Thursday, May 31, 2007

Titanic Studio Sold in Mexico

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslett in Titanic


The Rosarita, Mexico, studio where sea-faring films such as Titanic, Master and Commander, Pearl Harbor and Tomorrow Never Dies were filmed, has been sold.

Baja Studios, formerly owned by Twentieth Century Fox, was sold to an investment group called Baja Acquisitions for eight figures.

An attorney for Baja Acquisitions would not reveal the new owners or their plans for the 46-acre oceanfront studio.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, “The studio's activities spread economic activity across the border region. Extras and crew members were hired from throughout Baja California and San Diego. Materials, supplies and services were purchased on both sides of the border.

“Movie stars, directors and others connected with productions rented houses, condos and villas during filming.

Titanic contributed more than $60 million to the cross-border region during the nine months that production was under way, Baja Studios general manager Charles Arneson said at the time.”

Since 2000 the studios have become a tourist attraction with the addition of a museum for Titanic props. Retail and restaurants around the studio took on the Titanic moniker and theme.