Woman Behind Dixon Movie Studio Project Says Her Team Is Moving Forward Despite Setbacks
DIXON (CBS13) — In March, Dixon's city manager, Jim Lindley, was dreaming of movie-star fame. But three months later, plans for a $2.8 billion movie studio are quickly becoming a story that may not have a happy ending.
Residents are frustrated that Carissa Carpenter's past financial troubles and six failed movie-studio projects are unfolding in a plot that neighbors no longer want to watch.
"It's kind of disappointing that the folds we trust with our city government didn't do their homework," said Drew Graskin.
In a phone interview, Carpenter says problems uncovered recently are inaccurate and vows that her movie-making team is moving forward.
"We do and are not going to run, nor have we ever run from anything," she said in a CBS13 phone interview. "Our goal is to get this thing built, and we will."
But Carpenter does admit she has lost a key producer, who worked with famed filmmaker George Lucas on Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies. But with or without that producer, Lucas told CBS13 he is leery of carpenter's project.
"How many directors want to live there and make movies there?" Lucas said. "That actually makes it happen. You can't build a studio and hope they will come. Last thing you want is a studio, because it's a bad piece of real estate."
According to Carpenter, that real estate now spans 500-plus acres on the west side of Dixon. But the land agreements have not been finalized and no money has changed hands.
