Austinist: Villa Muse: A New Dawn for the Austin Creative Industry?

Jooley Ann

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:19:23 -0600

The traffic problem has been pointed out before WRT living out 969, but...a 70,000+ amphitheater? There is one, 1-lane road in & out of that area. Sure, eventually it'll be just up the road from Texas 130, but there will still be huge lines -- of literally thousands of cars -- that will need to get through the immediate vicinity. Ugh.

heyzeus

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:24:22 -0600

My main question is how much public money will be used to create this, and in what ways. Infrastructure? Tax forgiveness? Economic incentives? The concept seems rather pie in the sky to me. It's not clear what studios would take up residence here, and 70k seat ampitheatres only make sense if there are a lot of shows to fill them.

booj commune

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:17:56 -0600

I don't see why someone would want to live and work on Skywalker Ranch, which is what this looks like, especially right down the street from Ozzfest and whatever else happens in ampitheatres. Why can't Texas just implement tax breaks for film productions like Louisiana and everyplace else?

Jambo

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:02:40 -0600

A center for film production and other creative businesses? Maybe. A place where 8000+ creative professionals are going to want to live? I seriously doubt it. Creative professionals do not want to live in a shiny new planned community outside of the city. Why move out there when we can live IN the city of Austin? It's not like we're going to have a shortage of downtown housing in the next few years. Especially all the "Hollywood" industry people they keep alluding to. Do they really think these people want to move from LA to a glorified Levittown in Webberville? Bringing more of this type of creative industry to Austin is good, but do it in the city. It would be better economically, and it would actually have a chance of working.

Coutch

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:45:01 -0600

Jason, Production companies are not 1990 - They are where the Big $$$ is, Laptop video is for vidcasts, how many vidcasts make any profit at all, 10 maybe? How many feature films, How many national spots are edited on laptops 30 maybe? Come back w/your laptop in 10 years or so of real working experience (outside of your parents basement) and join the film/video community - it's a great working lifestyle.

Coutch

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:37:16 -0600

Sorry to rain on your parade, but I've seem this all before in Dallas, Boston, Toronto, Detriot, Seattle, on and on ad infinitum. Producers, production companys like "Facualities" together ie, studios and stages only. As for post houses, audio houses and most importantly their own offices, they want and need privacy. (The last thing a producer wants is for his clients to walk past the offices of a competitor). Every city that tries to tie toghther a complex like this is just throwing $$$ to the wind, feathering the bed of a friend's construction company's bank account and making a local politician look good to their constituants, but only for a very short while. In 5 years it's a ghost town, or rezoned to become a trucking and warehouse yard. Hey Austin - Before youy spend your cash needlessly - check out ALL other cities that have tried this before, If you really wish to grow the film buiss, find the best technictions, crews, and suppliers and show them the advantages of Austin itself. If you have what you preach, they will come, AND STAY> Thanks for listening, Coutch Eastsidefilms

Tim

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:17:24 -0600

Yay, an ampitheater to compete with Verizon Wireless. Yay. I love watching concerts from half a mile away.

John

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:06:41 -0600

If this works out like they plan, it seems like a really exciting idea. Austin has already been becoming one of the country's major hubs for film, and it seems like this is trying to put us on a more competitive level.

Jason Sares

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 09:58:27 -0600

Production Studios are so 1990. Everything is now being done with notebooks and small scale stuff. Sure Hollywood is still trying to make money off soundstage crap but I've always skated to where the puck is going to be, not where it is (or was)...