connecting our local production community

Fresno Production Studio

Information

Create $12 million 50,000 sq ft production studio on 4 acres in West Fresno. Increase opportunities, strengthen the community, protect the environment.

Location: Fresno, CA
Members: 84
Latest Activity: Feb 28

The Fresno Production Studio Project

The Fresno Production Studio project in Fresno, CA is creating a world-class production facility in Fresno.

The goals for The Fresno Production Studio project are to provide competitive and comprehensive facilities to strengthen the production industry in Fresno by expanding local filmmaking opportunities as well as attracting opportunities from elsewhere. The facility will be flexible enough to be valuable for motion picture, television, and online productions, stadium concert tour rehearsals, photography, and other functions requiring large state-of-the-art studio space. It will have a positive, constructive impact on the City of Fresno, with focus on improving the poverty-stricken areas of the city and enhancing educational opportunities for its citizens.

The Fresno Production Studio will be mid-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It is approximately a 3 1/2 hour drive from either city center. In a few years, once the California High Speed Rail is operating, Fresno will be a key terminal for the system, only 1 1/2 hours from the large cities.

The City of Fresno is extremely film-friendly, not charging for film permits or use of City property (see http://www.fresnofilm.com/) .

Initial plans for the Fresno Production Studio are for a large state-of-the-art facility on approximately 4 acres to include a 12,000 sq ft (120’ x 100’ x 30’) stage with an in-floor water tank (which will make the facility competitive throughout the industry); a 6,400 sq ft (80’ x 80’ x 25’) audience-rated stage with a hard cyc; production office space; catering and food services; a screening room/stage play theater; and a business incubator space for support services such as grip, expendables, post-production, local production companies, audio services, and casting.

The Fresno Production Studio expects to be an economic development endeavor to support the economically-depressed region in Southwest Fresno by creating sustainable job opportunities and formal training opportunities within the Fresno Production Studio.

The Fresno Production Studio will employ cutting-edge applications of environmentally-friendly processes in construction, operation, and maintenance. These will include the best thinking for HVAC, lighting, water, greenery, and other resource usages.

The Fresno Production Studio will be designed by world-renown architect ARTHUR T. DYSON - AIA, IAA, CID, FARA, ALA, NCARB, former Dean of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and current head of the new School of Art and Design at Fresno State University. See http://www.arthurdyson.com/

The Fresno Production Studio is in development and welcomes comments, suggestions, and expressions of interest.

Discussion Forums

What more is need?

Started by Kirk Cruz Jul 21, 2011.

Value of the PRODUCTION STUDIO and its social-economic impact

Started by Michael R. Barnard Aug 13, 2009.

Change in the Fresno Production Studio Project 6 Replies

Started by Michael R. Barnard. Last reply by Walter Villarreal Apr 7, 2009.

View All

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Fresno Production Studio to add comments!

Comment by Margaret Carrero on September 7, 2011 at 2:31pm: Such a phenomenal idea! Can not wait to see it come to fruition. Is there any way that I can help?? Just let me know.

Comment by Philly Phil on August 28, 2011 at 9:30am: Oh yeah, This is what I'm talking about! Just let me know how I can help and consider it done.

Comment by Morgan Nick on August 12, 2011 at 11:00pm: I definitely want to help, let me know how I can!

Comment by J. Scott (Scotty) Smith on August 11, 2011 at 8:36am: How can I help? Have pro audio gear ....

Comment by brian hutton on May 22, 2011 at 12:22am: right on!

Comment by Jules Ramirez on May 15, 2011 at 6:49pm: So glad to hear of this project. I believe Fresno has alot to offer the film industry.

Comment by Michael R. Barnard on November 30, 2010 at 11:08am: Hi everyone

Today, I sent the following to John Dugan, Director, and Keith Bergthold, Assistant Director, of the Development and Resource Management Department of the City of Fresno regarding the Southeast Growth Area Plan.

You may wish to show your support to the City.

=====================================
Dear Mssrs. Dugan and Bergthold,

While living in Fresno for most of 2008, several of us in the local film and television production community discussed options for improving the opportunities in Fresno, not just for ourselves but for a potential economic base for the City.

Combined with those conversations, my personal passion about the disparity of economic opportunity that had been prominent in Fresno led to the concept of The Fresno Production Studio. Further, the advent of the high-speed rail project that would tie Fresno to the production communities in Los Angeles and San Francisco made the project even more attractive.

Two years ago, I had championed the Project to many in the City, and there was great interest in it. However, the collapse of the economy overall, and the collapse of my personal "economy" which required my return to Los Angeles, led to a lack of pursuit for The Fresno Production Studio Project.

The original vision was for The Fresno Production Studio Project to serve as an economic base to invigorate the Southwest area of the City, which was sorely in need of opportunity. As I follow the Southeast Growth Area Plan, it appears that The Fresno Production Studio could play a significant part in reaching these goals of the City. I hope there is an opportunity to revive The Fresno Production Studio Project, since I remain convinced it is valuable for Fresno and want to participate in this.

I submit to you the original documents describing The Fresno Production Studio Project for your consideration, with the belief that this project has unique potential for the growth and health of Fresno.

The Proposal and Slide Presentation files are attached, and are also available online: the Proposal is at http://www.box.net/shared/i1lrxt3xqi; the slide presentation is at http://www.slideshare.net/mrbarnard/fresno-production-studio-projec...; and the video is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIuK-lmdCRU

I look forward to discussing this with you, and hope it will be considered as having potential for the growth and invigoration of the City of Fresno.

Sincerely,

Michael R. Barnard