Cal State Long Beach film students have a chance to use a near-in-the-future production facility — which is still pending on a deal agreement.
The Boeing Company and Long Beach Studios LLC are in the process of finalizing a deal for a 77-acre, former-aircraft plant north of the Long Beach Airport. The studio chairman, former actor Jack O’Halloran, plans to convert the site into a massive movie studio.
More than a year ago, O’Halloran announced his intentions of renovating the site, but the deal fell out of escrow in March 2009. Now, renewed talks may finally set the project in motion.
The deal could be completed in the next few days. If plans work out, the former Boeing 717 production facility will transform into an elaborate set of “40 sound stages ranging in size from 12,000 to 200,000 square feet,” according to the Long Beach Studios Web site.
Recording studios, post-production editing suites and film sets are some of the major on-lot fixtures. The facility also includes surround-sound screening rooms that can seat up to 200 people. An on-site hotel, complete with a pool and tennis court, will accommodate talent and video crews.
According to the Web site, “Long Beach Studios will be the largest independent production facility in the world.”
CSULB students will have a chance to get hands-on experience through internships at the facility. Two sound stages will be available for school use. For the film department, this means a huge opportunity to use state-of-the-art technology and learn directly from industry frontrunners.
Until recently, Boeing has been trying to sell the former 717 site to electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors. The car company projects that about 1,000 to 1,200 jobs would be created if a car plant is built.
Long Beach Studios figures generate about 2,500 to 3,000 jobs. In an interview with the Long Beach Report, Mayor Bob Foster described the possible influx of jobs as an “economic shot in the arm to Long Beach.”
Both Boeing and Long Beach Studios are reticent about disclosures of the deal. Boeing spokesperson Debby Arkell said the company does not comment on pending transactions.
“The status of the facility has been unchanged since March of this year when it fell out of escrow with the studio,” Arkell said.
Joe Marich, a spokesperson for O’Halloran, said both sides are simply following procedure.
“Once all the elements of the deal are completed, a formal announcement will be made to all media outlets,” Marich said.
For now, film industry workers and CSULB students can only wait for the deal to go through.
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