Disney Announces $1/2 Billion Studio Expansion in LA

[Hugh R]

I've been involved in this project for a couple of years. The company just filed notices to LA County yesterday. What is nice is that the Disney Golden Oak Ranch is only a few miles from where I live.

Here is the link to the LA Times article. Disney plans to build major production facility near Santa Clarita -- latimes.com

Disney plans to build major production facility near Santa Clarita
Bucking a trend toward 'runaway production,' the company proposes creating a 56-acre complex that would include soundstages and other facilities for film and TV projects.
The project, if approved, would create an estimated 2,854 production and entertainment jobs. (Disney)


The Walt Disney Co. said Wednesday that it would build a 56-acre production facility in northern Los Angeles County, casting a ray of light on an otherwise gloomy film economy that has hemorrhaged thousands of jobs in the last decade.

The Burbank company said the proposed Disney/ABC Studios at the Ranch would occupy a corner of the Golden Oak Ranch, a sprawling 890-acre parcel off California 14 that has been the setting of such classic films as "Old Yeller." Plans call for 12 soundstages, production offices, a commissary and other facilities that could be used for film, television, commercial and new media projects.

[red-beard]

I guess "entertainment" is something we can export to other countries.

[Rick Lee]

I guess the stimulus really is working.

[craigster59]

That's great news Hugh. On the "Boeing" thread in PARF I was trying to address the problem of the runaway production is not due to union involvement (IATSE is international, the show will be union wherever you end up shooting)but because of other states tax incentives and California's "late to the party" recent legislation. Producers that I know don't like to take production out of town but if that is the difference between getting your project greenlit or shelved, we know what the outcome is going to be.

Honestly, I don't think these other states can afford to keep the incentives going much longer without decaying their tax base (except maybe New Mexico which has access to "Superfund" monies). I think the studios are "milking" these other states till the incentives run out and will bring production back to California once we have "come to our senses".

I've seen it happen in Canada, Texas, Florida and now Louisiana. Go with the cheapest "hooker" no matter what she looks like, cause you'll be gone in the morning.

[bell]

That's not even part of the major expansion coming to the magic kingdom.....even though they've layed off hundreds of employees here they pouring money into their facilities......
Gotta pay to play I guess....

[The Gaijin]

Many more billion$$ to be invested in Shanghai apparently. But that is waiting for the BO trip.