Colonial Studios was located in the Studio City district of Night City.
History[]
Early history - 2010s[]
Established at some point after the founding of Night City, these film studios were a major production facility until the late 2010s, when an unknown arsonist started a fire that destroyed Studio C and its soundstage, and killed two security guards who were trapped in the flames. Due to this tragic fire and a rash of financial setbacks, it was necessary for the owners to sell as a corporate cost-cutting measure.
Shortly after those events, a foreign investment group led by Magretta Cippolina purchased the property and turned it into the new home of Colonial Pictures. She was interested in making these facilities a state of the art holographic and braindance studios.[1]
2020s[]
By 2020, these old facilities were considered a waste of space by many residents in Night City, with some believing Colonial should move out of the city proper. The film studio, however, was not planning to do so, as they had a 50 year lease from the city and were planning on staying. Renovation and repair were underway and due for completion in May of 2022. Even with construction all around, several new productions were being shot. Unfortunately, many local corporations had plans for developing the area, and thought the old facility was in their way. There were many "accidents" in the studio, and Colonial executives believed they were behind it, though the corps always excused themselves.
Without the notice of Colonial personnel, a group of "undergrounders" moved into the abandoned Studio C's basement by digging tunnels into it from a nearby closed-down sewer. With around forty members, these homeless individuals set up a shop, producing unlicensed filter masks and pollution protection clothing for their fellow undergrounders.[1]
Layout[]
The building's numbered from 1 to 7: Main Offices (1), Studio A (2), Studio B (3), Studio C (4), Warehouse A (5), Warehouse B (6), Post Production (7)
Security at Colonial Studios consisted of uniformed studio guards and two-man walking patrols around the property. A fourteen-foot chain-link fence surrounded the facilities, with entrances at 21st Street and Sterling Avenue in the western side. The fence was equipped with weight and vibration sensors, and anyone attempting to climb or cut it would receive electrical shocks at three second intervals while the guards responded to the location of the trespass.[1]
Main Business Offices[]
Located at the western middle section, these three buildings housed the business offices of Colonial Pictures. The building fronting Sterling Avenue was architecturally reminiscent of the big studios of the 1940's, but the remaining offices were purely functional in style. Personnel, payroll, legal, and production duties were all carried out in these office spaces.[1]
Post Production Building[]
Located at the eastern middle section, this facility handled all technical post-production work such as editing, sound mixing, and computer generated special effects. Braindance programs were also edited here. "State of the art" neural response translation equipment was set up for full-scale production of alternate reality interface chips.[1]
Studios[]
Studio A, the large southwestern building, housed most of the television production facilities for Colonial. In 2020, there were at present two game shows and a daytime melodrama being shot for syndicated broadcast by several major networks.
Studio B, the large northwestern building, housed the soundstage, which in 2020 was being renovated to accommodate holographic and interfacing technology.
Studio C, the large southeastern building, was where the fire had occurred, and it was nothing but a gutted shell of a building. Ever since the incident, this structure was awaiting demolition and Colonial planned to use the space in a future project. There was a temporary wooden construction wall around it, and accessing the damaged structure was be very dangerous since it could collapse at any time. The building's basement was not damaged by the fire itself, only by water.[1]
Warehouses[]
Warehouse A, the long left building in the northeast, was used to house props, electrical equipment, boom cranes, studio vehicles, and all manner of gear and paraphernalia used in the production of television and film.
Warehouse B, the long right building in the northeast, was used to house wardrobe and technical services. Furnishings, scenery, props, and weapons were created here for use on sets in other soundstages on the studio lot. Makeup and special FX were also designed here and tested before being used in production.[1]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 PONDSMITH, M. Night City Sourcebook. Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1991. (pp.24,56,160–162)