The Best Locations for Filming in Los Angeles | Filming Locations LA
As the site of Hollywood, of course Los Angeles offers many great locations and studio spaces for filming. Let’s do a resource round-up of some of these filming locations in LA. This list is not comprehensive and if you feel we are missing a location that should be added, feel free to contact us with the suggestion.
We’ll discuss, in no particular order:
- Best larger studios for filming in LA
- Best smaller studios for filming in LA
- Best churches for filming in LA
- Best other locations for filming in LA
Best larger studios for filming in LA
SAS Movie Studios
URL: https://www.lalocations.net/locations
SAS has over 25 studios in Los Angeles. They have warehouse spaces, restaurant spaces, pre-made sets and luxury studios all available to rent for filming.
Multiple studios owned and co-owned by SAS are available for movies, location shoots, construction, and base camps for any size film productions. Located at 1755 N Main St, Los Angeles.
Notable production shot there: Iron Man 3
Studios 60
URL: https://www.studios60.com/
Studios 60 has many locations and studios for rent across Los Angeles. Their largest space is Mega Studios/Mega Stage at 35,000 square feet. They also have a large parking lot that is 22,000 square feet. 12 stages in total (65,000 square feet).
They also offer many handy props for rent, including chairs, speakers and cords.
Notable production shot here: Various Drake music videos
Willow Studios
URL: http://www.willowstudios.net
Also known as the Morell Meats building, Willow Studios is a film-friendly location for productions of any size. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown LA, this facility has 150,000 square feet of various built-out sets and studios for rent.
Willow Studios is also equipped with an ample 3 phase-3000 amp electrical system capable of powering most productions.
Production offices and scissor/fork lifts are available to use on site.
Sunset Las Palmas Studios
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Las_Palmas_Studios
Sunset Las Palmas Studios, located at 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood offers 12 sound stages ranging in size from 4,400 square feet to 19,000 square feet.
Scores of films have been produced on this site over the years. It was originally built in 1919 by an associate of Charlie Chaplin, making it one of the oldest production facilities in Hollywood.
Notable production shot there: When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
Sunset Gower Studios
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Gower_Studios
The Sunset Gower Studios facility is enormous, totaling 570,470 square feet. It is located at 1438 N Gower St in Los Angeles.
Established in 1912, it continues today as Hollywood's largest independent studio and a facility for film and TV production on its twelve soundstages.
Sunset Gower works closely with its sister company, Sunset Bronson Studios on 5800 Sunset Blvd. Sunset Bronson consists of over 300,000 square feet.
Best smaller studios for filming in LA
ReKon Studio
URL: https://www.rekonproductions.com/rekon-studio
ReKon Studio is a facility for film productions with a 1,200 square foot studio rental space, and on-site gear rental. Located at 4200 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 102 in Culver City (Los Angeles County).
Various gear is offered for rent, including LED lights, grip packages and cameras.
An on-site parking lot is available as well as street parking.
Notable production shot there: A Moment with Anthony Bourdain
WICK Studios
URL: https://www.wickstudios.la
WICK Studios, located at 1444 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, has a 2,500 square foot studio space. Their clients include photographers, videographers, creative agencies, producers and more.
WICK also rents state-of-the-art videography and photography gear.
Temporary parking for quick load-in is in the front of the studio entrance on Highland Avenue. Full load-in is best accomplished through a back entrance.
Rise Motion Picture Studios
URL: https://www.risemotionpicturesstudio.com/
Rise is located at 11678 Pendleton St. in Los Angeles. Rise is a 5300 square foot building with a 3000 square foot soundstage. The facility has rooms to rent for filming, photography, and production.
The soundstage includes a pre-lit 30' x 40' x 14' cyclorama wall and a 16’ high full-lighting pipe grid.
A kitchen, green room, wardrobe and production office are all also provided.
Goya Studios
The Goya Studios facility consists of three soundstages:
- Stage A has 4,600 square feet of space
- Stage B has 2,200 square feet of space
- Stage C has 5,600 square feet of space
Located at 1541 N Cahuenga Blvd in Hollywood.
Private parking, VIP lounges and production offices are all available.
Film Location Los Angeles
URL: https://www.filmlocationlosangeles.com/
The plainly named “Film Location Los Angeles” has four production spaces:
- TTS Loft, 7000 square feet
- Annex, 7000 square feet
- Goathouse Loft, 4000 square feet
- Studio A, 1500 square feet
All locations are in North Hollywood. Rates are available for both daily and long-term productions.
Best churches for filming in LA
St. James' Episcopal Church
URL: https://stjla.org/filming/
St. James' Episcopal Church located at 3903 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles has been host to many film and TV productions over the years. Designed in 1925.
One of the church's most distinctive features is its verticality; its massive roof is 60 feet high at its zenith.
