STAGE 6 is a large 30,000-square-foot, clear-span sound stage.

ATLANTA (Feb. 22, 2012) Today at the Atlanta Press Club, EUE/Screen Gems COO Chris Cooney announced the opening of STAGE 6 at the company’s Atlanta studio complex. Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America addressed the Atlanta Press Club following Cooney’s announcement.

The new STAGE 6 is a 30,000 sq ft clear-span sound stage. It offers a clear-span space with 40 feet to the grid, a desirable feature for television and movie productions that want studio space to accommodate two-story television sets or productions that need extensive floor-to-ceiling clearance for large sets.

In April 2011, EUE/Screen Gems and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced the opening of STAGE 5, one of the largest sound stages in the country, at the 32-acre Atlanta studio lot. STAGE 5, a 37,500 sq ft clear-span stage, was booked before construction was finished. Since that time, USA Network’s “Necessary Roughness” has made the stage its home, and the stage has also hosted two feature films scheduled for release this year.

“EUE/Screen Gems is proud to continue its investment in the Atlanta film community with the opening of STAGE 6,” says Chris Cooney. “As you all know, EUE/Screen Gems is a privately held company and we’re here to stay. We do not receive the state film tax credit, yet we are investing our company resources in stages and infrastructure here in Atlanta.

“For this industry to continue its growth, we must work to keep the incentive competitive and stable in Georgia,” Cooney explains. “The film industry substantially enriches the lives of Georgia residents with jobs in a vital, growing field. It supports businesses of all sizes related to the industry, from building supply companies, hotels, thrift shops, caterers, security companies and fashion boutiques to production training and support.”

Cooney says more than 2/3 of the people working on their Atlanta lot are Georgians. This includes EUE/Screen Gems staff and individuals hired by productions.

Kris Bagwell, executive vice president of the Atlanta studios, says several productions have flown in to look at STAGE 6. “We’re so close to the airport and downtown. With multiple sound stages and many productions working at once, we are offering top tier service to the best in the business. There’s nothing else like EUE/Screen Gems in Atlanta. Studio executives from Los Angeles feel comfortable here, and the talent does, too.”

Why Atlanta?
EUE/Screen Gems chose to locate in Atlanta because of the urban setting, proximity to the busiest airport in the world with multiple daily direct flights to Los Angeles and New York City, and the 30 percent film tax credit. http://www.georgia.org/GeorgiaIndustries/Entertainment/AboutUs/Pages/Incentives.aspxThe Georgia Office of Film, Video and Digital Entertainment reports the economic impact of the industry to Georgia in 2011 was $2.4 billion.

About EUE/Screen Gems
EUE/Screen Gems supplies production space, studios, technological infrastructure and support for movie, film and commercial producers in New York City, Wilmington, N.C. and Atlanta. The Wilmington, NC studio lot is currently hosting multiple television and motion picture productions on their 50-acre, ten-stage campus. The company also produces content through Crux Digital Productions and EUE/Sokolow. EUE/Screen Gems is one of the largest lighting and grip suppliers in the Southeast.

For more information, visit www.euescreengems.com.

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For images, interviews and additional information, contact Susan Dosier, media relations for EUE/Screen Gems
Susan@DKCommunicationsgroup.com
704-993-7871 mob