Paramount Studios deny plans to build a theme park and studios in Murcia

Paramount Studios deny interest in Murcia

Paramount Studios deny plans to build a theme park and studios in Murcia A spokesman from Paramount Studios is today denying that the company has any interest in building a theme park in the region of Murcia.

The EFE Press Agency say that they have interviewed a Paramount spokesman who made the following statement

"Paramount Pictures dont have any plans to develop a themed Paramount film services park, or production studios in Spain , " he said.

He said that the company had decided to make their statement following heavy media interest and deny that the company have any commercial interest in Murcia.

He said that he doesnt know who it was that President of the Region Ramon Luis Valcarcel and Minister of Culture Pedro Cruz met when they went to Dubai, although press photos clearly show the Minister and President meeting with the Ruwaad consultancy who specialize in signature developments in conjunction with major partners. The text below is from their website

Ruwaad has established a long-term partnership with Paramount Pictures Licensing. The agreement includes the rights to roll out entertainment and theme parks in different countries. The partnership also gives Ruwaad access to the vast Paramount Pictures legendary catalogue of intellectual properties, which includes Academy Award-winning films like Titanic, Braveheart, Forrest Gump and The Godfather. With a strategic entertainment partner like Paramount, Ruwaad will add the vital ingredient of imagination and fantasy, creating dream destinations for visitors, residents, tenants and employees alike.

Theyre also rather big in golf courses.We know a local company that has one or two that need re-financing.

Ruwaad do work in conjunction WITH Paramount, but theyre NOT Paramount, so the representatives "from Paramount" who are looking at the region and carrying out the first feasibility studies are obviously from Ruwaad, not Paramount, and should their findings be positive, then the financial possibilities of bringing the studios to Spain can be properly explored and investigated.

The Minister of Culture, Pedro Cruz, had asked for "responsibility" from the media and fellow politicians of all parties following a rash of inaccurate reporting and wild speculation, which claims that this is a done deal, stating on the 10^th March that, "this project is much more than ideology and political parties. We are talking about making the region and you cant say in the first instance that its not viable without knowing what youre talking about. First of all you have to get the information."

Today he said that nothing had changed and things were following their natural course.

The Minister has been mocked and criticised by opposition politicians who almost want to see the plan doomed before it even started, and who, in the traditional fashion of opposition party politicians immediately demanded his resignation.

The Minister made it quite clear in his interview on the 10^th that once viability studies were completed, the work could be carried out to assess the economic feasibility of a project of this magnitude, taking into account all the economic conditions which would undoubtedly be attached to its arrival in this region. Investment could only be sought once all aspects of the project had been assessed and discussed.

In times of economic hardship we are all desperate to see a glimmer of hope and some sign that things will get better, so the excitement of the media and all those who own property in the region has been intense following the initial announcements about the studies being undertaken.

Polaris World yesterday managed to negotiate a further month to clear their debts following renewed interest from overseas buyers in properties here, undoubtedly fuelled by the media frenzy over this theme park.

Whether it happens or not, opposition politicians should be thanking the Minister for Culture who has put the word Murcia on the lips of millions who had never even heard of the place before any of this happened.

Murcia is now known internationally as somewhere thats good enough for Paramount to be looking at, so who knows what else will come out of the noise he has created.

Publicists the world over will tell you the same thing. Promotion is about making noise, and lots of it, and Pedro Cruz is certainly very adept at doing precisely that on a worldwide scale.

Does anybody happen to know the names of any of the opposition politicians by the way?