State's First Film, TV Studio Breaks Ground In Devens

State officials joined New England Studios Tuesday on the grounds of the former military base in Devens to usher in what will be a massive, state-of-the-art film and television studio complex.

If all goes as planned it will contain four 18,000-square-foot sound stages, post-production facilities and office space.

Lisa Strout, director of the Massachusetts Film Office, was at Tuesday's ceremony and said after the commonwealth's film tax credit, building-related infrastructure is the "next step" for the movie business here.

"It changes things for the types of movies that can film in Massachusetts," she explained. "To have infrastructure means that there can be large builds of sets," which Strout said will help more lucrative Hollywood productions to the state while creating jobs for Massachusetts residents.