Preparing to bring a TV and film studio to downtown Los Angeles, East End Studios recently broke ground in Los Angeles’ Arts District, where East End Studios Mission Campus will reinforce the City of Angels’ position as the heart of the movie industry.
With a completion date set for the end of 2025, this 5-acre development aims to streamline local film production while creating various job opportunities. The project has been met with positivity from LA Mayor Karen Bass, who believes that the project is a lifeline for the traditional LA industry.
According to a statement on the official city website, Bass stated, “Right now, our legacy industry needs support and this campus is the type of initiative that will help save jobs and help spur production in our area. From the hundreds and hundreds of jobs created at the campus to the many writers, set and costume designers, electricians, florists and so many surrounding local businesses – we are creating jobs and energizing our signature economy.”
Shep Wainwright, East End Studios Managing Partner, also expressed positivity about the new project, praised the new studio’s location, and expressed gratitude for the city’s support in maintaining LA’s reputation as an entertainment hub. In an official city statement, Wainwright said, “The Downtown Los Angeles Arts District has long been on our radar as a premier and thriving development market. With its abundant cultural richness and distinctive charm, the area is an exceptionally fitting location for a best-in-class, fully integrated film and television studio campus.”
SAG-AFTRA Joely Fisher shared enthusiasm, stating that the development is an inauguration to a revamped golden Hollywood era. Per the mayor’s announcement, “This new facility is a thrilling start in leading the pack to have a real golden age of Hollywood again,” expressed Fisher, indicating confidence in a reemergence of LA-based production benefitting industry professionals.
After sealing a $130 million construction loan for the LA production space, East End Studios Mission Campus will be a 245,000-square-foot Class-A facility with five stages ranging from 14,000 square feet to 35,000 square feet. Other amenities included in the $230 million project are office suites, production, support, commissary, outdoor spaces, a base camp, parking, and direct-to-stage loading.
The new campus is expected to create 1,500 construction jobs in the city and 750 permanent jobs.
Stephen Cheung, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, said in a statement, “The creation of the new East End Studios Mission Campus promises to drive economic growth in the film and TV sector and alleviate the shortage of studio space, ultimately leading to the creation of hundreds of new, well- paying jobs for Los Angeles.”
Demolition and excavation for the project are underway, with the vertical phase of construction for East End Studios’ project set to begin this summer.
Wainwright continued, “We are proud and honored to have the support of the City of Los Angeles and Mayor Karen Bass, whose dedication ensures that Los Angeles retains its position as the epicenter of the entertainment industry.”
