Halifax filmmaker Peter Christakos is up in arms over government plans to build a $3.4-million soundstage at a former Shelburne, n.s. naval base, a site to which he claims to have exclusive studio space rights. Adding to the controversy is industry consensus that there is little need for yet another soundstage in the region.

Christakos, president of Magic Hour Films, is in litigation with the Shelburne Park Development Agency for breach of contract after the spda allegedly used his plans and blueprints to get funding for the studio project and then cut him out of the deal.

‘What is shocking is that the government has made an announcement and is jumping over our heads and funding the landlord with our products,’ says Christakos. ‘They have lifted all our concepts and ideas and it’s not right.’

The spda was established to administer a $5-million fund received from the Department of National Defense ‘pursuant to an agreement’ with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency in order to create jobs after shutting down CFS Shelburne.

Early in 1997, the spda approached Christakos about bringing a film production to the area, and following negotiations, offered the filmmaker $880,000 in funding for research, development and production.

In return, the prodco would renovate an abandoned gym on the base. Court documents say that Christakos’ company spent more than $240,000 to market and develop the project.

In a statement, the spda acknowledges that an agreement did exist with Magic Hour Films proposing the production of a film on the base and the development of a multimedia production studio at the site.

But following 18 months of ‘effort and considerable cost to the spda, Magic Hour Films was unable to source the necessary funding to finance any production. As a result the spda chose to terminate the agreement and move on.’

Meanwhile, the South West Shore Development Association has applied for and received approval from the federal and provincial governments to sponsor and build the soundstage as soon as possible.

The Canada Nova Scotia Co-operation Agreement on Economic Diversification is providing $1.95 million for the project, $400,000 is coming from Human Resources Development Canada, and The Shelburne Business Development Corporation and the South West Shore Development Authority will be providing financial support.

While Nova Scotia is already home to five soundstages, Frank Anderson, ceo of the South West Shore Development Authority, says what will set this facility apart from the others is ‘the fact that it sits on 175 acres of land, which allows for major back-lot capabilities.’

?Anderson adds that the locale is ideal for a period film and says there are plans to make the site a training ground for those looking to learn the trade. The studio will house 40 rooms for on-site accommodations and aims to stimulate the economy of Shelburne.

When asked if the province needs another soundstage, Anderson cites the statistics: ‘The film industry has grown from $7.5 million in 1992/93 to over $127 million in ’98, we need to develop the infrastructure in order to ensure the continued growth of the industry.’

??Nadine Halliday, studio manager of CineSite, a privately owned Dartmouth soundstage, says there is no need for another soundstage and one more in an area that size would be overkill.

‘The government is involved and will be operating the soundstage, and through government funding and incentives to production companies and producers they are enticing what little business we do have from the independents,’ says Halliday.

Tour Tech East president Peter Hendrickson says if the government is going to invest in the industry there are betters places to put the money.

‘Yes the industry has grown but the infrastructure they are short on is not studio space, it’s film processing. We still have to fly negs to Toronto to be developed,’ says Hendrickson.