Producer Manny Halley has signed a 25-year lease on a shuttered 125,000-square-foot soundstage complex in Pacoima, betting more than $25 million on a facility that went dark just four months ago.

Halley plans to reopen the former Quixote North Valley complex on Montague Street this fall as Imani Studio, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday, Aug. 27. The four-soundstage facility spans six acres and will serve both Halley's own productions and outside renters.

The move comes as LA soundstage occupancy has dropped sharply. Average occupancy fell from about 90% between 2016 and 2022 to just 63% in 2024, according to FilmLA data. It slid further to 62% in the first half of 2025, the Hollywood Reporter reported. Total shoot days in Los Angeles fell 16.1% in 2025 compared to 2024, hitting 19,694, the lowest since 2020.

"Right now is a unique time for independent producers because we don't have to sit back and wait for a studio," Halley told the Times. "And in order for us to build a library and keep going, we have to keep costs down. So having your own stage is going to keep costs down."

Quixote's collapse opened the door

Production services vendor Quixote announced in April it was winding down most of its LA soundstage business, including the Pacoima facility and its main commercial studio in West Hollywood. About 70 employees in Atlanta and LA lost their jobs.

Parent company Hudson Pacific Properties bought Quixote in 2022 for $360 million, projecting growing demand for stage space. Production volumes fell sharply after the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes. Hudson Pacific has since written down the entire value of its Quixote unit, Variety reported. Occupancy on Quixote's leased properties hit just 53.3% in 2025.

The land beneath the Pacoima facility is owned by Rexford Industrial Realty, which is not involved in the production business.

What Halley plans to build

Halley said he will invest $2 million to $6 million into the complex, adding LED volume walls and staff. He retained three former Quixote employees and hopes to rehire others who worked there before the shutdown.

His company, Imani Media Group, financed the deal. A representative told the Hollywood Reporter the lease is structured as a 10-year term starting Sept. 1, followed by three five-year options, with an option to buy.

By late September, Halley intends to begin shooting a "True to the Game" TV series at the facility, along with BET comedy "Lot Patrol," which the network picked up for an additional five episodes. He also plans an animated series called "Dribble 2 Much" at the location.

Halley's credits include the "True to the Game" film trilogy featuring Vivica A. Fox and BET's "Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is" (2006–2008). His company has shot 18 productions in California, 14 of which received a state production incentive.

Industry support

California Film Commission Executive Director Colleen Bell said in a statement that facilities like Imani Studio help keep productions in California and protect entertainment jobs.

BET executive vice president Brian Rikuda said in a statement that the network is proud to continue working with Halley as he expands his production footprint.

Halley said the facility could sustain itself on his own projects alone. He also plans to rent space to outside productions, including student projects.

In prior years, the Pacoima complex hosted shoots for MTV's "RuPaul's Drag Race," A24's "MaXXXine," Apple TV+'s "Physical" and Netflix's "Atlas."