|Houston Astrodome to be the new Hollywood Studios|

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by jfre81

Anyway...

Broken-down Astrodome may have seen its last rodeo | Real Estate | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Apparently they can't even use it for rodeo stuff. This is stupid. You don't even have to let people actually enter the stands part. Just put some portable toilets on the floor level and have everyone enter through the old center field gate.

It's not in the best of shape, but I call BS on the excuse that it's code violations.

I agree 100%, jfre--a big, steaming pile of BS! The county wants it torn down so they can sell the land. They've been "prepping" Houstonians for months now with their little reports here and there about how much money they would have to spend ("millions", they say) to get it back up to code and they just don't see how that would work. What a crock.

[stoneclaw]

SO is the movie studio thing dead now?

[uPuPuP!]

Originally Posted by C2H (ComingtoHouston)

SO is the movie studio thing dead now?

No. Part of their plans is to repair the Astrodome.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

I agree 100%, jfre--a big, steaming pile of BS! The county wants it torn down so they can sell the land. They've been "prepping" Houstonians for months now with their little reports here and there about how much money they would have to spend ("millions", they say) to get it back up to code and they just don't see how that would work. What a crock.

And considering the cost of demolition, what do they think they're going to gain out of it? Unless the buyer is keeping the structure intact, the land isn't worth the ground it sits on. This is the same principle that keeps the various large abandoned buildings downtown the way they are. They're too expensive to try to do something with what's there so it's not economically feasible.

So they might as well not try to block this. If the studio doesn't work, you know what I'm thinking?

ULTIMATE PAINTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

Seriously, that would kick all manner of ass.

[uPuPuP!]

...And in classic think-big fashion, one massive structure already has been erected with a potential 140,000-square-foot soundstage -- and it's ready for immediate use. That's the Houston Astrodome, which the Greater Houston Global Management Group is organizing for productions.

"It's a giant open barn," GHGMG founder Elise Hendrix says. "It's exactly what we need. It can turn an immediate revenue. It's ready right now."
The company will renovate the interior (one-time concession stands can't currently substitute for production offices), but Hendrix indicates they will submit their final proposals to the county very shortly.

"They're as anxious to get this show on the road as we are, because no one's paying any rent over there," GHGMG vp Cynthia Neely says.

So if you build it -- and that includes constructing a workable incentive -- will they come? Texans seem to have little doubt that, with some attention, the Lone Star State won't be lone much longer. But, says Hudgins, the window of opportunity will not be open forever -- not with that legislature meeting so infrequently.

"If we don't do something effective this time, we'll have to wait until 2011, and I fear by that time we'll have 50% of our workforce working out of state," he says. "It'll get to the point where it's really hard for us to recover. It's now or never."

http://www.onlyinhouston.org/en/art/2281/

[()_T]

More info has been added on the website about each floor level.

Sound Stage
Over 90,000 square feet of sound stage space will be available for major film and video productions, whether to accommodate one gigantic set construction or divided into smaller, multiple sets.

The sound stage area allows for easy access to production offices, dressing rooms, post-production studios, secure storage, equipment rental, and vendors of every description that surround the production area. Props, lighting, sound equipment, and set personnel can be easily moved to any set location on the sound stage.

Offices and Studios
Three levels of the Astrodome will be built out and leased as office and vendor space, equivalent to approximately 600,000 sq. ft. Tenants can include production companies, radio and television stations, post-production studios, sound labs, digital animation studios, film processing, props manufacturing, talent agencies, camera and equipment rental, wardrobe and makeup studios, and virtually any support service associated with the industry.

Space options can be standard or customized. Any type of business associated with film, broadcast media, or production will find Astrodome Studios as the best option to support their professional trade. Along with the amenities that will be included, the tenants of Astrodome Studios will be pioneers–becoming part of the new center of commerce for the entertainment industry in Texas.

Museum Exhibits
Three levels will be dedicated to two museums for the public. The first museum will be the repository for all things Astrodome: the construction story of this building that forever changed the world of architecture, as well as the history of the Houston Astros baseball team for whom Astroturf was invented; the history of the world’s largest rodeo, the on-going Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo; and the star-studded events and performances that gained international attention.

As one museum is dedicated to preserving the structure's incomparable past, another museum will encompass the arts industry in the Astrodomes visionary future which now centers on the magic-makers of motion pictures. This second museum will showcase the Lone Star State's 80-plus years of movie and television production.

With galleries of memorabilia, props, costumes, posters, scripts, and video presentations, it’s a museum dedicated to the history of the moving image industry in Texas. The first film ever to win the Academy Award® for Best Picture, Wings, was shot in San Antonio in 1927.

The time has come to celebrate the state's moving image industry as well as the Texans who have worked in this industry–both in front of and behind the camera–for more than eight decades.

Events Stage
Because the building was originally a sports stadium–with several decks of theater-style seating–Astrodome Studios will easily provide a venue for special events requiring staging for large audiences. The events stage area will back up to the sound stage area allowing easy installation of props, lighting and sound equipment and providing exceptional viewing quality for the audience.

A sample of the events that could be held at Astrodome Studios: music and awards shows, large fashion shows, galas, television specials, horse shows, political debates and conventions, or televised fund-raising benefit concerts.

