As Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” recently won “Best Picture” at the Academy Awards, in addition to having received 13 nominations and six wins, its success had a strong Santa Clarita Valley connection: Scenes in the film were shot at LA North Studios in Valencia.
According to Santa Clarita City Manager Ken Striplin, in a release sent out by the studio, “Santa Clarita provides an ideal environment for filmmakers pursuing excellence. With diverse locations, experienced crews, and strong support for production, it’s a place where truly exceptional, award-worthy films are made.”
LA North Studios was founded in 2019 by John Prabhu and Anthony Syracuse, operating sound stages from 22,000 to 55,000 square feet, as well as production offices, production support and mill space.
The independently owned sound stage hosted production of the Oscar-winning film for seven months, between the months of January and July 2024. As many as 50 crew members were on stage daily, with the number increasing up to 200 or 300 crew members and production personnel on shoot days.
“One Battle After Another” is LA North’s first-ever “Best Picture” winner, although the studio has also served as a stage for other nominees in previous years, including Marcus Green’s “King Richard,” starring Will Smith.
The film utilized outdoor locations throughout California, but LA North was a main location for filming.
According to the release, amidst a time when productions were leaving California to film, “One Battle After Another” demonstrates the importance of local filmmaking and the jobs that are supported by it.
“‘One Battle After Another’ was the only film among the 10 Best Picture nominees to receive a California tax credit,” according to the release.
According to the release, Syracuse and Prabhu said: “We are incredibly proud that a film shot at LA North took home the top honor. While many people assume major award-winning films are produced exclusively on large legacy studio lots, this project shows how independent production facilities are supporting some of the most critically acclaimed and successful films being made today.”
