Feverpitch Pictures, producer of “Just Add Water” and “The Speed of Life,” said Wednesday it will be a tenant in a planned film-production studio in Norristown, Pa.
It will be part of Norristown Studios, a 280,000-square-foot site that will include eight sound studios and complete post-production facilities.
Norristown Studios is being planned by Feverpitch Pictures co-founder Jeffrey D. Erb, film producer Kelly Wolfington and Develocom, a real estate developer.
Feverpitch plans to open Studio Centre in the site, which will be at 1810 Markley St. Norristown Studios is expected to open next year.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
It will be the first major studio to be built in Pennsylvania since the passage of state tax credits that encourage film production.
Feverpitch Pictures was founded by Pottstown, Pa.-born Erb and film-and-record producer Joe Nicolo. Along with his brother, Nicolo owned Studio 4 and Butcher Brothers in Philadelphia, and he later started Ruffhouse Records, according to online biographies.
Feverpitch will start production next month on “The Storyteller,” which will feature Wes Bentley, Katharine McPhee and Anita Briem.
“We’re looking forward to having the stages in Norristown online as soon as possible because there is a tremendous need for the studio space,” said Sharon Pinkenson, director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office. “Currently, we’re losing shows to New York that would have much preferred our lower costs. But next year we’ll be putting more locals to work in high paying jobs in the best industry in the world right here in the Greater Philadelphia area.”
Separately, the Film Office said Wednesday that a feature film, “Law Abiding Citizen,” is expected to start filming in Philadelphia in October, using City Hall and Holmesburg Prison, among other sites. It will be directed by Frank Darabont, who directed “The Green Mile” and “Shawshank Redemption,” and feature Gerald Butler of “P.S. I Love You.”
Filmmakers who spend at least 60 percent of their budget in Pennsylvania are eligible for a 25 percent tax credit, which can be applied against in-state expenses.