Taking center stage

Variety
Bashirah Muttalib
August 11, 2008

Charleston, S.C., announced completion on Atlas Worldwide Syndication and Distribution’s film and television production studio. The four-stage, three-acre site located in downtown Hollywood, S.C., approximately six miles outside Charleston, is equipped with one of the best HD camera packages and, upon completion of the second phase of development, will include an additional 20,000-square-foot soundstage, making it the largest studio in South Carolina.

“I saw a lot of production in South Carolina filming in warehouses or abandoned buildings, which is not appropriate for sophisticated television,” said Akim Anastopoulo, president of Atlas Worldwide Syndications and Distribution.

Anastopoulo also stars as “Extreme Akim” in the nationally syndicated TV show, “Eye for an Eye.” The show, now produced in the new studio, airs in more than 40 countries.

“I am pleased and excited that Atlas chose to develop its production facility in the Charleston area,” said film commissioner Jeff Monks. “Creating industry infrastructure like this is critical to South Carolina’s continuing development of the film and television industries within our state.”

Unlike most states, South Carolina’s incentive program offers a cash rebate paid to the production company within 30 days of the final audit. Productions that spend at least $1 million in-state can receive up to a 20% cash rebate on in-state employee wages and a 10% cash rebate up to $3,500 on out-of-state employee wages. Out-of-state performing artists (including stunt performers) are eligible for the full 20% cash rebate. Additionally, S.C. offers up to a 30% cash rebate on in-state supplier expenditures if at least $1 million is spent locally.

“Our fast rebate program certainly is one of South Carolina’s attributes,” Monks said. “Our crew base continues to grow quickly (our IATSE crew membership increased 62% in one year) as well as our supplier base.”

According to Monks, Cinema Catering, Palmetto Production Equipment (film transport equipment and resources), Telecorps (HD camera, audio, editing rentals) and Screen Gems-SC (grip and electric) are a few of the new suppliers now operating in South Carolina.

EUE Screen Gems expanded its lighting, grip and power operations into Charleston, S.C., providing services on the second season of “Army Wives,” housed in a converted Charleston warehouse, and also provided equipment on feature pics “The New Daughter” (Kevin Costner/Gold Circle Films) and “Nailed” (Jessica Biel and Jake Gyllenhaal), which recently completed production in South Carolina.

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