This is from our X Article about our proposal to partner with Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery to build “Babs Do Studios – Tennessee” in response to Tennessee’s offer for Paramount/WBD relocating from California due to the current California-led lawsuit against their merger. The article also includes our proposed Universal Film Tax Credit Bill-based legislation for Tennessee’s unique film grant incentive system, the “Tennessee Film & Media Infrastructure Grant Act” which has been designed as a companion grant program to build up local Film & Media business, industry, and infrastructure.
X Article
As the case against the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery continues to go on and further examination and logic continues to lead to the case being out of political-based ire rather than legitimate concerns for jobs, business, and consumer protections, we and many others await the pivotal decision regarding Paramount/WBD’s possible move from California to Tennessee (or any other state) which could have an even greater affect on the industry than their merger!
@paramountco @ParamountPic @wbd @warnerbros @Skydance @tnentertains @CommishTNECD @TNECD
So far, the only state that has stepped forward for Paramount/WBD has been Tennessee. It is a great state for entertainment and their support for Film & Media has been excellent which is why it has been on our list for Babs Do Studios for some time. To coincide with this potential move by Paramount/WBD, we have put forward a proposal for “Babs Do Studios – Tennessee” to be a purpose built studio campus option for Paramount/WBD should they do indeed decide to move all of their operations to Tennessee. This directly builds off of our previous partnership proposal during the early competing merger talks with Netflix, Paramount, and WBD which now shows a partnership with Babs Do Studios and Babs Do Productions for “Hollywood 2.0” has remained very relevant and has become even more practical if not vital for studio business and job creation going forward.
Babs Do Studios presents the most economical and quick to build high-tech studio option to make for a swift and decisive move for Paramount/WBD to relocate. Being universally scalable and adaptable, with enough investment, the highest levels of Babs Do Studios’ campus development become possible with 20+ sound stages, office spaces, theater spaces, and more and at a fraction of the price traditional studio construction methods would cost and built within months! As land options range from 30 Acres to 450+ Acres almost anywhere across the state, Tennessee offers a wide variety of land options to build one or even multiple studio campuses that can be built to fit the massive productions from Paramount/WBD but also the vast array of new-age independent projects by Babs Do Productions!
This single development decision could make for three major production studios moving to Tennessee at the same time, bringing in major studio production, next-gen independent production, and Film & Media education together within a brand new system in order to instantly establish a new “Hollywood 2.0” industry! The state will see a massive boost of economic activity and development that will provide strong workforce, jobs, business, and industry growth in a relatively short time with long-term scalable business being secured with room for more. Despite the negative commentary against the Paramount/WBD merger, a collaborative partnership like this with Babs Do Studios would make all concerns over job losses and competition a decidedly moot point by creating a new competitive studio, a new production hub within one or more states outside California, and a new major production entity in Babs Do Studios to provide new infrastructure, services, and productions alike with long-term plans to expand across multiple states and potentially nationwide.
To meet the demand of this development and to aid its growth, we have also drafted a bill proposal for the “Tennessee Film & Media Infrastructure Grant Act”. This bill takes off from the current Tennessee Entertainment Commission Production Incentive grant program and expands it to include new grants for Film & Media Infrastructure projects! By creating a separate grant program for Film & Media Infrastructure, this creates a local business and industry-creating opportunity for Tennessee that is similar to the tax credit innovations represented in our revolutionary Universal Film Tax Credit Bill that we are currently campaigning for in Nevada with proposals sent to other states for consideration as well. With this legislation in place, Tennessee would become a new home for Film & Media business and industry with the incentive options in place to keep and grow business within the state independently of California’s Hollywood industry and visiting Hollywood productions.
As the lawsuit against Paramount/WBD continues with its new 14-Day halt to the merger and with deadlines soon approaching that could cost Paramount several hundreds of millions of dollars with no benefits translating to the U.S. Entertainment Industry or the parties the lawsuit seeks to protect, critical decisions will have to soon be made during and after the lawsuit that could shape the future direction of the industry which is clearly showing a move away from California and the Old Hollywood system. Whether Paramount/WBD decide on relocating to Tennessee or not, we have options and solutions with Babs Do Studios and our Universal Film Tax Credit Bills that could provide the same benefits anywhere Paramount/WBD could want to relocate.
We ask for your support of our collaborative partnership proposal with Babs Do Studios and Paramount/WBD, our Universal Film Tax Credit Bill at the state and federal levels, and our newly proposed Tennessee Film & Media Infrastructure Grant Bill as we, and the entire U.S. Entertainment Industry, move closer to the next generation of entertainment with “Hollywood 2.0”!
