The production company is working with Cain International and Sunderland City Council to develop Crown Works Studios on the banks of the Wear and create more than 8,000 jobs in the region.
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00:00 And obviously you're part of the company that's putting together the plans for the studio
00:03 development here in Sunderland.
00:05 How are things going?
00:06 Fantastically well.
00:07 We've had a great couple of days.
00:09 Every time I come up here I'm reminded of just the scale of the project, the scale of
00:16 the ambition, the vision, but also the fact that we're surrounded by the most incredible
00:20 partners from North East Green and the council, from the colleges and the universities, from
00:26 the people on the street, everyone wants this to happen and we're going to do our very best
00:31 to deliver it.
00:32 And you've been here at the Stadium of Light today to pitch the project effectively to
00:35 some of the local businesses etc.
00:38 What's the reaction been?
00:39 The reaction is astoundingly positive at every turn.
00:42 I keep on being told that this is going to change the region, regenerate it, it's going
00:47 to make such a significant impact and difference to Sunderland and that's what's driving us.
00:52 This would be my personal proudest achievement of all if we manage to pull this off, if we
00:57 manage to turn Sunderland and the North East region into a centre for creative production,
01:02 film and high end TV, that would make me incredibly proud.
01:06 And what do you think it could mean for the city itself?
01:09 In simple terms for this city we're talking 8,500 new jobs, you're talking 350 million
01:13 of annual GVA, you're talking about changing the face of the city.
01:17 It's that dramatic.
01:18 It's as big if not bigger than Nissan in the 80s.
01:22 That's the scale of the ambition.
01:24 And a lot of people say it sounds fantastic but they can't see it happening.
01:29 How confident are we?
01:30 I have a real problem with people saying that they can't see it happening.
01:34 I think that's an unfortunate characteristic of this city for a long time, that people
01:38 don't believe enough.
01:39 We're going to do our best, we're going to try and pull this off.
01:42 I think three years ago when we announced it we were met with incredibly, I forget that,
01:48 whatever that word is.
01:49 Incredulity.
01:50 Three years ago when we announced this project we were met with incredulity.
01:54 I think if we fast forward to this point and see where we are and how close we are, then
01:58 everyone now needs to just simply believe.
02:01 And it's part of a much wider regeneration of the city as well, isn't it?
02:04 Absolutely.
02:05 What's going on in this city is absolutely mind blowing.
02:07 If you look at where we are now compared to five or ten years ago, what the council have
02:11 done, what the local investment has done to this city is quite remarkable.
02:15 (slurping)