From coal to a dream goal: A new era for Sunderland as Hollywood comes to town

Written by on 18th July 2024

A new era for Sunderland begins as construction starts on state of the art movie studios Crown Works Studios. But what does this mean for the future of the city and how does it reflect its past?

By Liv Darville

Sunderland has historically been a big distributer across a vast number of industries, both materially, with the shipyards and the coal mines, and most recently with the media industry since the Netflix production of Fullwell 73’s “Sunderland ’til I die”. However, it has most recently come to light that the TV/ film production company Fulwell 73 in conjunction with Cain International has set plans in motion for a series of movie studios to be built at the site of the former shipyards which closed in 1988.

This brings the question of what the future of Sunderland will look like and personally it already feels like Hollywood will bring some much needed glamour. It’s undoubted that the new studios would help to encourage and develop talent in the region and certainly to support young people hoping to peruse a career in creative arts or media. Something that may have previously required a move to bigger cities such as London or Manchester. Haway the North East!

Senior Lecturer in Media & Cultural Studies in the Faculty of Arts & Creative Industries at Sunderland University, Rob Jewitt, said: “It is almost unimaginable in terms of how transformative these new studio developments are going to be for our staff and students. The sky is the limit.”

Photo credit: Fullwell 73

Indeed, there are extremely high expectations for Fulwell 73’s endeavours and they are fully aware that as the creators of hit shows such as The Kardashians, Friends: The reunion and (the best thing Netflix has seen since Twilight: Breaking Dawn) Sunderland ‘til I die, the studios will transform the city’s economy and cultivate its eco-system, something that has not been done on such scale since the opening of Nissan in the 1980s.

Rob added: “I’m very optimistic about this relationship. Fullwell73’s northern production office has been based in the university’s Media Centre for a couple of years now, and staff there are regularly invited to our Sparkie Awards ceremonies, and their founder, Leo Pearlman, was given an honorary Doctorate of Art in 2023, so I’d like to think we are on very good terms with them.

“Both sets of staff regularly chat and collaborate already, but of course, this doesn’t mean anything in the future is guaranteed. I think that as long as we keep our standards high (we have one of the best film production degrees in the country), and our graduates continue to produce creative and award-winning work, then the relationship can be mutually beneficial.”

Media and technology has not always been the focus in Sunderland, according to historians, ship building and the distribution of goods have been some of the key industries that have made Sunderland unique since the 1300s; the next biggest focus was football. I mean, wishful thinking, but it was actually coal.

As for stakeholders in the city, it’s clear to see that major players including Sunderland Council are about as excited as a kid in the sweet booth at Jackie Whites market.

A statement from Sunderland Council revealed that this new investment “will enable the North East to achieve its full creative potential, and become a major hub for big budget productions, capitalising on the productive, loyal workforce the region boasts

“An estimation of over 8,000 jobs to be available once construction is complete, leaving many great opportunities for the younger generations of Sunderland and in the UK who’s family members once spent hours in coal mines and shipyards, a career that left a huge mark in the history of the region and one we are proud to reflect on as we step into a new era of media and for the city.”

I have high hopes for the movie studios and whatever plans Leo Pearlman and the rest of Fulwell 73 have got in store for us, it makes me proud to be a Mackem and be a part of Sunderland’s future. I’m Sunderland ‘til I die.


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