Influencer Studios Expand in Burbank as Hollywood Production Contracts

Creator-led production companies are expanding in Burbank while traditional film and television activity across Los Angeles continues to contract, bringing a new class of high-output digital studios into a city historically associated with Disney, Warner Bros. and other Hollywood institutions.

Smosh Productions moved this spring into a 32,000-square-foot Burbank facility after outgrowing a smaller location in the city. Owned by YouTube creators Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla, Smosh employs more than 100 people and produces as much as 10 hours of weekly programming across five channels. Its output includes sketch comedy, games, challenges and the “Smosh Mouth” podcast. Executive coordinator Katelyn Hempstead described the operation as evidence that Burbank remains “Media City,” although the media being produced has changed. (latimes.com)

Smosh is part of a broader cluster. Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal’s Mythical Entertainment has expanded its Burbank presence, while Alan Chikin Chow moved the 13-person operation behind the scripted YouTube series “Alan’s Universe” from his Koreatown apartment into a 10,000-square-foot Burbank facility in 2024. Mythical studio president Jacob Moncrief said proximity to the Warner Bros. lot helps attract celebrity guests for programs including “Last Meals.”

Traditional distributors are also moving closer to creator programming. Netflix reached July agreements to stream “Good Mythical Morning,” “Mythical Kitchen,” “Last Meals” and “Alan’s Universe” alongside their YouTube releases. Dhar Mann Studios secured a Disney order for 20 family-oriented episodes after reaching a separate 40-title vertical-video agreement with Fox Entertainment earlier in 2026. Dhar Mann Studios currently operates a 125,000-square-foot Burbank complex with about 220 employees, although it plans to relocate to a purchased production campus in Chatsworth by 2027.

FilmLA reported that digital-production shoot days increased 47% year over year to 661 during the second quarter, even as total on-location shoot days fell 13%. Vacant or discounted production space is consequently giving creator businesses room to build permanent facilities designed for frequent publishing rather than conventional television seasons.

ConsumerEXP analysis: This shift matters to video-commerce operators because creators increasingly control studios, production schedules and direct audience relationships. Those capabilities can support product demonstrations, sponsorships, shoppable programming and measurable brand integrations without requiring the infrastructure or release cadence of a traditional network.