Producers of "Splash," a new ABC celebrity diving show, will pay Riverside City College $332,500 to use the Riverside Aquatics Complex, and three student programs on campus will share in a $10,000 donation.
The fees are detailed in the contract between the college and one of the production companies, which the college released March 7, in response to a state Public Records Act request filed by The Press-Enterprise.
College district spokesman Jim Parsons said that rental fees or other outside income helps the college spend more of its other money on students.
Rental fees for any college facility go into a fund that pays for any RCC staff needed during the event, as well as facilities maintenance, general upkeep and repairs, and equipment replacement, Parsons said.
The producer also will pay $10,000 to the district's foundation, with $5,000 of that for the college's aquatics program, $4,000 to the RCC Marching Tigers band and $1,000 to the track and field program. An addendum to the contract says the band, which has appeared in movies, the Rose Parade and in London, may perform for one episode.
Producers also will pay Riverside Public Utilities to supply power, though the cost or how much electricity the production will use is not in the contract.
The college blacked out the full production schedule, attorney Ruth Adams said, citing concerns about security and crowd management, particularly at rehearsals, which will not be open to the public.
Tapings of the competition segments will be open to the public. People can email
splashshowtickets@gmail.com to request tickets.
Peter Scheer, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition, a nonprofit group of which The Press-Enterprise is a member, said security concerns seem to be a legitimate reason for not releasing a full production schedule. .
"Splash" will feature celebrities such as retired Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, comedian Louie Anderson and 2012 Miss Alabama USA Katherine Webb, who is also a model for Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition.
RCC President Cynthia Azari invited Riverside Community College District trustees March 5 to the first taping on March 10. Eight episodes will be filmed at the pool.
ABC plans to premiere the show March 19.
The college gets 50 VIP passes to the tapings, according to the contract. The Riverside Convention and Visitors Bureau are expected to get other tickets for the public.
The contract gives the producer, 90266 Productions LLC, use of the aquatics complex from Feb. 16 to April 26. The fee equates to $4,750 per day for each of those 70 days. Those days also include time to build the set and tear it down after taping eight episodes.
The producers paid to put up a big red tent with stage lights in the rafters to cover the diving pool.
A separate city film permit says that the production will include 15 cast members and 90 crew members. The
college is providing 20 VIP parking spaces near the pool complex, and the producers get exclusive use of the
Athletics Department's portable
building as the production office for 70 days.
