Production Facilities: What You Need to Know About Film Shoot Locations and Tech Spaces

When you think of a production facility, a physical or digital space designed to support the filming and post-production of movies and TV shows. Also known as film studio lots, it includes everything from soundstages and backlots to virtual production stages and post houses. It’s not just about big buildings with lights—it’s about the systems, tech, and people that turn scripts into scenes. A production facility can be a 50-year-old studio in London, a repurposed warehouse in Atlanta, or a high-tech LED volume in Los Angeles where actors walk through digital rainforests in real time.

Modern virtual production, a filmmaking method using real-time rendering and LED walls to create immersive backgrounds during shooting. Also known as StageCraft, it has changed how production facilities are designed. No longer do you need to fly to Iceland for a glacier scene—you can shoot it on a soundstage in Georgia with LED walls that react to your camera moves. This shift means smaller crews can now achieve looks once reserved for million-dollar shoots. And it’s not just for blockbusters. Indie films are using rented virtual stages to compete visually with Netflix originals. Meanwhile, VFX stages, specialized facilities equipped with motion capture, green screens, and rendering rigs for visual effects work. Also known as post-production hubs, it are becoming just as critical as the main shooting location. A film might start on location in Morocco, but finish its final look in a VFX studio in Toronto.

Production facilities aren’t just about gear—they’re about access. The right facility gives you permits, local crew, power grids, parking, storage, and even catering. That’s why some indie filmmakers skip Hollywood altogether and shoot in cities like Budapest or Prague, where production facilities are cheaper, more flexible, and packed with experienced local teams. Others rent out entire studio lots for weeks to control every detail—from the humidity in the air to the noise levels outside. And with insurance for international shoots and slate financing becoming common, producers now treat facilities like assets in a portfolio, not just rental spaces.

What you’ll find below isn’t a list of studios—it’s a look at how real filmmakers use these spaces to beat the odds. From how Blender and open-source tools let indie teams build VFX without expensive facilities, to how LED walls are shrinking the gap between indie and blockbuster production, these stories show that the future of film isn’t about how much you spend—it’s about how smartly you use what’s available.