Atlanta Film Studios located in Hiram off of Bill Carruth Parkway is now up for sale after its first three years of operation.
Paulding County Industrial Building Authority voted earlier this month to hire Dallas resident Andy Turner to manage daily operations and seek potential buyers for the soundstage, which has survived an extended marketing stint and seen more steady bookings in recent months.
The IBA initially issued $6.5 million in taxpayer-backed bonds to build the studio, which includes 76,000 square feet on 11 acres, just up the road from the Paulding WellStar Hospital.
“It was built with the intent to sell,” said IBA Vice Chairman Alan Shipp.
IBA members voted to replace Jim Hinerman of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Union, who had managed since its beginning. Hinerman will remain through the end of the month.
Turner owns a celebrity appearance company, CelebScene, and the Paulding-based Camo Property Restoration.
According to Shipp, Turner’s experience in the entertainment industry should help his search for a buyer of the facility, which has found its way into the black financially.
The “sequel-slash-reboot” of writer/director John Hughes’ “National Lampoon’s Vacation” (1983) was filmed recently over three months at the film studios off Bill Carruth Parkway. The film is scheduled for release this fall.
An overlap of management is intended to insure smooth operations for the soundstage’s current tenants. The second season of filming began this month for TruTv’s competition-style reality series “Fake Off.” The show also filmed its initial season of shows at the Hiram soundstage, was wellreceived, and had an option to continue.
IBA Director Blake Swafford suggested the move after a union contract expired recently and recommended Turner because he is a local contractor and has ties to the entertainment industry.
Turner will work on a month-tomonth basis and spend his time focused on the marketing and sale of the studio.