How Cinespace's purchase of Screen Gems will impact Wilmington, starting with a new leader

In late September, Cinespace Studios announced that it had purchased the EUE/Screen Gems Studios complex in Wilmington. Screen Gems had run the studios, first built in 1984, since 1996.

How the sale will impact the film industry in Wilmington and the town as a whole will become clearer as time goes on.

For now, the industry remains largely shut down due to the ongoing strike by the Screen Actors Guild, which is seeking better pay, among other demands, from the studios and streaming services.

Here's what we know right now about Cinespace's plan for the Wilmington complex on 23rd Street and what the global company's presence in Wilmington might mean, both short-term and long-term.

What is Cinespace?

Cinespace is one of the world's biggest operators of sound stages and studio facilities, essentially renting space to major production companies.

Cinespace, which was founded in Canada in 1988, has facilities in Toronto, Chicago, Germany and now, with the purchase of the Screen Gems properties, Wilmington and Atlanta.

"They're a global player, and they're the largest company that's ever owned the facility," said Johnny Griffin, director of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission. He added that he wouldn't be surprised to see Cinespace "add some additional inventory over time" in other cities.

What are Cinespace's immediate plans for Wilmington?

One big change locally, said Catherine Shin, head of marketing and communications for Cinespace, is a new face in a leadership role.

"Chris Crowder is now serving as head of client services and operations (in Wilmington) and Bill Vassar will consult through the end of the year during the transition," Shin said.

Vassar, who was an executive vice-president with Screen Gems, ran the Wilmington studios for 25 years, initially with the late Frank Capra Jr., who passed in 2007. Vassar came to Wilmington from Screen Gems' New York headquarters, and he ran the studios in Atlanta for a time as well.

"I've been so involved it's hard to give it up, but I know it's time," Vassar said, adding that he will retire at the end of the year but plans on staying in Wilmington. "It's a good chance for me to make the break, which I've been thinking about for a long time."

He called Cinespace "a great company" and said, "I think it'll be very good for Wilmington. They've got a lot of resources and top-notch management."

Beyond staffing, Shin said, "The studio will be rebranded as Cinespace Wilmington and we will be replacing signage in the coming months."

Griffin said he's heard "no discussions of major improvements or additions, or construction," at least in the short term.

How will Cinespace interact with the community?

Screen Gems was well-known in Wilmington for being a community partner, helping to sponsor such events as the Cucalorus Film Festival and even inviting the public into its gates over the years for studio tours and the occasional screening or fundraising event.

How things play out along those lines with Cinespace remains to be seen, but the company does have an arm called CineCares that works directly with the communities where it's located.

"We’re looking forward to supporting the community," Shin said. "Michael Scott Jr. will be leading our programs in Wilmington for CineCares and working to identify partners to develop workforce training and education programs."

What's the long-term outlook?

Griffin is bullish about what Cinespace could do for the future of Wilmington's film industry.

He's known Ashley Rice, president and co-managing partner of Cinespace, for many years, and said "she's got deep roots and a lot of connections in the industry."

With multiple studios hosting projects all over the world, Griffin said, Cinespace could potentially steer business here if, say, space is full at one of its other studios.

"We're dealing with a company that has a full-time presence in Los Angeles," Griffin said. "They are having high-level conversations with people they can really market Wilmington to."

"I think it's pretty impressive that Wilmington, North Carolina, is in there with these big, international cities," he added. "If (Cinespace) thought North Carolina had no future in film, they wouldn't have come in here. Instead, they looked at us and said, 'Hey this is a place we should be.'"

Griffin said he's heard people say, "'Oh, Screen Gems is selling because the business is off'" due to the strike, but he sees the current production downturn more as "a bump in the road. When it's all over, business is going to be back," and potentially in a big way, like the production explosion that followed the pandemic lockdown.

Plus, with the independent Dark Horse Studios in Wilmington expanding, Griffin said, "All of that brings more attention to Wilmington."

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: How Cinespace Studios buying Screen Gems will impact Wilmington NC