Any film makers interested in a sound stage that caters low budget/Indy film making?

[Pasha Hanover]

I'm testing the waters here... If there was an "Independent Studio lot" (in the Los Angeles area) that had a pretty big sound stage with a giant green screen background which catered to low budget productions, indy films, etc.. would anyone be interested in using the sound stage if the rental price is lower and extremely competitive compared to the major and medium sized studio lots?

 

[Zakaree Sandberg]

If I were to give out 100$ to anyone that PMs me.. would anyone be interested?


Joking aside,

Pasha, Im almost certain the answer is yes... who wants to pay more when you can get it for less..

 

[Pasha Hanover]

Haha well I know everyone is out for a deal.

Pretty much if there would there be a high demand for such a place so that business was good and can cover our costs. Or would no one use or need such a place so there wouldn't be much of a demand at all.

We are seriously thinking of investing in this business. We would offer a large sound stage with an extremely large green screen with the proper lighting.

Any production can use the green screen or build their set inside the sound stage. We are also thinking of having a water tank available as well.

We would aim that our daily and/or weekly rental rate would be at least 50-60% cheaper than any available sound stage.

 

[jimhare]

So how much is "any available sound stage" anyway? :bigear:

Would love to know what are considered low rates.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Tom Lowe]

Would people be interested?

Do bears do this in the woods?

 

[Pasha Hanover]

So how much is "any available sound stage" anyway? :bigear:

Would love to know what are considered low rates.

Cheers,

Jim

There are quite a lot of studios here in LA, I'm sure the major lots are quite expensive (I can't see it less than $10,000/day). I know to shoot on the Paramount back lot it costs at least a few thousand dollars a day, so you can imagine taking up a sound stage would cost. The smaller studios like Sunset Gower, etc.. might be cheaper but I'm sure still not "cheap".

Our goal is to make a studio made by Indy people for Indy people on an Indy budget. Point is we would DEFINITELY be less than half the cost maybe even 70% less than of the big boys.

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

I'll sort of disagree with Zakaree, but its a matter of quality not the basic principle.

Of course I want to pay less for the space.

The question is if, by paying less for the space, I am eliminating included services I need or want.

I don't live in LA, but in the Washington DC market green screen stages often have overhead grids, serious sound insulation and sound dampened AC. A lot of the spaces also have lighting kits available, some even offer dollies.

They also offer office spaces and conference rooms, usually with high speed internet.

Did I mention power arrangements?

So, how much of this can you offer?

See there are places that happily charge rock bottom rates, but their stages are really just empty warehouse spaces. I am prepping a shoot in one of these spaces. It works for us, because we are building fairly extensive sets there, can deal with the sound and can light entirely from the floor, or from the sets practicals, within the 80amp power budget.

We are also paying the same per month that a mid range DC studio goes for per day.

If you are on the lot, things are VERY different. If you decide on the day that you need a crane, then you can get one before you change your mind. DP suddenly wants to double light levels, on the lot you can make that happen during your scheduled set up time. Of course you pay through the nose but you can make it happen.

So, where does your project fit on the value scale? What amount of income do you need to pay the rent/mortgage on the space? Do you have to improve the power arrangements? Lots of other questions.

So, for me the answer is a qualified yes. What qualifies depends on the production, and can change radically- even within the same show.

 

[Jeff Coatney]

Honestly, there are many greenscreen stages in town. If you had a water tank that had greenscreen/bluescreen underwater and infinite horizon green / blue screen on the surface, you'd have something really unique and in demand IMHO. You'd need great filtration, a viewport for shooting and some serious depth, maybe 15' - 20'. 25' x 50' area minimum, 180 degree horizon. You'd need a boat-lift crane or gantry and the ability to block 100% of the light. This is what's missing I think. Sure, add a stage that can be flooded, too. Then make the whole complex a motion capture space.

 

[Pasha Hanover]

I know there are green screen stages around but I always figured them to be somewhat small.

We were thinking of having around a 10,000 sq-ft. stage with a giant green screen against the back wall. We would have lights for the green screen. We'd have offices available and wireless internet.

We would choose a relatively quiet location and do as much sound dampening as we can.

That's what were were thinking of having to start off with. So I'm curious if there is a demand for exactly what we'd offer.

 

[Pasha Hanover]

For example, here is a green screen stage. http://www.stage101.net/

I'm talking about having a green screen that takes up a whole back wall of a 10,000 sq-ft warehouse and have all that space to build a set if needed even if you don't need to use the green screen. We wouldn't just be a "green screen" stage.

 

[Frank Weeks]

The rates at stage 101 are quite modest IMO. I assume you are going for a different market. A large discount would leave you only a few hundred dollars per day.

I do understand that you would have a much larger stage. If I lived in the LA area I would be interested. Good luck

 

[Noah Kadner]

My suggestion would be to thoroughly research what's available already. You're up against studio lots with fully sound proofed soundstages with access to lighting, prop depts, scene docks, etc. And these days the deals you can get from the big movie and TV studio lots are actually pretty sweet when they're not 100% booked. Then you've got all of the converted indie warehouses and cyc/insert stages- many of which are sound proofed as well with extensive built-in lighting grids, lighting and grip gear.

Not saying this is not a good idea, just saying you really need to extensively research existing facilities and rates. L.A. is a fairly crowded market and you may find that you'll need to offer a lot more than a warehouse space with a greenscreen, office space and lighting/grip gear to really compete and make a profit. Having some further unique offering would make you stand out more. Not sure what exactly that is but you could find out by touring the existing facilities and getting rate cards, etc. Good luck.

-Noah

 

[Pasha Hanover]

Thanks for everyone's input. It is a tough market so we have to see within our budget what extra we can offer.

 

[Darren Orange]

Do you have a business plan yet for this? If you don't have that, then you should not even try to open a stage, it'll likely fail. Stage 101 is pretty small for their rates, but those are posted, I doubt anyone pays that price.

 

[Pasha Hanover]

Do you have a business plan yet for this? If you don't have that, then you should not even try to open a stage, it'll likely fail. Stage 101 is pretty small for their rates, but those are posted, I doubt anyone pays that price.

That's what we were working on, setting up a plan. The idea was to open up a large stage.