GREAT POINT STUDIOS AND THE NEW JERSEY PERFORMING  ARTS CENTER PARTNER WITH LIONSGATE TO OPEN 12 ACRE  TV AND FILM COMPLEX IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 

LIONSGATE STUDIOS NEWARK 

Newark, NJ (May 17, 2022) – Great Point Studios, a studio investment/management  business specializing in film and television infrastructure, and The New Jersey Performing  Arts Center (NJPAC), Newark’s anchor cultural and civic institution, today announced a  partnership with global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) to build a major  new production facility in Newark. The facility will be owned and operated by Great Point  Studios. As the facility’s long-term anchor tenant, Lionsgate will receive naming rights to  the studio. NJPAC will manage public affairs and community relations for the studio and  create educational programs and internships for Newark high school and college students. 

The facility will be the first purpose-built studio in New Jersey specifically constructed for  TV and film production. It will be located in Newark’s South Ward at the site of the former  Seth Boyden Housing site, which is conveniently located near Newark Liberty International  Airport, the Port of Newark, NJ TRANSIT, the PATH system, and several major highways.  Operations are expected to begin in late 2024. 

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s active encouragement, in addition to the recently  passed legislation on film and television incentives, were instrumental in attracting Lionsgate  to New Jersey

“One of my administration’s priorities has been to enhance New Jersey’s film industry and  create new revenue streams for our State,” said Governor Murphy. “With the addition of the  Lionsgate Newark Studio, New Jersey will cement its position as a hub for television and  film production with its proximity to all forms of transportation and access to more than  14,000 qualified union members in the region. As a result, the introduction of the Lionsgate  Newark Studio not only promotes the economic vitality of our state, but also provides good  jobs and access to opportunity for all South Ward community members.” 

“Bringing a project of this magnitude into Newark is a monumental victory for our city,” said  Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. “It will bring hundreds of new jobs, create new educational  opportunities for our students, and invigorate the revitalization of the South Ward.” 

Great Point Studios founder Robert Halmi called upon decades of experience as founder of  the Hallmark Channel and a producer of more than 400 film & television projects to create a  facility that fits the needs of today’s television and film productions.

The 300,000 square-foot, full-service, modern entertainment complex will include production  stages ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 square feet, offices, support space and parking for 400  cars and 65 trucks. The facility will offer a full set of production services on site, including  grip and electric, equipment, props, set building, restaurants, location catering, cleaning  service, and security. It is anticipated to create more than 600 new long-term jobs, with  priority for positions going to residents of Newark, and generate more than $800M of annual  economic impact for Newark and New Jersey. 

“We have a shared vision for the future of the entertainment industry, and it’s reflected in  every detail we put into this complex,” said Founder & CEO of Great Point Studios  Robert Halmi. “Given the rise in studio production post-Covid, we are confident that  expanding our studio program into New Jersey will be a welcome addition.” 

“This is a great opportunity to scale our East Coast studio footprint with our partners at Great  Point Studios and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center to support our robust film &  television production,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. “Lionsgate Studios Newark is  also an important part of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, enabling us to  create hundreds of jobs, provide educational opportunities to local students and contribute to  the economic revitalization of the South Ward of Newark.” 

NJPAC originated the idea for the project with the City of Newark and the Newark Housing  Authority, developed a coalition of partners, and collaborated to bring the project to public  announcement. 

“NJPAC continually seeks opportunities to act as a catalyst for economic development in its  home city of Newark,” said NJPAC CEO John Schreiber. “We are grateful to Mayor  Baraka and the Newark Housing Authority for embracing our project to bring a world class  film studio back to the city where celluloid movie film was invented and to Governor  Murphy for creating tax incentives to make New Jersey more attractive to the film industry  and especially for the development of studios, like Lionsgate Newark. Without their  collective efforts, this project wouldn’t have seen the light of day.” 

The 12-acre, $125 million-plus facility will be owned by a joint venture between Great Point  Studios and its institutional financial partner, Lindsay Goldberg, a private investment firm  focused on partnering with entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses to help them grow.  Matrix Development will serve as the project developer and Gensler, a global architecture,  design and planning firm with more than 3,500 active clients, has signed on to lead the way  with architecture and master planning. 

