Before my time but I knew some of you would be interested.
http://www.thestar.com/article/171873
Fade to black at Cinespace Studios
Tim Lai
Staff reporter
Cinespace Studios will close its Queens Quay facility by the Feb. 21 deadline imposed by the city after last-ditch proposals to the mayor's office failed to get a response. The closing comes despite Cinespace's repeated statements that it did not receive adequate notice to vacate the property.
Cinespace president Steve Mirkopoulos said the company received written notice to vacate on Dec. 12, giving it slightly more than two months to leave. However, its lease with Toronto Economic Development Corporation, owner of the waterfront land, states that the month-to-month deal, dated March 2004, can only be terminated by 18 months written notice.
"It's a very sad and trying day and we do this with a heavy heart," said Mirkopoulos. "We have to deal with our clients, we have to move on and that's what we're doing."
Mirkopoulos said the waterfront studio, known as MT28, had one project, Saw IV, place a deposit to use the facility after the February deadline. Seven productions had placed a hold on the space. Currently, producers of Killshot, a thriller starring Diane Lane and Mickey Rourke, are reshooting scenes at the site and are expected to wrap shortly before the February deadline.
Mirkopoulos said Cinespace will accommodate Killshot, then shift its infrastructure elsewhere. No jobs will be lost since employees will be reassigned, he said.
Cinespace, like other members of the film industry, say this closing will hurt Toronto's already-suffering business. Last year was one of the worst on record and the current labour dispute between the actors and the producers is scaring off potential productions.
Mirkopoulos said this could have been a banner year for Toronto's industry because similar labour unrest in the U.S. has producers pushing up projects and stockpiling features. But the city, he said, has hurt its potential for new business since no new space will be available to match the loss of 140,000 sq. ft. before the end of the year. That's when mega-studio Filmport is expected to be operating.
Film commissioner Karen Thorne-Stone said she was not aware Cinespace had up to eight projects slated for MT28.
"That would not have changed the circumstances," she said. "There is a lot of studio space in the city. We would like to work with each and every one of those projects to ensure we can accommodate them."
TEDCO president Jeff Steiner maintains that Cinespace has had years to develop a long-term strategy since its lease was changed to month-to-month in 2004, such as building a studio on its own land on Eastern Ave. or accepting space in south Etobicoke.
"Other companies that were moving off that land, like Canpar (Transport) – they made some tough decisions two years ago and they're happily comfortable in their new building in south Etobicoke," he said. "Right next to them, we offered land to Cinespace over two years ago."
Steiner said most of the waterfront revitalization will start this summer.
"We don't want anything that would hold up waterfront revitalization whether its parks or redevelopment."