If we build it will they come?
Could it be that Gold Rock Studios will become a fully-functioning movie production facility? If the current activity surrounding the sale of the property goes through, it could indeed happen.
Gold Rock Studios is located about 15 miles east of the Grand Lucayan Waterway in Grand Bahama, near the vicinity of the Lucayan Caves National Park and on some of the property previously occupied by the United States Air Force for its Cold War-era missile tracking base. That base, when active, comprised several large barracks, transmitter sites, a 10,000-ft runway capable of landing the largest transport aircraft of the day, hangars, and various other maintenance and supply buildings.
One long and narrow building was gutted and converted into production offices used during the filming of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean II & III. A hangar facility was upgraded with air conditioning and suitable electrical and lighting service to accommodate costumes and props storage. Other existing buildings were slated for refurbishment, including a large Art Department building, a commissary and other support services.
Unfortunately, due to some schedule conflicts, the impact of hurricane activity, financial strains and delays in completing the now famous water shooting “tank”, many of the plans for the movie studio never came to fruition. The “tank” is located on the southern shore of Grand Bahama and it is near this location that many of the at-sea scenes for Pirates of the Caribbean (POTC) II & III were filmed. The facility is not exactly a “tank”, however. It is a three-sided structure that is open at the south side to the ocean and is bulkheaded on the other sides. This open-ended design is not a flaw but rather provides the added benefit of allowing true horizon views when shooting under the more controlled environment of the facility.
Original plans for the water feature included a cable-pulley system that could be attached to ships to create controlled motion effects for the illusions of heavy seas, impacts or distress. These systems were actually installed, however, damage caused by the storms at the time rendered them inoperable. Most of the at-sea scenes for the POTC films ended up being filmed just outside the water facility.
Despite these set-backs, the property holds tremendous promise. Plans for the 3,500-acre site have included fully-equipped soundstages, a film-oriented theme park with 18th-century period villages, music scoring facilities, a nearby resort and all of the other supporting facilities that would be needed for such a venture. The employment impact–not just for Grand Bahama, but the entire Bahamas–would be tremendous. Creative Bahamians that could not otherwise find a purpose for returning to their homeland could finally apply their skills in an industry that they love. Opportunities for reciprocal industry experience with other countries could fast-track skill development. And, just as the POTC sequels did, millions of dollars can be drawn into our national economy in an industry that could continue ad infinitum.
But, lest we believe the “build it and they will come” fantasy, we must deal with the fact that the film industry is a very small community of people and there are some bridges that must be rebuilt and relationships that must be restored. Only then can we hope to “sell” the value of Gold Rock Studios to potential tenants.
All of these things are pending the closure of a financial deal and being able to settle the ownership and financial disputes that still hang over Gold Rock Studios. We watch and hope that these immediate hurdles can be leapt for the long-term benefit of many.
~ejr~