Creator studios are expanding their physical footprint in Burbank as digital production gains ground during a broader Los Angeles filming slowdown. Smosh, Mythical Entertainment, Alan Chikin Chow and Dhar Mann Studios are adding space or distribution deals, highlighting how creator companies are becoming a larger part of the region’s production economy.
Key Takeaways
- Digital-production shoot days in Los Angeles rose 47% year over year to 661 in the second quarter of 2026, while overall on-location shoot days fell 13%.
- Smosh Productions moved into a 32,000-square-foot Burbank facility this spring that supports more than 100 employees.
- Mythical Entertainment and Alan Chikin Chow reached Netflix agreements in July for creator-led programming.
- Dhar Mann Studios secured a 20-episode Disney deal after reaching a separate 40-title vertical-video agreement with Fox Entertainment earlier in 2026.
- Burbank remains home to more than 1,000 media and entertainment companies, giving expanding creator studios access to established production infrastructure.
Creator studios are building increasingly substantial production operations in Burbank at a time when traditional Los Angeles filming remains under pressure.
Smosh Productions moved this spring into a 32,000-square-foot facility with more than 100 employees. Mythical Entertainment and Alan Chikin Chow also maintain production operations in the city, while Dhar Mann Studios runs one of the largest creator-led facilities in the area.
The growth stands out because it is occurring against a weaker market for conventional location filming. FilmLA data cited by the Los Angeles Times showed digital-production shoot days reaching 661 in the second quarter, up 47% from the same period in 2025. Total on-location shoot days fell 13% during the same period.
Smosh Builds a Larger Burbank Production Base
Smosh Productions, owned by YouTube creators Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla, moved from a smaller Burbank location into its 32,000-square-foot facility during spring 2026.
The company produces as much as 10 hours of internet programming each week across five channels. Its content includes sketch comedy, games and challenges, requiring production teams that extend well beyond the creators appearing on camera.
The new facility supports more than 100 employees and includes dedicated production areas used by hairstylists, prop artists and other staff involved in regular video shoots.
Maintaining permanent production space also gives Smosh greater control over recurring sets, equipment and scheduling. That structure resembles a conventional studio operation even though the content is primarily produced for online audiences.
The expansion comes as YouTube creators enter Hollywood for larger film and production opportunities, narrowing some of the traditional separation between digital creators and established entertainment companies.
Digital Production Grows During a Broader Filming Slowdown
The rise in creator production is particularly notable because overall Los Angeles filming has been moving in the opposite direction.
Digital productions recorded 661 shoot days during the second quarter, representing a 47% year-over-year increase, according to FilmLA data cited by the Los Angeles Times. Overall on-location production declined 13% during the same period.
The figures do not mean digital production has replaced the much larger traditional film and television sector. They do show that internet-focused productions are generating additional physical production activity as other categories struggle.
Creator shoots can also generate business for equipment suppliers, rental companies and other production services.
FilmLA spokesman Philip Sokoloski said digital producers continue contributing to the local production economy: “They still purchase things. They still utilize equipment. They may rent things from local supply houses.”
Available soundstage capacity may also be helping creator companies expand. Reduced demand from traditional productions has created openings for digital producers seeking permanent or recurring studio space.
The broader shift toward creators handling more of the production process is also visible in creator-led advertising production, where brands are increasingly using footage produced directly by creators rather than limiting creators to distribution roles.
Burbank Gives Creator Studios Established Production Infrastructure
Burbank already has one of the densest concentrations of entertainment businesses in Southern California.
The City of Burbank says more than 1,000 media and entertainment companies operate there, including major companies such as Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Netflix and Nickelodeon.
That existing infrastructure gives creator companies access to soundstages, equipment, production workers and entertainment industry services without requiring them to operate inside a traditional Hollywood studio.
Smosh is one example, but several other digital-first businesses have adopted similar production models.
Alan Chikin Chow moved his operation into a 10,000-square-foot Burbank facility in 2024 after outgrowing an apartment-based setup in Koreatown. His team produces the scripted YouTube series “Alan’s Universe.”
Mythical Entertainment, founded by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, also operates in Burbank. Its productions include “Good Mythical Morning,” “Mythical Kitchen” and “Last Meals.”
The concentration can help creator studios access talent already working nearby. Moris Zingman, lead producer of “Alan’s Universe,” told the Los Angeles Times, “YouTube creators are the new trendsetters, and so we wanted to be associated with the big media in Burbank.”
Netflix Deals Extend Creator Shows Beyond YouTube
Creator studios are also expanding beyond physical production space through new distribution arrangements.
