A brand-new soundstage facility has opened in Los Angeles’ Arts District, an expansion city leaders hope will help revive local film and TV production even as the industry continues to struggle.
Mayor Karen Bass joined executives from East End Studios for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, calling the entertainment industry foundational to LA and emphasizing the need to bring more production back to the region.
“We have to make sure we have the infrastructure to attract productions,” Mayor Bass said during the event.
The newly unveiled complex spans 255,000 square feet and features five soundstages designed to accommodate everything from high-end television to major feature films.
“It’s not only going to support our union members and the working people in Hollywood, but it’s also going to support small businesses,” said Lindsay Dougherty with Teamsters Local 399.
Filming in 2025 was down 16% from 2024, according to Film LA, a non-profit that serves as the official film office for LA County and the city. The new studio was introduced the week after it was announced that Radford Studio Center, a legacy lot in Studio City where Seinfeld was filmed, is defaulting on its mortgage due to production slowdowns.
“It was the second-worst year in on-location filming since the pandemic,” said Film LA CEO Denise Gutches. “There are a lot of smaller sound stages that are completely booked right now because again, having that world-class production facility that gives you the technology you need, so some of the older studios have a challenge.”
The California legislature passed increased film credits supported by Mayor Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom. Whether that will mean a boost to local filming could be apparent by next month, after the first film credits were awarded in August and contractually filming must begin within 6 months of receiving the credit.
“We are very optimistic about seeing an uptick starting in February with all the productions that were awarded tax credits,” said Gutches.
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