New film studio owners ready to get to work

By Greg Bennett

The Coast Guard

NovaNewsNow.com

“We’re straight shooters,” is how new Shelburne Park owner Jim Kendrick describes himself and co-owner Mary Barstow.

The Americans, who were in Shelburne last week to celebrate their successful bid for the former CFS Shelburne naval base, sounded happy and full of excitement over their plans for the site.

For them, Kendrick said the long history of failed attempts to make use of and then to sell the property, does not affect their outlook on the future.

“As far as we’re concerned, the history of that site started Monday afternoon,” said Kendrick. “The opportunity is for us to succeed and that is what we are going to do.”

While acknowledging that the film studio will be the cornerstone of their efforts to bring back business to the facility, Kendrick and Barstow also plan to set up several other ventures at the site, including a moving a small candle making business to the area and opening a small retail operation there.

Within the first few days of the sale going through they were promoting the film studio and have plans for trips to Europe to sell the facility to filmmakers.

They also plan to spruce up the facility soon.

“We need about 3,000 small trees and 950 gallons of paint,” said Kendrick.

The Americans plan to move to the Shelburne area this summer to directly work on their investment.

They also wanted to pass on their gratitude to the Shelburne Municipal and SWSDA officials who helped them complete the sale.

“Now, for us, the real work begins,” said Barstow.