Mythical Entertainment and Alan Chikin Chow reached Netflix deals in July 2026. “Good Mythical Morning,” “Mythical Kitchen,” “Last Meals” and “Alan’s Universe” were set to become available through Netflix while continuing their YouTube distribution.
The agreements are significant because the programs were developed within creator-led digital businesses rather than originating as conventional streaming productions.
Their continued presence on YouTube also means the Netflix arrangements expand distribution rather than simply moving the programs from one platform to another.
For creator studios, that model provides another route for existing intellectual property to reach audiences through traditional subscription streaming platforms.
Dhar Mann Studios Adds Disney and Fox Agreements
Dhar Mann Studios has also expanded its relationships with established entertainment companies.
Disney announced a content agreement with Dhar Mann Studios in August, beginning with a 20-episode order for programming aimed at children, tweens, teens and families. Additional details about the project had not yet been announced.
The Disney agreement followed a January deal involving Fox Entertainment and Holywater.
Under that arrangement, Dhar Mann Studios agreed to produce an initial slate of 40 narrative-driven vertical titles for Holywater’s MyDrama platform. Fox Entertainment Global is responsible for worldwide distribution windows.
The two agreements give Dhar Mann Studios separate connections to traditional entertainment companies across family programming and mobile-first scripted content.
Dhar Mann Studios Expands Its Physical Production Footprint
The scale of Dhar Mann Studios also shows how large some creator-run production businesses have become.
Its Burbank operation occupies approximately 125,000 square feet, includes three soundstages and employs roughly 220 people, according to the Los Angeles Times. The facility contains rotating sets designed to represent locations such as restaurants, schools and courtrooms.
Dhar Mann began producing YouTube content under the Dhar Mann Studios name in 2018, focusing largely on morality-driven and motivational scripted videos.
The company has also purchased a 108,000-square-foot production campus in Chatsworth for $23 million and plans to relocate there by 2027. Its current Burbank facility is leased.
That planned move means one of Burbank’s largest creator operations may eventually leave the city, even as other digital studios increase their presence there.
Creator Production Brings Different Labor Economics
The expansion of creator studios is also creating work for production professionals at a time when traditional Hollywood employment has been difficult for many workers.
The labor structure, however, does not always match conventional film and television production. The Los Angeles Times reported that much internet content work remains non-union and typically pays less than comparable traditional production jobs.
SAG-AFTRA already maintains New Media agreements covering entertainment productions created for initial release on new-media platforms. Its 2026 TV and theatrical contracts also address vertical programs under Made for New Media terms.
The differences illustrate one of the unresolved issues surrounding the growth of creator production. Digital studios can generate jobs and make use of production facilities while operating under business and labor structures that may differ substantially from established Hollywood models.
Burbank Creator Studios Reflect a Broader Industry Shift
Burbank’s creator studios now range from relatively compact operations to companies occupying tens of thousands of square feet and employing hundreds of workers.
Smosh, Mythical Entertainment, Alan Chikin Chow and Dhar Mann Studios have different production models, but each demonstrates how digital creators are building businesses that require permanent sets, production staff, equipment and distribution relationships.
At the same time, major entertainment companies are becoming more directly involved through agreements with Netflix, Disney and Fox Entertainment.
The result is not a straightforward replacement of traditional Hollywood production. Instead, creator studios are becoming another part of the Los Angeles production system, using the same regional infrastructure while maintaining business models built around YouTube and other digital platforms.
With digital shoot days rising while overall location production remains down, Burbank creator studios provide a measurable example of how creator-led entertainment is moving further into physical production and mainstream distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which creator studios are expanding in Burbank?
Smosh Productions, Mythical Entertainment and Alan Chikin Chow have established or expanded creator-led production operations in Burbank. Dhar Mann Studios also operates a major facility there, although the company plans to relocate to a purchased Chatsworth campus by 2027.
How large is Smosh Productions’ Burbank facility?
Smosh Productions moved into a 32,000-square-foot Burbank facility in spring 2026. The operation supports more than 100 employees and the company’s production across five YouTube channels.
How much have digital-production shoot days increased in Los Angeles?
Digital-production shoot days reached 661 during the second quarter of 2026, up 47% from the same quarter a year earlier. Overall on-location shoot days declined 13% during that period.
Which major entertainment companies have deals with creator studios?
Netflix reached agreements involving Mythical Entertainment and Alan Chikin Chow, while Disney ordered 20 episodes from Dhar Mann Studios. Dhar Mann Studios also has a 40-title vertical-video agreement involving Fox Entertainment and Holywater.
Why is Burbank attracting creator studios?
Burbank creator studios can operate near a large concentration of entertainment companies, production facilities and specialized workers. The city says it is home to more than 1,000 media and entertainment companies, while reduced demand for some traditional production space has also created opportunities for digital producers.
