The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority approved a revised master plan and development schedule for Medient's $90 million movie production and entertainment complex Thursday night with the CEO saying the project is "back at square one."

Medient announced that Shore Development and Construction LLC from North Charleston, S.C., will be the contractor for the project.

"We're just now starting back at square one," IDA CEO John Henry said. "Everything that's been done to this point is essentially reset except the trigger dates for jobs created and investments made."

Medient CEO and Chairman of the Board Manu Kumaran said he's tired of "projecting things that don't happen or the dates go back" and he believes having a contractor with in-house architects and engineers means the project will move more smoothly from now on.

Kumaran said Medient has a hybrid structure in place for financing, including short-term loans, "structuring" with Shore and bank financing.

He said Shore and its sister company, Titan Atlas Global, provide the ability to construct buildings that are wind and earthquake resistant, as well as soundproof.

"It's way cheaper and a whole lot quicker" than traditional building methods, Kumaran said. He said Shore and Titan are doing for construction what Medient hopes to do to the movie industry - streamlining processes and saving money.

The board's unanimous motion to approve the changes said the documents are accepted "pending the issuance of a letter from HGBD (Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung, the IDA's engineers) stating that items of concern … have been satisfactorily addressed and written acknowledgement that some project deadlines have changed but other deadlines remain intact."

The motion calls for the IDA attorney to prepare the acknowledgement and for it to be signed by the IDA and Medient.

The revised master plan calls for the movie studio to be the sole focus in phase one. Phase two calls for a parking structure and corporate office. Phase three calls for housing, hotels, retail and a multiplex/gaming center.

Phase four includes a second studio, high-end retail and the Leaf outdoor amphitheater.

Kumaran said construction should begin in eight weeks.

Jeremy Blackburn, president of Shore and CEO of Titan, said the goal is to finish the movie studio in about a year.

"Now that we have a contractor on board, I'm very optimistic about it," said IDA Chairman Dennis Webb. "It's been a struggle."

Medient has a 20-year lease on the IDA's 1,600-acre property at Old River Road in Effingham County, with an option to purchase for $100 at the end of the term.

Titan Atlas Global LLC and Shore Development and Construction LLC are privately held corporations, based at 4280 Pace Street in North Charleston, S.C.