On the surface, it seems like a tough time to open a soundstage facility in the San Fernando Valley.
TV and film production plummeted from 2023 onwards. But today, Cinespace Studio Los Angeles officially opens the doors to its 180,000 square foot campus in Woodland Hills. The venture is part of Chicago-based Cinespace Studios’ network of existing production hubs in Atlanta, Chicago, Toronto, Wilmington, North Carolina, and Germany. Eoin Egan, co-CEO of Toronto-based Cinespace Studios, said Los Angeles has been working on plans since 2023.
Cinespace’s hope is to further expand its overall business market share with the largest producers and programmers by providing soundstage options in multiple locations to meet lensing needs. Egan sees a silver lining in the success of California’s efforts to significantly increase the state’s production tax incentive fund.
“Los Angeles has always been part of our strategy. It’s where a lot of our executives are based, it’s still where the majority of our production decisions are made, and the community here is one of the most experienced in the world for productions of any size,” Egan told Variety. “We know production has slowed down and competition has increased. But I think we’re in a good time.”
Cinespace Studio Los Angeles has six soundstages, each measuring 18,000 square feet and 30 feet tall. Space in the complex, formerly known as Warner Center, includes 72,000 square feet of production offices and ancillary space.
With the opening of Woodland Hills Stage, Cinespace now operates more than 4.3 million square feet of production space and a total of 115 active soundstages. The company is majority owned by private equity giant TPG.
Eoin Egan at Cinespace Studios
parrish lewis
The first project to open at Cinespace Studios Los Angeles is the thriller “Night Watching” from Fifth Season, Picturestart and Scott Free Productions.
The opening of Cinespace Studio LA will be celebrated with an event Monday morning, which will include remarks from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
“The grand opening of Cinespace Studio’s first campus in Los Angeles is a testament to what we’ve always known: Los Angeles is the creative capital of the world,” Bass said in a statement. “Seeing new soundstages open up for productions already in progress speaks to the collective strength of our signature industries. These investments will create good-paying jobs, expand the creative playing field and foster new economic opportunities.”
Egan believes Cinespace’s location in West Valley Woodland Hills has the advantage of being in the heart of the creative community.
“We’re in the middle of a crew base in that part of the valley,” Egan said. “Although the region has a tradition of film production, it has never had a dedicated studio.”
