SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — While Los Angeles remains the heart of the entertainment industry, nearby Santa Clarita is increasingly being recognized as one of the best smaller cities for filmmakers to live and work. Located about 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, Santa Clarita has built a strong reputation as a production hub while maintaining the feel of a suburban community. The city is home to more than 60 sound stages and seven movie ranches, making it one of the most active filming locations in Southern California outside of Hollywood. One of its most notable filming locations is the 240-acre Santa Clarita Movie Ranch, which offers a wide range of ready-made sets. Productions can film in locations that include a Western town, Mexican and Middle Eastern villages, a classic diner, and a log cabin, providing filmmakers with versatile backdrops without needing to travel far. Santa Clarita’s neighborhoods also make it an appealing filming destination. With quiet residential streets and more than 40 city parks, the area can easily double as “Anytown, USA,” a valuable feature for television and film productions looking for everyday American settings. The city has hosted a wide range of recent television productions, including Paradise, NCIS, Doctor Odyssey, S.W.A.T., Sugar, 9-1-1, and Beef, further cementing its reputation as a reliable filming location. Santa Clarita is also home to the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), widely recognized as one of the top film schools in the United States and Canada. The presence of CalArts helps supply the region with emerging creative talent and strengthens the city’s connection to the film and television industry. Another advantage for filmmakers working in California is the state’s film and television tax credit program, which offers up to a 35% tax credit for most productions. The program includes additional incentives and is supported by a funding cap of $750 million annually, making it one of the most significant film incentive programs in the country. Because Santa Clarita sits within Los Angeles County, filmmakers also benefit from close proximity to Hollywood studios, talent agencies, and industry meetings in Los Angeles, while enjoying a community known for its open space, family-friendly neighborhoods, and growing creative economy. For aspiring filmmakers and industry professionals considering a move to California, Santa Clarita offers a unique combination of production infrastructure, educational opportunities, and access to the entertainment capital of the world—all within a smaller city environment.
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