ABOUT LIONSGATE 

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television  studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a  unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company’s  film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by a  17,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A  digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the  Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences  worldwide.

ABOUT GREAT POINT STUDIOS 

Great Point Studios is a media-focused investment fund specializing in film and television  infrastructure. It was founded by Robert Halmi and Fehmi Zeko. They are presently  expanding into new studio investment/management businesses in other locations in North  America and the U.K. 

Robert Halmi is the founder of the Hallmark Channel and was Chairman of Crown Media.  Robert has been the Chief Executive Officer of four public companies. As President and  CEO of Hallmark Entertainment, Robert transformed the business from a small production  company into one of the first modern studios, with production, distribution and broadcast all  in one company. Under Halmi’s leadership, Hallmark Entertainment produced over 2,000  hours of original content. Halmi is an active member of the Academy of Television Arts &  Sciences and serves on the board of the International Emmy Committee. 

Fehmi Zeko has established a record of helping global technology, media and  telecommunications clients build strong companies and deliver profitable growth through  landmark M&A, turnaround and growth initiatives. Fehmi has led the banking strategies in  global communications, media, entertainment and telecom at Bank of America, Macquarie  Capital and Citigroup. Fehmi has had consistent success providing operating advice and  capital to drive the completion of hundreds of transactions and raising hundreds of billions in  equity and debt capital. He has built, led and/or expanded market sector practices in leading  institutions through long-standing corporate relationships with clients such as Viacom,  Lionsgate, Newscorp, Fox, Time-Warner, Comcast NBCUniversal, Cablevision, Disney,  CBS, Yahoo, Facebook, Sony, Warner Music, Thomson Reuters, Bertelsmann, Vivendi,  Sprint, American Tower, Apollo, Bain, TPG, KKR, TH Lee and Blackstone, among others. 

ABOUT NJPAC 

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New  Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States. It is the artistic,  cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey — where great performances and events  enhance and transform lives every day. As New Jersey’s town square, NJPAC brings diverse  communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best  artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its  extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts  enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 10 million visitors (including almost 2 million  children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships  with each of its constituents. Visit www.njpac.org for more information. 

ABOUT LINDSAY GOLDBERG 

Lindsay Goldberg is a private investment firm that focuses on partnering with families,  founders and management teams seeking to actively build their businesses. Since 2001,  Lindsay Goldberg has raised more than $17 billion of equity capital and has invested in over 50 platform companies and over 250 follow-on opportunities. For more information, visit www.lindsaygoldbergllc.com. 

ABOUT MATRIX DEVELOPMENT GROUP 

Matrix Development Group is a privately held, full-service real estate investment and  development company with offices in New Jersey. The company is an active investor and

developer of commercial, industrial, residential, and golf and hospitality properties  throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. Since its founding in 1979, the company  has developed a multi-billion dollar real estate portfolio that has been recognized for its  leadership by numerous charitable, community and real estate organizations. 

ABOUT GENSLER 

Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 50 locations across Asia,  Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Founded in 1965, the firm serves more  than 3,300 active clients in virtually every industry. Technology innovations, new consumer  behaviors, and the impact of the global health crisis are driving media workplaces, studios,  newsrooms, and campuses to embrace change. Gensler partners with clients to deliver  tailored design solutions that are purpose-built to adapt to new expectations. We create  compelling workplaces that help industry-leading media clients attract creative talent, create  a rewarding workplace experience and connected culture, and forge new territory while  staying rooted in authenticity. Gensler’s media clients include NFL Media, DreamWorks,  Comcast, Washington Post, New York Times, Conde Nast, and Audacy. 

Architectural renderings of the studio are available here.

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Media Inquiries: 

Peter Wilkes  
Lionsgate 
Pwilkes@lionsgate.com 
310-255-3726 

Daniela Sapkar  
Great Point Studios 
daniela.markoska@sapkarpr.com 
646-644-4418

Karen Kessler  
NJPAC 
kkessler@kesslerpr.com 
908-322-1100