The push to make Chula Vista the next Hollywood
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Rendering of Phase 2. Image: Courtesy of Chula Vista Entertainment Complex
Aaron Roberts said he's well on his way to creating a 90,000-square-foot studio space in Chula Vista that could one day also become a sound stage for movies and TV shows.
Why it matters: The Chula Vista Entertainment Center would create space for photographers, podcasters and digital creatives to work, and ultimately bring movie and TV filming to Chula Vista, Roberts told Axios.
Driving the news: Roberts is working with the city of Chula Vista and San Diego County to incentivize producers to bring more movie and TV projects to the area and says he has promises from big companies to film here.
- He's also an industry veteran who produced the TV series "Chartered" and "The Cast Members," plus the movies "The Last Deal" and "Three Weddings."
How it works: The project will be built in two phases, he said.
- The first involves converting the top two floors of the Millenia Library into a space for coworking, podcast recording, photography and self-taping.
- That construction is happening now and the space should open by the end of the year, he said.
- The second phase is more ambitious: expanding to 200,000 square feet of space that can be used for big production films.
- It's too early to tell when that might happen, Roberts said.
By the numbers: The project involves no taxpayer dollars.
- Roberts said he's wrapping up a $5 million round of fundraising and has "a local institutional partner" that would bring in another $15 million.
- Roberts declined to share details on that deal.
- He also said he has $15 million worth of letters of intent from producers who will use his space once it opens.
Reality check: Most movies in California are made around LA, which is set up with both the studio space and workforce to support the work.
- "It's one thing to attract filmmakers; the other part is we have to start building our own local workforce," Steve Lockett, the county's deputy director for economic development and prosperity, told Axios.
- Lockett also said the region would need more sound stages to attract big film and TV projects.
- That's part of Roberts' plan, but not until the second phase.
Flashback: San Diego used to have a studio where shows like "Veronica Mars" were filmed, but it pivoted to being a space for military and law enforcement training exercises in 2002.
Roberts is also working with the city, county and state on getting tax breaks and incentives for filming in Chula Vista.
- "So by the time our sound stages are open, a production would be able to come in and triple-stack those incentives," he told Axios.
What they're saying: City and county leaders said it is feasible to get those incentives.
- "We want to make sure that Chula Vista is one of the fastest places to get a permit to film, and one of the least expensive places to film," Mayor John McCann told Axios.
- Lockett said the Chula Vista Entertainment Center is "one part of this great puzzle that's going on across the region" to bring more filming here.
- He said the goal is to capitalize on the success of "One Battle After Another," which was largely filmed in San Diego County, to attract more movies here.
Caveat: Getting those tax breaks and incentives could take time.
Yes, but: Roberts said his project does not rely on government incentives, and he's not tied to the facility being used solely to make movies.
- Bands could use the space for music rehearsals, he said, or video game companies could set up an immersive event tied to Comic-Con.
What's next: Roberts has been organizing community events to tell people about his project.
- He's also planning workshops with industry professionals where locals can learn screenwriting, cinematography, lighting and other production skills.