Big movie studio complex, casino proposed

Thursday, March 9, 2000 | 11 a.m.

A developer is proposing a 100-acre motion-picture studio and visitor center in the Las Vegas Valley.

Mimosa Jones, president and chief executive officer of the Entertainment Development Corporation of Las Vegas, said her office was approached by a developer who plans to build "Media City," a massive complex that would include sound stages, a casino-hotel and an arena.

The EDC, which has nearly 100 members, was formed to recruit motion picture production to Las Vegas. The organization promotes Las Vegas to Hollywood while encouraging local government officials to offer incentives to draw more production to the city. Member companies enjoy the benefits of referrals to film companies.

Hollywood production companies have been fleeing California to film in Canada to take advantage of a favorable currency exchange rate and lower labor costs. The EDC sells Las Vegas as a closer extension of Hollywood where taxes are low and the weather is more favorable.

Jones identified the developer of Media City as Southwest Holding Co., but a company executive could not be reached for comment. She said the executive did not want to be identified until land for the project has been acquired.

But the developer has discussed details of the project with Jones. She said Media City would include:

Jones said Media City would be developed in three phases. There is no indication how many people would be hired at the facility.

"Any developer who creates a plan to put a shovel in the ground to make facilities happen in this town, we're going to get behind," Jones said. "This is what we're trying to accomplish."

Jones said she did not know the status of land acquisition or where the complex would be built. She said an ideal location would be away from aircraft or highway noise.

Media City is by far the most ambitious studio project proposed for Las Vegas to date.

The city already is home to the Lear Motion Picture and Television Studios, a 180,000-square-foot former frozen-food warehouse on a 7 1/2-acre site at 41 N. Mojave Road. The warehouse is being converted into a studio with seven sound stages.

While Marilee Lear, co-owner of the studio with her pilot husband, has plans to develop the site, she already has been approached by Hollywood producers anxious to use the facility. She has provided office space and rough studio accommodations for feature film productions of "Luckytown" with James Caan and "Pay It Forward" with Kevin Spacey.

Other production companies also have inquired about using the building, making it difficult for Lear to schedule construction on the site, she said.

Another project, Doris Keating's Black Mountain Studios proposal in Henderson, is on hold while her company, Studio Enterprises Inc., searches for property to develop a sound and production studio.

Jones said about $40 million in motion picture production was brought to the city in 1999 and $100 million is forecast for the current year.