ABS-CBN Soundstage

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ABS-CBN Soundstage (Horizon IT Park)
Alternative namesHorizon IT Park
General information
StatusOperational (Parts of the area is still under on-going construction including the Horizon IT Park and the second soundstage)
TypeStudio, soundstage, broadcasting, production facility, back lots, storage, visitors center, post production facility, offices, support building
Architectural styleModern
LocationIgay Road, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
CountryPhilippines
Coordinates14°48′25.7″N 121°05′12.5″E / 14.807139°N 121.086806°E / 14.807139; 121.086806
Current tenantsABS-CBN Entertainment (Entertainment division)
ABS-CBN Films (Film production division)
Construction startedMay 2017 (Phase 1A, the second soundstage is still under construction)
Construction stoppedDecember 2018 (Phase 1A)
(Parts of the area is still under on-going construction including the Horizon IT Park and the second soundstage)
OpeningDecember 12, 2018 (Phase 1A)
InauguratedDecember 12, 2018 (Phase 1A Inauguration)
Cost₱ 700 Million (Estimated for Phase 1A each stage cost ₱ 350 Million)
₱ 6 to 7.5 Billion (Horizon IT Park, 10 Soundstages)
OwnerABS-CBN Corporation
LandlordABS-CBN Studios, Inc.
Height30 feet
Technical details
Floor count2 floors (support building; first floor which is the mezzanine floor and second floor which is the elevation floor)
Floor area1,500 m
Grounds120 ha
Design and construction
Architecture firmBastien and Associates (California), AIDEA (Philippines), with a consultants from Hollywood-based Manhattan Beach Studios
Other designersManhattan Beach Studios (Consultants)
Other information
Number of rooms40 rooms (support building; including restrooms, wardrobes and offices and facilities. Some still unassigned as of 2018)

The ABS-CBN Soundstage (Horizon IT Park) in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, is the second headquarters and production facility of ABS-CBN.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][excessive citations] It is owned by ABS-CBN Corporation and it is operated and managed by ABS-CBN Studios, Inc. The production hub will also include back lots, production and post-production facilities and offices.[8] It is a part of ABS-CBN's Horizon IT Park which sits on 7.7 hectares of land in San Jose del Monte Bulacan.[2] As of 2018, it has 2 stages in one soundstage, the first stage is the EL3 Stage, which is named after Eugenio Lopez III.[2] The other soundstage, which includes Stage 3 & 4 are still under construction.[6][5] It is used by ABS-CBN Films and ABS-CBN Entertainment. The park is planned to have 10 soundstages which consists of 20 stages each. The area also includes parking spaces, storage, visitors center, offices and other facilities, The cost of the project is estimated to be ₱ 6 to 7.5 Billion.

History[]

ABS-CBN Soundstage opened on December 12, 2018 at the San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. ABS-CBN sound stage in as kick starting efforts to build a Hollywood-caliber production hub as it marked its 65th founding anniversary on December 2018.[3][8]

In 2011, ABS-CBN announced the development of a state-of-the-art studio complex in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, which is on par with Hollywood standards for a projected cost of 6 to 7.5 billion pesos. A 120 hectare lot in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan was acquired earlier that year for 75 million pesos. In 2014, it was announced that the studio complex will consist of 10 sound stages and backlots each. The company plan to build at least two sound stages a year for a cost of 600 million pesos or 300 million pesos for each sound stage.[7]

The sound stages were inaugurated a few days shy of 50 years after the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center in Quezon City was inaugurated. It was considered the most advanced facility in Asia when it opened on December 18, 1968.

The proper of the project started in the first quarter of 2014 with its construction commenced in May 2017. The production and support teams for both TV and feature films began a three-year training program for the stages both in Hollywood and the Philippines to ensure that production processes mirror the best practices in the world.[7]

On December 12, 2018, after years of planning and training, ABS-CBN inaugurated its new state-of-the-art studio complex which is revealed to be called Horizon IT Park. The complex was designed by California-based architecture firm Bastien and Associates, Filipino firm AIDEA, with a consultants from Hollywood-based Manhattan Beach Studios. The Phase 1 of the project includes its first two sound stages sized at 1,500 square meters, with the first stage named for its chairman emeritus, Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III who is the brainchild of the new studio complex, The EL3 Stage. The complex will also include backlots, facilities for its production and post-production and offices.[4][3][2][1][8]

The first completed soundstage has two stages inside, one which is the Stage 1 or named as EL3 Stage, named after Eugenio Lopez III. And the other one simply known as Stage 2. The Phase 1 of the project includes two soundstages, each have 2 stages[6] the first two is known as Phase 1A, the soundstage also have a support building called Breezeway Production Building which contains dressing rooms, wardrobe, and storage areas.[6][5] The other soundstage which has 2 stages is still under construction beside the first soundstage. The future soundstage is still on construction and the opening of the building hasn't been announced as of 2021.[6][5] This is according to the site development plan as seen on ABS-CBN News Twitter account.[6]

The ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III, the sound stages in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan will help the Philippines' largest media and entertainment network bring its content to international audiences and cut costs at the same time.[1]

The stages is currently used by ABS-CBN Films for filming movies and ABS-CBN Entertainment for entertainment shows. It was first used by Your Moment as a "rotating theater". And by Idol Philippines dubbed and called as "Idol City", and will be the future home and studio of noontime variety show It's Showtime.[9] The new stages was also used for Ang sa Iyo ay Akin and its most anticipated fantaserye Darna. The stage is also been used by the upcoming variety show Everybody, Sing! hosted by Vice Ganda, which is filmed in February 2020 but the show was cancelled in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines and ABS-CBN's shutdown on May 5, 2020. The show is a replacement to Vice's sunday comedy talk show, Gandang Gabi, Vice! The show is expected to air again in ABS-CBN's ad interim replacement channels Kapamilya Channel and A2Z Channel 11.

Aside from the sound stages, the production hub will also include back lots, production and post-production facilities and offices.[2][1]

Parallel to the construction, production and support teams for TV and film started a 3-year training to operate the sound stages both in Hollywood and in the Philippines.[1]

The training, which involved 150 people, was designed by Manhattan Beach Studios, ABS-CBN Studios Inc. and ABS-CBN University.[1]

ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak says they want there content to be introduced in the international stage, and having a state-of-the-art facility and a world-class production team is a big step for the company towards there direction and dream.[1]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "ABS-CBN inaugurates sound stages, aims for Hollywood-caliber production". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e "TOUR: Inside ABS-CBN's enormous Horizon sound stages". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "ABS-CBN sound stages finally open in Bulacan". Buissness World. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Corporation, ABS-CBN. "ABS-CBN unveils sound stages as part of 65th year of television celebrations | ABS-CBN Corporate". ABS-CBN. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  5. ^ a b c d "ABS-CBN". Bastien and Associates. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "LOOK: ABS-CBN inaugurates two sound stages at its Horizon site in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan". Twitter. December 12, 2018. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  7. ^ a b c News, ABS-CBN (2018-12-12). "Pasilip sa bagong ABS-CBN Studios". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  8. ^ a b c "Hollywood-level sound stages inauguration marks ABS-CBN 65th anniversary". The Manila Times. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  9. ^ "Vice Ganda announces her new single, teases 'It's Showtime's' new studio!". LionhearTV. 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
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