01/09/2025
Filmmaker Aaron David Roberts’ lifelong dream has been to set up movie studios in his hometown of San Diego. Now, that idea seems to be ready for lights, camera, action. Last month, the Chula Vista City Council unanimously approved a letter of intent to start designing and constructing Chula Vista Entertainment Complex (CVEC), an 89,000-square-foot creative hub with virtual production studios, post-production facilities, coworking spaces, and more.
Roberts says he picked Chula Vista because the city has been eager to partner on other studios, putting in bids to build a Netflix studio and Amazon headquarters. “So I knew that this city has a bigger-thinking mentality of trying to attract industry and attract spaces,” he says.
Chula Vista Entertainment Complex will be a two-phase project. The first phase will be part of the Millenia Library on Millenia Avenue, which the city is already constructing. It’ll include co-working spaces, podcast studios, edit bays, photography rooms, and other Hollywood-style post-production facilities.
The next phase is building the 89,000-square-foot virtual entertainment complex. Roberts says it will feature “the next generation of production technology,” including a virtual production studio that will attract TV and movie studios.
Roberts expects the whole CVEC project will take three years to finish and will cost $85 million. Funding comes from venture capital, and Roberts is already securing letters of intent from industry players eager to use the facility.
The potential economic impact could be huge–Roberts estimates CVEC will generate about $544 million over a decade, and it’ll create jobs that otherwise would only be found in L.A.
By offering resources and opportunities, he also hopes to nurture San Diego's talent and make it a hub for filmmakers, YouTubers, and other creators. “This is about building up the local creative community,” Roberts says. “There’s so much potential here, and I want to help the next generation of creative artists find their footing.”
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