Montreal: Thirty-year industry veteran Mel Hoppenheim has regained direct control of the city’s largest studio complex after Toronto-based Panavision (Canada) decided not to renew its option on the facility.

The Panavision studio is now known as Cite du cinema (Mel) and is 100% owned by Hoppenheim, who becomes president.

Five years ago, Panavision purchased Hoppenheim’s equipment rental business. It also leased his newly built $9 million studio facility, former home of the old Expo Theatre. The five-studio complex houses the Montreal’s largest studio at 15,000 square feet.

Panavision has relocated its equipment rental service, and Locations Michel Trudel, headed by president Michel Trudel, is installed as the new equipment rental dealer at Cite du cinema.

According to Hoppenheim, Panavision decided not to renew its lease option because ‘it was too expensive.’

After signing the lease arrangment with Panavision in 1989, Hoppenheim stayed on as company president until 1991 when he became a consultant for the company. That arrangement ended two months ago.

Hoppenheim was in Los Angeles recently promoting the city and the Cite du cinema facility to u.s. film and television movie producers.

‘The City of Montreal and sogic are working feverishly to bring new production to Montreal. It must be done,’ says Hoppenheim.

Panavision is owned by Stephen Roth, Frank Jacob and others and is headed by president Glen Ferrier.

William Zacharuk, a vice-president with the company in Toronto, is responsible for the Montreal camera and grip rental operation managed by Jacques Ouimet and Ian Green.

Panavision’s new equipment rental offices are located at 1260 Richmond Street.

Hoppenheim opened his first equipment rental operation in Montreal in 1965.