Latest news with #ShadowboxStudios
Roya News
3 days ago
- Business
- Roya News
Jordan's Olivewood Studios partners with American Shadowbox Studios
American film and television production studio Shadowbox Studios has announced a new partnership with Olivewood Studios in Amman, Jordan, Deadline reported. The studio is expanding its footprint beyond its own facilities and beginning to offer studio management and consulting services to third-party operations. The move marks a significant development for both companies. Olivewood, completed in 2023, is the first purpose-built film complex in Jordan, featuring two soundstages and a backlot. Situated in the country's capital, the studio was designed to support large-scale international productions in a region already known for its cinematic appeal. "Bringing Shadowbox's global expertise to Olivewood marks a pivotal step in our growth," said Jumana Sharbin, General Manager of Olivewood Studios. "Their operational strength and industry insight will be key as we scale up and deliver world-class productions in Jordan." Shadowbox Studios is best known for operating large facilities in Atlanta and the UK, including Shinfield Studios. Under the direction of newly appointed COO Mike Mosallam, the company is now broadening its services to include strategic support for other studios — from planning and logistics to full-scale operational management. 'After visiting Jordan late last year, my team and I were astonished by the breadth of available landscapes and the production service infrastructure already in place at Olivewood,' said Mosallam, who joined the company earlier this year following roles at Apple TV+ and Netflix. 'Now with the benefit of sound stages, the Kingdom is well-positioned to house and host domestic and international productions of any size.' Jordan has long been a favored destination for filmmakers, with its unique mix of ancient heritage sites and dramatic desert backdrops. Major Hollywood productions such as Dune, The Martian, Star Wars: Episode IX, and Aladdin have all filmed in the country, capitalizing on its cinematic landscapes like Petra and Wadi Rum. Despite a recent dip in international filming interest due to regional instability following the events of October 7, 2023, Jordan's film industry is actively working to regain momentum. The Royal Film Commission (RFC) used this year's Cannes Film Festival to highlight incentives, including a boosted 45 percent cash rebate for film and television productions. Officials also hinted at a major incoming international project. The collaboration with Shadowbox is expected to strengthen Olivewood's role in positioning Jordan as a viable and attractive hub for global film production.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S.-Based Shadowbox To Oversee Jordan's Olivewood Studios Under New Partnership
EXCLUSIVE: Shadowbox has partnered with Jordan's Olivewood Studios and will manage the film studio's operations. Shadowbox Studios owns the Shadowbox Atlanta site and the sizeable Shinfield Studios facility in the UK. Under new COO Mike Mosallam it is branching out further and offering its expertise to third parties – helping them to either establish or operate their studio complexes. More from Deadline Jordan Seeks To Entice International Productions With Bolstered 45% Cash Rebate Shadowbox Studios Hires Industry Veteran Mike Mosallam As COO & Sets New Leadership Team El Gouna Film Fest Unveils Palestinian, Lebanese, Jordanian & Egyptian Talents Selected For Inaugural Cinegouna Emerge Rising Stars Initiative Olivewood was completed in 2023 and is the first purpose-built complex of its kind in Jordan. Located in the capital city of Amman, it has two soundstages and a backlot. With its world heritage sites such as Petra and desert landscapes, which include Wadi Rum, Jordan has established itself as a key MENA shooting destination over the past two decades with productions touching down in the territory including Denis Villeneuve's Dune and Dune 2, JJ Abrams' Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise Of Skywalker, and Guy Richie's Aladdin. The country's film production history stretches back to the early 1960s when it hosted the shoot of Lawrence of Arabia. Instability in the region since the October 7, 2023 attacks on Southern Israel, however, has dented its appeal to international production. Jordan's Royal Film Commission was out in force in Cannes on a drive to reboot its international locations business. It announced the country was raising its cash rebate for film and TV production to 45% and also told Deadline that a big incoming international production was on the horizon. The Shadowbox team was also in Cannes, talking up the support services it is offering studios and production, which range from planning services for producers to full studio management. 'Jordan has shown the world its incredible locations in films from Dune and Aladdin to The Martian and Star Wars, and through our exciting partnership with Shadowbox we are thrilled to expand our worldwide reach to international filmmakers,' said Raja Gargour, Chairman of Olivewood Studios in Amman. Jumana Sharbin, the General Manager of Olivewood, added: 'Bringing Shadowbox's global expertise to Olivewood marks a pivotal step in our growth. Their operational strength and industry insight will be key as we scale up and deliver world-class productions in Jordan.' Mosallam joined Shadowbox earlier this year after stints at Apple TV+ and Netflix. He has put together a new leadership team and one priority was ramping up work with other studios such as Olivewood. 'After visiting Jordan late last year, my team and I were astonished by the breadth of available landscapes and the production service infrastructure already in place at Olivewood,' he said. 'Now with the benefit of sound stages, the Kingdom is well-positioned to house and host domestic and international productions of any size.' Melanie Goodfellow contributed to this article. Best of Deadline 'Hacks' Season 4 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Everything We Know About 'Hacks' Season 4 So Far 'The Last Of Us': Differences Between HBO Series & Video Game Across Seasons 1 And 2
