Shadowbox Studios
{{Short description|American film and television production studio}}
Shadowbox Studios (formerly Blackhall Studios) is an American film and television production studio located southeast of Atlanta in DeKalb County, Georgia. The studio has housed productions of many films and television programs and has worked with Hollywood studios including Disney, Universal, Sony, Warner Bros. and HBO.
History
Blackhall Studios joined Atlanta's film scene in early 2017, opening in Metro Atlanta with nine sound stages ranging in size from {{cvt|20000|ft2}} to {{cvt|40000|ft2}}, including one that is the tallest in the state (ceiling height of {{cvt|55|ft}}). The studio also opened with a large building for special effects and set design, and a {{cvt|30|acre|km2}} backlot for outdoor filming.{{Cite web|last=Millikan|first=Paul|date=February 17, 2017|title=Blackhall Studios joins Atlanta's booming film scene|url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/good-day-atlanta/blackhall-studios-joins-atlantas-booming-film-scene|url-status=live|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=FOX 5 Atlanta|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812232910/https://www.fox5atlanta.com/good-day-atlanta/blackhall-studios-joins-atlantas-booming-film-scene |archive-date=2020-08-12 }}
The first production to film at the studio was Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment's Godzilla: King of Monsters.{{Cite web|last=Hensley|first=Ellie|date=January 3, 2017|title=Report: Blackhall Studios lands first production — Godzilla 2|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/01/03/report-blackhall-studios-lands-first-production.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=Atlanta Business Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107100256/http://www.bizjournals.com:80/atlanta/news/2017/01/03/report-blackhall-studios-lands-first-production.html |archive-date=2017-01-07 }}
In 2018, the studio launched its new film production company, Blackhall Entertainment, allowing the studio to finance and produce its own content with the aim of generating up to four films annually. Its first project was the horror thriller, Schoolhouse.{{Cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=January 24, 2018|title=Film News Roundup: 'Black-ish' Star Marsai Martin's Comedy 'Little' in Development|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/black-ish-star-marsai-martin-comedy-little-1202676162/|url-status=live|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=Variety|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127051737/http://variety.com/2018/film/news/black-ish-star-marsai-martin-comedy-little-1202676162/ |archive-date=2018-01-27 }}
In September 2019, Ryan Millsap, founder and CEO of Blackhall Studios, announced a plan to triple the size of existing sound stages, from {{cvt|210000|ft2}} to {{cvt|600000|ft2}}, which would make it the largest purpose-built movie studio in Georgia.{{Cite web|last=Dennis|first=Ryan|date=September 6, 2019|title=Ryan Millsap's Blackhall Studios expanding in Georgia|url=https://www.11alive.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/the-a-scene/blackhall-studio-expands/85-aaad9f4e-0405-430b-a80d-cd75fc9276b0|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=11Alive}}{{Cite web|last=Saporta|first=Maria|date=September 6, 2019|title=Studio CEO: Georgia's movie marquee is 'on the bubble'|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2019/09/06/studio-ceo-georgias-movie-marquee-ison-the-bubble.html|website=Atlanta Business Chronicle}}
In February 2020, the company announced it would develop production facilities on a University of Reading site west of London. Planned to open in 2022, the new complex was projected to cost $195 million (£150 million). It was the first U.K. investment by Blackhall Studios.{{cite book |last=Brummer |first=Alex |year=2020 |title=The Great British Reboot: Creative Geniuses, White-Hot Technology and Emerging Markets |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cmkDEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA131 |publisher=Yale University Press |page=131 |isbn=978-0-300-24349-9}}{{Cite web|last=Szalai|first=Georg|date=February 18, 2020|title=Atlanta's Blackhall Studios to Develop Studio Complex West of London|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/atlantas-blackhall-studios-develop-studio-complex-west-london-1279747|url-status=live|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219051250/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/atlantas-blackhall-studios-develop-studio-complex-west-london-1279747 |archive-date=2020-02-19 }}{{Cite web|last=Grater|first=Tom|date=February 18, 2020|title=U.S. Outfit Blackhall Studios Plans Major UK Film & TV Site; Former Pinewood Exec Hired As President|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/blackhall-studios-major-uk-film-tv-site-pinewood-exec-hired-1202862250/|url-status=live|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=Deadline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219124841/https://deadline.com/2020/02/blackhall-studios-major-uk-film-tv-site-pinewood-exec-hired-1202862250/ |archive-date=2020-02-19 }} The new facilities, now called Shinfield Studios, finished construction in spring 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.reading.ac.uk/news/2024/University-News/Shinfield-Studios-completes-construction|title=Shinfield Studios fully operational after work completed|publisher=University of Reading}}
