The local entertainment scene got another boost: Glendale-based East End Studios expanded to downtown L.A. with mayoral support last month.
The studio management and development company currently holds four campuses in California and New York spanning about 1.35 million square feet. The new Mission campus officially opened in the Arts District late January, crossing over 255,000 square feet and providing offices, production facilities and five fully operating soundstages to L.A. creatives. East End Studios shared that bookings are already being made.
“L.A. is the creative capital of the world with our entertainment industry being core to this city’s history and the backbone of our economy,” Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “When we invest in our signature industry, we are creating good-paying union jobs, expanding creative outlets and spurring new economic opportunities.”
The construction effort already spurred 1,500 jobs and the campus is expected to create 750 permanent ones in addition.
“The downtown Los Angeles Arts District has been a key focus for us for many years as one of the region’s most dynamic development markets,” said Shep Wainwright, managing partner at East End Studios. “Its deep cultural roots and unique character make it an ideal setting for a world-class, fully integrated film and television studio campus.”
L.A.’s film scene has weathered multiple setbacks since the Covid-19 pandemic. The double strikes by Screen Actors Guild-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America in 2023 halted production, and the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in January 2025 displaced creative communities en masse.
The city and state governments have repeatedly invested in revitalizing the industry. Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded the California film and television tax credit program to an annual amount of $750 million for five years in 2025, aiming to attract talent and popular shows back to the state, including “Baywatch,” which will return to California for its 12th season on television.
The mayoral Directive 11 also aims to “set the stage for lasting prosperity and resilience for the industry” with procedural changes to streamline filming efforts and minimize friction with the city.
FilmLA Chief Executive Denise Gutches said the new campus expands “world-class production capacity” to the heart of L.A. and reflects a long-term commitment to sustain the job market and innovation in the City of Angels.
“East End Studios’ continued investment in Los Angeles is a strong vote of confidence in our city’s creative economy and workforce,” Gutches said.