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HOLLYWOOD COMES TO READING
from The Focus- Issue 3
A. BALAJI SUNDARAM

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Blackhall Studios are a large film company in the USA, who have produced famous movies such as Venom, Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Jumanji: The Next Level, and are renowned film makers known across the world for their graphics and box-office successes. They have confirmed that they will be establishing a base in the UK, at Thames Valley Science Park, which is owned by the University of Reading. This studio has not given away a lot of information regarding
to this project, but it has been said that it is going to be the "largest film studio" in the UK, and it will bring much development in our film industry.
The company has stated that £500 million would be invested each year, and there would be around six movies produced annually. This project would create 1,500 jobs, which would be beneficial for the Reading community, as unemployment rates would plummet. Ryan Millsap, the chairman of Blackhall Studios, has said he is "excited" to be building a base in the UK.
Not only will this new development be of the highest environmental standards, but it will also include a high-tech cinema. These plans depend on the agreement of the Wokingham Borough Council, and is expected to run smoothly. If the studio's plans go well, their aim is to open in 2022. This idea was formed by Nick Smith, Blackhall UK's president, who believes that Britain has an abundance of filmmaking talent, but the country is short of the technology for film production. The studio hopes to form a long standing partnership with the University of Reading, benefiting students and, on a more obvious note, the economy of the country. Companies such as Disney, Universal and Sony are also reaching the point in which they will also expand in the UK.
The problems that this development would solve would be unemployment rates in the Reading area, and also provide support to creative and digital businesses. Over the next twenty years, Thames Valley Science Park could grow this part of its site to include a variety of special companies. Of course, Reading School students also benefit from this. Who knows, maybe one of us will some day find ourselves in a movie…