SWSDA signs deal with film producer

Many of the business dealings of property sales in Shelburne dealt by SWSDA were handled covertly with details kept with Director Frank Anderson but according to Warden of the Municipality and co-chair of SWSDA board, Paulette Scott that will no longer be the case.

The board also came to the decision that if any other offers are to come on board before the current offer with Gilmour closes, those offers would be dealt with by the board.

“If this deal goes through with Mr. Gilmour,” said Warden Scott, “this would be a great way to kick off the start of a new year.”

If all goes through as planned Australian born, producer has big plans for his film studio.

He plans to begin a large-scale production as early as March with his first film based at his new studio, Moon Harvest, starring Joshua Jackson, Harvey Keitel and Claire Forlani as well as a yet to be named celebrity to lead in the production.

“For the normal run of films,” said Gilmour, “there are 180 to 200 people employed directly by the film and indirectly you can double that for the businesses around the area.”

He has plans to turn the 59-room accommodations located at the site mostly into offices for productions that he expects to come in from all over the globe.

“Accommodation for visiting crew and their families will be spread around to various accommodations so that will be good news for Bed & Breakfast’s and motels in the area,” he said.

The large indoor pool on site, Gilmour hopes to be up and running as quickly as possible and be used while the studio is not in use by the community.

“When the studio is not being used for productions then the facility is there to be enjoyed,” said Clare Bourke-Jones, screenwriter and producer.

Another project the studio hopes to implement is to organize training courses in association with the community colleges, universities and youth programs.

“We hope that we will be able to be a facility where students can come and have a period of on the job experience,” explained Bourke-Jones.

Gilmour is happy that his offer is progressing after months of frustration while attempting to get his offer on the table and two failed offers of $2.75-million.

The film studio hopes to draw in international film producers to come to Nova Scotia.

“The unanimous support has been really very encouraging,” he said, “and we are quite sure we can make it into the Hollywood of Nova Scotia.”