Storage
Convenient to the sound stage areas will be massive storage rooms for warehousing equipment and props. A large freight entrance ramp from the outside streets down to the sound stages will allow easy access for over-sized tractor trailers and cargo haulers.

Security will assure that all properties are well-cared for in this environmentally controlled storage area.

Parking
To facilitate parking and ease congestion of traffic with other events at the Reliant Center complex, engineers will create parking garages and spaces within the walls of the stadium.
Pre-existing structures and building design allow for this. Tenants will appreciate the all-weather parking garages that will be serviced by elevators to the office levels.

Restaurants
During the history of the Astrodome, thousands of people needed to eat during any event they attended.

With so many tenants planned for Astrodome Studios, and with major film productions working day and night, people will again need to eat, drink, and relax.

Leasing options located on three levels within the facilty will be available to restaurants and cafés. In addition, these food service tenants can become contracted for large-scale catering opportunities to support the film crews on location, or provide hospitality services for the big shows utilizing the events stage.

Fitness Center
Working on film and television projects can be intense and stressful. In order to keep everyone–from actors to directors to crew–at their peak levels, Astrodome Studios will have a full-service health and fitness center.

Along with the usual workout and aerobic areas, there are plans for a salon, spa, and massage therapy rooms as well as an indoor jogging track around the top deck of the building.

http://www.astrodomestudios.net/index.php?...7&Itemid=40[/url]

[EasilyAmused]

I guess all the lower taxes is bringing entertainment companies in? Houston and Hollywood. Seems like an odd mix considering how stupid, hick and hillbilly they've made Texas out to be for decades.
Bet they'll have A Real Housewives of Houston soon too...god help us.

[LizzySWW]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Bet they'll have A Real Housewives of Houston soon too...god help us.

I'll audition for that one! Haha! Seriously though, Houston really has an endless pool of "housewife" candidates.
Please, BRAVO stay away from H-Town!

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by jfre81

And considering the cost of demolition, what do they think they're going to gain out of it? Unless the buyer is keeping the structure intact, the land isn't worth the ground it sits on. This is the same principle that keeps the various large abandoned buildings downtown the way they are. They're too expensive to try to do something with what's there so it's not economically feasible.

So they might as well not try to block this. If the studio doesn't work, you know what I'm thinking?

ULTIMATE PAINTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

Seriously, that would kick all manner of ass.

Poor Astroworld, destroyed.....for nothing.

[()_T]

thedomemovie

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...cal&id=6834828

Studio plans Astrodome documentary Wednesday, May 27, 2009 | 3:47 PM HOUSTON
(KTRK) -- The company that wants to use the Astrodome as a movie studio has announced their first film project.

Astrodome Studios Productions, a division of Astrodome Studios, the proposed motion picture production facility for the re-use of the Houston Astrodome, has partnered with documentarians Chip Rives and David Karabinas to produce the company's first project, The Dome, a history of the legendary Eighth Wonder of the World itself. A trailer of the work, featuring President George H.W. Bush, Dan Pastorini, Bum Phillips, Nolan Ryan, Dene Hofheinz Anton and former mayor Fred Hofheinz, will debut Thursday evening, May 28, 6:30 PM, at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose. The filmmakers will be in attendance.

Astrodome Studios development partner J.L. Trahan was extremely supportive of the company's choice for their first film saying, "When astrodome studios founders Elise Hendrix and Cynthia Neely introduced me to The Dome movie creators, Chip Rives and David Karabinas, I couldn't have been more pleased. Like everyone that sees their trailer, I was moved emotionally and knew we would all work well together. It's a perfect match of like-minded teams working together to not only tell an important story, but also to bring about the best outcome for Harris County taxpayers and their beloved Astrodome."

Rives and Karabinas have won more than 20 Emmy Awards for their documentaries about many of sport's most amazing athletes. Both native Houstonians, currently residing in Austin, Rives and Karabinas have a profound admiration for the building that changed the worlds of both architecture and sports forever. In an age of monolithic retractable roofs, corporate luxury boxes, and multi-story high-definition "Godzilla-tron" screens, it's easy to forget where it all began. The producers and Astrodome Studios Productions will refresh those memories in grand style with "The Dome." To view the trailer on-line visit thedomemovie.

The May 28 screening of the trailer at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is part of an exhibition featuring two rarely seen documentaries about the Astrodome. Artist/curator Andrea Grover will present Geoff Winningham's 1975 film "The Pleasures of this Stately Dome" and the 1974 documentary "The Lord of the Universe," which chronicles the guru Maharaj Ji's appearance at the Dome and the much-hyped event, Millennium '73.

Astrodome Studios is a concept to transform the Houston Astrodome into a state-of-the-art film/video/sound production facility that would establish a center of commerce for the creation of moving image products in Texas. The project has been officially presented to Harris County officials and is under review.

Currently, Texas does not have a mega-sized soundstage facility. New legislation was recently passed that will be driving more production business to the state. If approved, the Dome's famous ball field would become the world's largest soundstage, an indoor "back lot," vast enough to build sets of whole towns unaffected by weather or time of day or night. Former concourse areas would be used for smaller soundstages, production offices, and offer tenant space to companies with industry-related services and equipment. Divisions of Astrodome Studios include Astrodome Studios Productions and museums for the histories of the Texas film industry and the Astrodome