Magyar News, 2004. szeptember-2005. augusztus (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2004-10-01 / 2. szám

HUNGARIAN SPELLING €f HCLILYWODI) IIS EYYEIK

Bird s eye view of the village with the Catholic church

A historical wine region famous for its white wines will keep the good taste and use it to toast world renowned actors and movie makers. This little town of 3700 people just 16 miles from Budapest is getting ready to to place their name, Etyek, with huge letters onto the map of the world. Well deservingly because not only did they produce the wine for the famous Törley Champaign, but replace the old infrastructure, paved roads, water supply, waste management, natural gas supply, telephone, and cable tv.

Stefan Bos, RealAudio, gave an extended account on how progress is being made under the title: “Hungary to Build World's Largest Film Studio Complex”

“Central Europe is to get its own version of Hollywood under a plan developed by the Hungarian government and some investors. They want to build the world's largest film studio complex in this Hungarian village. Officials say the new complex, which will cost an estimated $180 million to build, will include luxury apartments for movie stars and a deluxe hotel, in addition to the extensive studio facilities with seven stages.

Seventeen hectares have been reserved for the project, which will have its own landing pad for helicopters. Construction is scheduled to start next year.

Among the key financiers is Hungarian-born Hollywood producer Andrew Vajna, who made films such as Evita, Rambo 3 and Terminator 3, and many others

The Protestant church

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Mr. Vajna said that Hungary will soon be able to compete with Hollywood studios, and he hopes films such as the famous series about the fictional British secret service agent James Bond will soon be made on Hungarian soil.

"Well, it is a way to be different than Hollywood I think," he said. "From Hollywood, you know, the [James] Bond movies had to go to England to shoot. Hopefully now they will go to Hungary. The Hollywood studios were built in the 1940s so they are rather old. And I think this will have as good if not better, technology."

Mr. Vajna also points out that Central and Eastern Europe are already attracting Hollywood producers and stars, partly because of much lower labor costs.

For instance, he filmed the most crucial scenes of the movie Evita with pop diva Madonna in Budapest, even though the film was set in Argentina. And film star Nicole Kidman's movie Cold Mountain was made in neighboring Romania, although its setting was the United States.

Etyek's 56-year-old mayor, Lajos Kalman, is smiling. He says he never expected that his village would become famous.

The town hall is imbedded in a garden millioux