deal comes to $12.7 million. “Once we get financing for these projects, there will be a lot of money flowing into Maine, which will be great for the state’s economy.”
??? ?The Maine Studios is working on several television projects. One of the first shows will feature an all-female paranormal investigation team with the pilot episode budgeted at $500K, and they are currently shopping for interested clients, including Discovery Network and the Travel Channel. “If the pilot passes,” Seymore said, “roughly 13 more episodes will be planned at $500,000 per episode. That would help bankroll other projects.”
?? ?In addition, WMMG will be working on their own films including “Cube Ghouls”, the brainchild of WMMG President, Laurie Notch. “It’s going to be like Dawn of the Dead meets Office Space,” Notch said. Cult film legend Bruce Campbell, of the “Evil Dead” series, is being considered for the project if there is enough financing, she added.
?? ?One of the ways The Maine Studios will generate revenue is a program they’re starting called the Maine Film Collaborative. According to the MaineFilms.org website, the Collaborative?is “a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing the Filmmaking industry in Maine by providing resources and training, promoting Maine made films and uniting creative minds and craftspeople with their audience.”
?? ?The Collaborative was approved by the Board of Directors last Wednesday, and it will include four divisions: Maine Film Fund, Maine Film Hour Exchange, Film Intern and Apprenticeship Program, and The Maine Film Appreciation Society (unofficial name).?
?? ?The annual membership for the collaborative will be $130 for a year, and members will be able to help The Maine Studios in various ways, ranging from office jobs to film production on various projects. For the amount of hours collaborative members work, members will be able to use those hours to produce their own projects, including use of staff, equipment and studio space. Collaborative members will have other benefits such as a discount card, training and educational opportunities, placement on preferred hiring list and more.?
?? ?In the future, membership will also offer insurance, legal and business counseling and distribution assistance.
??? The Maine Film Collaborative will have its first members’ forum from 5:30 to 8 p.m.?Saturday, Sept. 26.?The event is open to the public.