Notable production shot here: Six Feet Under
St. Charles Borromeo Church
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Charles_Borromeo_Church_(North_Hollywood)
St. Charles Borromeo Church is a Catholic church located at 10800 Moorpark St, North Hollywood. The church was constructed in 1921.
Many celebrities have lived in the North Hollywood and Studio City communities served by this church, including Bob Hope.
Notable production shot there: La La Land (2016)
Church of the Angels
URL: https://www.churchoftheangels.film
Church of the Angels is located on 1100 Avenue 64 in Pasadena (LA County). This church was constructed in 1889 and is one of the oldest churches in Arroyo Seco.
The chapel is constructed from sandstone and has impressive stained glass windows.
Notable production shot there: Desperate Housewives
Hollywood United Methodist Church
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_United_Methodist_Church
Hollywood United Methodist Church is located at 6817 Franklin Ave. in Los Angeles.
The church’s English Gothic architecture and the giant HIV/AIDS Red Ribbon on the bell-tower have made it a prominent landmark in Hollywood.
Notable production shot there: Back to the Future and Back to the Future Part II
First Congregational Church of LA
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Congregational_Church_of_Los_Angeles
First Congregational Church of Los Angeles is located at 540 South Commonwealth Avenue. Founded in 1867, various film and TV productions have been filmed here over the years.
The church has an impressive English Gothic Revival style and contains the world's second largest church organ (actually, two separate organs).
Notable production shot there: National Treasure (2004)
Best other locations for filming in LA
The Villa Serena | Best house for filming in Los Angeles
URL: https://www.thevillaserena.com
When you book The Villa Serena Main House, you get the entire property with all the sets and props with a few exceptions. Villa Serena is located at 8455 La Tuna Canyon Road in Sun Valley (LA County).
Location perks on offer include: high speed WiFi, 5000K lighting, secure on-site parking, 400 amp power and various props.
Permits from FilmLA are required.
Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills | Best hotel for filming in LA
URL: https://www.sofitel-los-angeles.com/meetings-events/filming-photoshoots/
Sofitel is a French hotel chain and their Beverly Hills location is open to filming and photo shoots. This hotel has over 11,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, guestrooms and suites, lobby and public areas, bar and restaurant, and parking and loading.
This location is great for indoor and outdoor panoramic shots because of its view on major points of interest in the city; e.g., Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, and more.
Notable production shot there: Beyond the Lights (2014)
Cicada | Best restaurant for filming in LA
URL: https://www.cicadaclub.com/
Cicada Restaurant located at 617 South Olive St. in LA has an old-timey vibe and Art Deco architecture.
Cicada's palatial interior is a favorite of motion picture and TV producers and many productions have been shot here over the years.
Notable production shot here: Pretty Woman (1990)
Casa Vega | Best restaurant for filming in Sherman Oaks/San Fernando Valley
With tiles on the outside of the establishment that show matadors fighting with bulls, this restaurant has a cool blend of a Mexican-American feel. Situated in Sherman Oaks.
Notable production shot here: One Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)
Mel’s Drive-in | Restaurant for filming Sherman Oaks/West Hollywood
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel%27s_Drive-In
Mel's Drive-In is a term referring to two American restaurant chains, successors of a restaurant founded in 1947 in San Francisco. If your movie is set in the 1960s or just going for that vintage look, these restaurants would be ideal filming locations.
There is a Mel's Drive-In at 14846 Ventura Blvd in the Sherman Oaks and another at 8585 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood.
Notable production shot here: American Graffiti (1973)
Santa Monica Pier | Best pier for filming in LA
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica_Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is a large pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica (Los Angeles County). It contains a small amusement park, concession stands, and areas for views and fishing.
The Santa Monica Pier has been used as a filming location for many decades.
Notable production shot there: The Sting (1973)
Warner Grand Theatre | Theatre for filming in LA
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Grand_Theatre
The Warner Grand Theatre on 478 W. 6th St. in LA is a “movie palace” that opened in 1931. The theatre is designed in the Art Deco—Moderne style.
In 1999, the Warner was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Notable production shot here: What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)
Get Film/Video Equipment Insurance | Short-Term Production Insurance in the US
If you’re researching filming locations in Los Angeles, chances are good that you’re a filmmaker or film producer; if that is the case, you’ll want to consider insuring your valuable filmmaking gear and film productions. Get a quote from Front Row:
- Owned equipment insurance (US): For US residents, we can cover both owned gear and rented gear on a specialized entertainment floater form.
- Event Insurance (US): if you’re holding a private event at one of the above venues, you can buy insurance for the day of your event from Front Row.
About: Front Row Insurance Brokers LLC is an independent insurance broker that works on behalf of its clients to provide insurance at a low cost. Should a claim occur, Front Row works diligently to ensure that clients receive the money they are owed per the insurance policy. Front Row has US offices in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville. Visit their website at https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/usa.
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