Second Line Stages—Louisiana’s premier film and television studio and the largest in New Orleans—announced the recent completion of a 222,000 SF expansion. The expansion adds two city blocks to the studio campus and includes five new, best-in-class sound stages, for a total of eight sound stages on site, plus new production offices and support space, as well as a new basecamp.
Second Line Stages marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the opening night of this year’s Oscar®-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival, which was held at the studio on Thursday, November 3.
“This is an exciting time for Second Line Stages and for the industry at large,” said Trey Burvant, the studio’s Vice President of Studio Operations. “With an expansion that has nearly tripled our stage capacity and also provides tenants with flexible, new production offices and support space—not to mention, world-class services—’Hollywood South’ is posed for another major growth spurt.”
Located in the vibrant Lower Garden District, about a mile from the French Quarter, Second Line Stages is recognized, industry-wide, as a go-to destination for film and television production in New Orleans. The studio opened in 2010, and has since been home to many acclaimed Hollywood movies and shows, including: Green Lantern, Django Unchained, The Butler, American Horror Story, 21 Jump Street, Heart of a Lion, Where the Crawdad Sings, The Secret of Sulphur Springs, The Killer and Girl’s Trip.
In 2020, Second Line Stages was acquired by Hackman Capital Partners, which has now invested approximately $100 Million in the studio, including its expansion and operating platform.
“Second Line Stages is a preeminent destination for content-producers, industry wide,” said Michael Hackman, founder and CEO of Hackman Capital Partners. “We are thrilled to be delivering this state-of-the-art expansion to meet the film industry’s escalating demand for first-class studio space and to, in turn, create local economic growth. Our investment in Second Line Stages also represents our unwavering commitment to the city of New Orleans.”
THE EXPANSION BREAKDOWN
New at the Main Studio Campus (Richard Street):
–Five best-in-class sound stages, totaling 90,800 SF and including some of the largest stages in Louisiana:
- Four concrete tilt-up stages (Stages #4 through #7), total 60,800 SF. Each stage is 15,200 SF, but retractable demising walls, between Stages #4 and #5 and between Stages #6 and #7, offer unique flexibility—allowing the four stages to open to two, “double sized” 30,400-square-foot spaces.
- One 30,000-SF sound stage (Stage #8)
–69,210 SF of production support space
–50,000 F basecamp
New at the Studio Annex (Constance Street):
• 11,790 SF of production offices
Coming Soon:
Second Line Stages will deliver a further 13,000 SF of flex/support space in May 2023.
New Orleans is the fourth largest film production hub in the United States, and movies and TV shows made locally generate millions of dollars for the city every year. Already, in 2022, productions have contributed approximately $881 million to the New Orleans economy, according to figures just released by the Mayor’s office. Additional studio space will only increase the boon, as production companies continue to compete for sound stages to create original content.
“Second Line Stages has been an economic force and leader in New Orleans’ film industry for over a decade,” said Mayor Cantrell. “By expanding its size, it will continue to boost its reputation as the best-in-class film studio in the region. These new sound stages are truly the future of filmed entertainment here in New Orleans and will aid in diversifying our growing economy, creating jobs and further sustaining our culture, our people and our City.”
“Second Line Stages’ state-of-the-art expansion, in combination with our state’s successful film program and diverse filming locations, is a big win for Louisiana. The film and movie industry is imperative to the tourism industry, as it influences visitors coming to Louisiana to see where movies have been filmed and immerse themselves in a true Louisiana experience,” said Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.
“Hackman Capital Partners’ investment catapults Second Line Stages from a successful boutique studio to a world-class facility, which will create more jobs for our economy here in New Orleans,” said Susan Brennan, former owner of Second Line Stages.
About Second Line Stages
Second Line Stages is Louisiana’s premier film and television studio and the largest studio in New Orleans. It is also the first purpose-built, full-service production facility in Louisiana—and the first independent green film studio in the United States. With its recent expansion, Second Line Stages offers today eight sound stages, ranging in size from 7,400 SF to 30,400 SF and totaling 128,500 SF. The studio also features approximately 154,000 SF of production offices and support space, a 48-seat digital theater and mixing stage, as well as a basecamp and parking, totaling 180,000 SF. Second Line Stages is operated by The MBS Group, an affiliate of studio owners, Hackman Capital Partners. The MBS Group is the world’s largest studio operating and production services company, supporting more than 500 sound stages and 450 productions a year, from its network of 100 locations across seven countries. Hackman Capital’s portfolio includes 18 best-in-class studio assets, totaling nearly 10 million square feet across North America, the UK and Ireland.
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