Rantoul receiving state funding to build new soundstage
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County is getting a grant from the state of Illinois to develop a new soundstage for filmmaking.
Governor J.B. Pritzker announced $1.1 million in funding to build a soundstage in Rantoul at a news conference this morning for Flyover Film Studios.
Local filmmakers said the new space will entice more film productions to come to central Illinois.
25th Ebertfest film festival: first films, guests announced
The soundstage will be at the former Hangar One of historic Chanute Air Force Base, which is a 290,000 sq. ft. facility. The space will be able to host two 50,000 sq. ft. soundproof sets, mills to create sets and storage for equipment on multiday shoots.
“This is a big step towards developing Champaign County as a filming destination,” Jennifer Shelby, a co-founder of Shatterglass Films, said. “This will be the only soundstage of this size in Illinois outside of Chicago, and will be critical for attracting commercial and independent filmmakers to our area.”
Rantoul celebrates official transferring of Chanute Air Force Base
Unique with the proposed Rantoul stage is offering productions prebuilt staging sets.
“This will help give local filmmakers in central Illinois some additional tools to compete at a national level,” State Senator Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) said. “If we want to bring economic opportunity to our area through film, it’s important that the infrastructure is in place to make it happen.”
An additional $8.8 million in funding is going to help create soundstages in Chicago and Rock Island. State leaders say they hope the grants will expand Illinois’ film industry and attract diverse talents with different perspectives.
“The Illinois Soundstage Capital Grant will directly benefit production teams, who in turn will benefit local economies,” Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton said. “How better to share the beauty of our state than by bringing Illinois to people’s screens through film?”
Illinois breaks record for film production revenue in 2022
Flyover officials hope the soundstage will be ready for sets in Fall 2026.
More information on Champaign County’s film industry can be found on Experience Champaign-Urbana’s website.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
