Business
Business

Should S. Georgia officials cut bait on massive movie complex plans?

By Matt Kempner
Sept 4, 2015

Georgia has gotten big into movie making, and production sites are popping up. But none are as big as what a company that goes by two names, Moon River Studios and FONU2, says it will do in Effingham County near Savannah.

Like any great drama, there are risks and rewards.

Moon River says it will create lots of jobs and turn moving-making into a production line operation not unlike making cars.

A local development authority gave the company a sweetheart lease on more than 1,500 acres of public land, tax free and with no rent for the first two years.

But the project is far behind schedule. Construction of the first building has yet to begin, and Moon River doesn’t have enough money to keep operating for long, much less to build studios.

A happy ending is far from certain.

ExploreFind out more about the drama in Matt Kempner’s Unofficial Business column on myAJC.com.

About the Author

Matt Kempner is an award-winning journalist who seeks out intriguing twists about people and subjects beyond what the AJC might typically cover. A former columnist and editor, his past assignments have included business investigations, energy, the economy, entrepreneurs, big business, consumer spending, politics, government and the environment.

Follow Matt Kempner on facebookFollow Matt Kempner on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

As artificial intelligence reshapes the world, tasks usually performed by entry-level employees can be done by AI. Two Georgia organizations are helping the financial technology industry by providing training for a post-AI world. (Illustration: Philip Robibero/AJC)

Credit: Illustration: Philip Robibero/AJC

AI is reshaping fintech jobs. Georgia is building the talent to match.

Financial technology is the backbone of commerce and a pillar of Georgia’s economy, and it’s one that could be disrupted by artificial intelligence.

Why Big Tech sees Georgia farmland as ripe for data centers

As areas around Atlanta have moved to curtail data center development, tech giants are scouring rural areas to plant massive server farms.

What you need to know about the Netflix bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery

The blockbuster deal, totaling about $72 billion, will create a combined portfolio of many of Hollywood’s best known properties.

2h ago

The Latest

A new kind of hybrid, called e-Power, is coming to the U.S. from Nissan. Courtesy of Nissan

Credit: Courtesy of Nissan

OPINION

Nissan’s e-Power: An EV driving experience, fueled by gas

2h ago
OPINION

December car sales are good but not magic

In the market for a luxury vehicle? You might reconsider Lincoln.

Featured

Ja’Quon Stembridge, shown here in July at the Henry County Republican Party monthly meeting, recently stepped from his position with the Georgia GOP. (Jenni Girtman for the AJC)

Credit: Jenni Girtman

A viral confrontation and a sudden resignation shake up Georgia GOP

The man behind the vigilante sting operation that apparently netted a teenage GOP official says he has no regrets.

Why the Atlanta school board voted to close and repurpose some schools

Sixteen schools will be repurposed under the APS Forward 2040 plan as enrollment falls and the district seeks better resources for students.

Small-town Georgia DA brings almost as many RICO cases as Fulton’s Fani Willis

Griffin Judicial Circuit has brought 13 RICO indictments since June 2020.