Interested investors and parties involved can reach out to us by our contact Email at: Contact@babsdostudios.com
Below is the current initial draft of the Tennessee Film & Media Infrastructure Grant Bill that we would seek support for in 2027:
Bill Proposal
TENNESSEE FILM & MEDIA INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT ACT
AN ACT to create the Tennessee Film & Media Infrastructure Grant Program to support the development of permanent film, television, animation, and digital media facilities in the State of Tennessee; to protect U.S. jobs in animation, visual effects, and post-production; and to provide for the administration of grants by the Tennessee Entertainment Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
Section 1. Short Title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Tennessee Film & Media Infrastructure Grant Act.”
Section 2. Findings and Purpose. The General Assembly finds and declares that the development of permanent, high-quality film, television, animation, and digital media infrastructure is essential to long-term economic growth, job creation, and Tennessee’s ability to attract major production companies and studio operations. A targeted grant program for infrastructure will complement the existing production grant program and help establish Tennessee as a leading destination for content creation while protecting American jobs.
Section 3. Definitions. As used in this act, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) “Qualified infrastructure project” means the construction, expansion, renovation, equipping, or improvement of facilities primarily used for the production, post-production, distribution, or exhibition of film, television, animation, visual effects, or other digital media content. This includes, but is not limited to, studios, soundstages, post-production facilities, animation and visual effects facilities, exhibition venues, movie theaters, screening rooms, and related infrastructure located in Tennessee. (b) “Qualified capital investment” means costs directly related to a qualified infrastructure project, including land acquisition, building construction or renovation, equipment, and supporting infrastructure. (c) “Commission” means the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission. (d) “Department” means the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
Section 4. Creation of Grant Program. There is created within the Commission a grant program to provide financial assistance for qualified infrastructure projects. The program shall be administered by the Commission in coordination with the Department. No new board or agency is created.
Section 5. Grant Amounts and Limits. (a) Grants awarded under this act may equal up to twenty-five percent (25%) of qualified capital investment. (b) The maximum grant for any single project shall not exceed thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000), unless a higher amount is approved by the General Assembly for a project of exceptional statewide significance. (c) Total grants awarded in any fiscal year shall be subject to available appropriations.
Section 6. Eligibility Requirements. To be eligible for a grant under this act, a project must: (a) Demonstrate a significant positive economic impact on Tennessee, including the creation of permanent jobs. (b) Commit to the long-term operation of the facility in Tennessee. (c) For any animation, visual effects, digital post-production, or similar services associated with the project or the future operations of the facility, ensure that such work is performed in the United States by individuals who are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States, or by businesses organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof.
Section 7. Application and Scoring Criteria. (a) Applications shall be submitted to the Commission on forms prescribed by the Commission. (b) Applications shall be scored based on the following criteria: (1) Number and quality of permanent jobs to be created in Tennessee; (2) Use of Tennessee residents and Tennessee vendors; (3) Projected long-term economic return to the State; (4) Commitment to long-term operation of the facility in Tennessee; (5) Location in rural or economically distressed areas (if applicable); and (6) Overall contribution to Tennessee’s film, television, and digital media ecosystem.
Section 8. Anti-Outsourcing and U.S. Jobs Protection. (a) Any grant agreement shall include provisions requiring that animation, visual effects, and digital post-production work associated with the facility or its operations be performed in the United States by United States citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States, or by businesses organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof. (b) The applicant shall provide, as part of the final project audit or reporting, documentation sufficient to verify the location where such work was performed and the citizenship or residency status of the personnel performing the work. (c) Non-compliance with subsection (a) may result in clawback of grant funds or denial of future grants.
Section 9. Right-to-Work and Voluntary Participation Protection. Nothing in this act shall be construed to require union membership, the payment of union dues, or any other action prohibited by Tennessee’s right-to-work laws. Any reporting or transparency requirements regarding workforce composition shall be limited to aggregate data and shall not mandate or favor union participation.
Section 10. Reporting and Accountability. Recipients of grants under this act shall submit annual reports to the Commission detailing job creation, operations, capital investment, and compliance with the U.S. workforce requirements in Section 8. The Commission shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly summarizing the program’s activities, job creation, and compliance with U.S. jobs protections.
Section 11. Effective Date. This act takes effect upon becoming law, and grants may be awarded for qualified infrastructure projects beginning on or after January 1, 2027.