In March 2021, Blackhall Global Partners (BGP), a partnership between Millsap and Commonwealth Real Estate LP, unveiled plans to greatly expand the studio's footprint in DeKalb County, Georgia.{{Cite web|date=March 5, 2021|title=Major movie studio files proposal for massive DeKalb County expansion project|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dekalb-county/major-movie-studio-files-proposal-massive-dekalb-county-expansion-project/3H3WT2EYHZFWVONBSX4XWGDXWI/|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=WSB-TV}} BGP wants to build 18 new soundstages totaling 1.2 million square feet on a 155-acre greenfield site adjacent to the existing Blackhall Studios complex. The project is expected to cost $250 million, and make it the largest studio facility in the state.{{cite news |last1=Fuster |first1=Jeremy |date=July 7, 2021 |title=Atlanta Studio Sparks Protests for Plan to Clearcut 200-Acre Forest for More Soundstages |url=https://news.yahoo.com/atlanta-studio-sparks-protests-plan-130000587.html |work=TheWrap |via=Yahoo! News}}{{cite news |last1=Estep |first1=Tyler |date=May 5, 2021 |title=Sale of film studio raises questions in DeKalb |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/sale-of-film-studio-raises-questions-in-dekalb/TP5SEAT7MJBHLLGVHOD473JVL4/ |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}} Local environmental groups concerned about climate change and pollution have criticized the expansion. They estimate that 3,000 trees will be lost, and are unconvinced that the mitigation the company has proposed is sufficient.
Blackhall Studios was acquired by Los Angeles-based private equity firm Commonwealth Group for $120 million in April 2021. In 2022, the company received a $500 million investment from tech investor Silver Lake and announced its new name, Shadowbox Studios.{{Cite web|last=Cornfield|first=Greg|date=June 14, 2022|title=Silver Lake Invests $500M in Shadowbox Studios' Soundstage Platform|url=https://commercialobserver.com/2022/06/la-atlanta-london-shadowbox-studios-soundstage-silver-lake-invests-500-million-film-development/|access-date=June 15, 2022|website=Commercial Observer}}
Productions
=Films=
- Blockers (2018){{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=June 18, 2020|title=Reopening Hollywood: CEO Of Georgia's Blackhall Studios Retrofits His Production Hub For Return|url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/reopening-hollywood-ceo-georgia-blackhall-studios-production-hub-1202956336/|url-status=live|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=Deadline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620135823/https://deadline.com/2020/06/reopening-hollywood-ceo-georgia-blackhall-studios-production-hub-1202956336/ |archive-date=2020-06-20 }}
- Godzilla: King of Monsters (2019)
- Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
- Venom (2018)
- Doctor Sleep (2019){{Cite web|last=Saavedra|first=John|date=November 6, 2019|title=Doctor Sleep: Inside the New Overlook Hotel|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/doctor-sleep-overlook-hotel/|url-status=live|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=Den of Geek|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124205120/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/doctor-sleep-overlook-hotel/ |archive-date=2020-11-24 }}
- Jungle Cruise (2021)
- The Tomorrow War (2021)
=Television series=
- Step Up (2018–present)
- Lovecraft Country (2020){{Cite web|last=Ho|first=Rodney|date=August 17, 2020|title='Lovecraft Country,' another Atlanta-produced HBO series, receiving great reviews|url=https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/lovecraft-country-another-atlanta-produced-hbo-series-receiving-great-reviews/HWX43746Y5HHPLQFPGXZVLQQI4/|url-status=live|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919040034/https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/lovecraft-country-another-atlanta-produced-hbo-series-receiving-great-reviews/HWX43746Y5HHPLQFPGXZVLQQI4/ |archive-date=2020-09-19 }}
- Ms. Marvel (2022){{Cite web |last=White |first=Brett |date=June 9, 2022 |title='Ms. Marvel' Filming Locations: Was the New Disney+ Show Filmed in Jersey City? |url=https://decider.com/2022/06/09/ms-marvel-filming-locations-jersey-city/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609155734/https://decider.com/2022/06/09/ms-marvel-filming-locations-jersey-city/ |archive-date=June 9, 2022 |access-date=June 9, 2022 |website=Decider}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://blackhallstudios.com/}}
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Category:American film studios
Category:Film production companies of the United States