Territory Film Studios, a partnership between Kevin Costner and the president of Development Solutions Group, Inc. in St. George, is anticipating breaking ground for the studio during t-is summer.
Costner and the crew involved are in the process of creating a new film studio in southern Utah near the St. George Regional Airport that is worth over $40 million. The company will also be allowing tours for the public once the project is complete.
Marcus Mejia, a senior digital film major from Henderson, Nevada, said: “I think the studio will be absolutely spectacular and will create amazing opportunities.”
After Costner’s frustration of not being able to find a studio for some of his previous work on sets in St. George, he opted to build his own with the ambition to continue with his “Horizon” three-part movie saga.
Territory Film Studios will have office spaces, two sound studios and a production warehouse for set design. This space is estimated to be 152,750 square feet and will include a restaurant that is themed after Costner as well as an on-site catering department.
Patrick Smith, assistant professor of digital film, said: “We’re really excited about the momentum we’re seeing in professional filmmaking here in St. George lately. Our film program is growing incredibly fast as the demand for professional video skills increases, and there are hundreds of film professionals already living in the area.”
Students in the film program at Utah Tech University have said they are looking forward to the new Costner studio because of all of the opportunities it will bring. Students have been offered jobs and opportunities with Costner’s past projects on his “Horizon” movie series such as assisting with sets, lighting, sound and more.
With all of the different components that the studio will have, it will allow for many job opportunities for students in the film program. Last year, the film program had several students get hired for the Costner film, “Horizon: An American Saga,” which was shot in town. Smith said those students were able to bring back insight and lessons from their experiences on set.
Bryn Kint, a junior digital film major from St. George, said she is excited about the opportunities for those film students to be able to get recognized and get jobs within the studio allowing for that transition from a film student to a film professional.
Film students at Utah Tech are looking forward to this new studio because there are not many local opportunities for professional films in St. George.
“We’re excited to see how we can partner with Coster’s studio to provide our students with a window into the professional film industry,” Smith said. “We hope to create an internship pipeline that allows students to access the studios during professional learning opportunities.”
