Music tenant slated for Austin Studios

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Local filmmakers accuse the Austin Film Society of betraying a promise to taxpayers with a controversial lease at Austin Studios. The Austin Film Society is a non-profit which operates 100,000 square feet of studio space at the Mueller Project that it leases from the city. The Film Society has been working for 8 months to secure a 5-year sub-lease from a Nashville music company that would operate under the name "Soundcheck Austin."

Now, some members of the local film community are upset they're just now hearing about the move and critics say, if the city lets the deal go through, it will take up so much space that any substantive film projects will have to be cut.

"Austin Studios represents arguably the single most important piece of physical infrastructure for our industry here- it is a precious and vital commodity that we need to protect," said Paul Alvarado-Dykstra, the Central Texas Representative for the Motion Picture Alliance.

Alvarado-Dykstra believes the interests of the Studios are not being protected. 

"I have been hearing from a lot of industry folks who have concern for a potential reduction in capacity to a significant degree," said Alvarado-Dykstra.

The Austin Film Society is in talks with a Nashville company to create "Soundcheck Austin." It would turn a 29,000 square foot hangar into 6 soundproof rehearsal studios, offices and showroom space for musicians, not filmmakers.

"To take that piece of the studio to use it for some other business I just don't think its the right thing to do," said Austin Film Society Board Member, Phil Schriber.

Film Society President Rebecca Campbell said in a statement to Austin News, "By continuing to build out the capacity of the facility, we are ensuring our ability to accommodate a wide range of media production."

Campbell also pointed out on the Film Society's website that they will be acquiring more than 16,000 square feet of space in 2012 when they move in to the current National Guard building just east of the Studios.

"That's the main concern is this three year gap that we're going to be down that amount of production capacity," said Alvarado-Dykstra.

The city is expected to renew the Film Society's lease at Austin Studios this week. The company pays just one hundred dollars a year to rent the space and in return it has generated more than $600 million in film production since 2001.

The Austin Film Society will hold a public forum to discuss this issue on June 25 from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Austin Studios.